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An Introduction To Open Water Swimming (OWS)

An Introduction To Open Water Swimming (OWS). Revised 2012-09-11. Table of Contents: Definition Course Structure Safety Considerations Volunteers Officiating {Roles} Apparel The Venue The Race (Start, DQ’s, Finish) Results / Presentations Terms / Acronyms:

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An Introduction To Open Water Swimming (OWS)

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  1. An Introduction ToOpen Water Swimming (OWS) Revised 2012-09-11

  2. Table of Contents: • Definition • Course Structure • Safety Considerations • Volunteers • Officiating {Roles} • Apparel • The Venue • The Race (Start, DQ’s, Finish) • Results / Presentations Terms / Acronyms: • CMOWS - Canadian Masters open water swimming rule • COWS - A Canadian open water swimming rule • FINA - Federation Internationale de Natation • Official - a person certified for the position he/she is working • OWS - A FINA open water swimming rule

  3. Definition “As the name implies, a swimming competition in a body of water open to the outdoors over a long distance” Some History • 1st modern Olympic Games in Athens • 2000 Olympic Games, the first triathlon event • 2008 Olympic Games introduced a 10 kilometre swim • FINA World Championships Characteristics • where to hold event? • what’s a Marathon?

  4. Definition(cont’d) Types of Courses • parallel to a shoreline • point to point • ocean swims1 • lake and river swims • closed course marked by buoys, or • any combination of above 1 note that ocean swims should not start or finish on a beach

  5. Course Structure • starting line • turn markers • finish line

  6. Course Structure (cont’d) A good open water swim course ... • has a large map • minimizes swimmer confusion • eliminates direction change until field spreads • has fixed or anchored course markers ... • at 3 metre intervals or so with a floating line for separation for courses that bring swimmers into close proximity in opposite directions • brightly coloured – turn markers different colour than course markers • visible surface area of at least four (4) square feet • securely anchored • of different colours from course and turn markers for hazards or dangerous areas

  7. Course Structure (cont’d) Characteristics of Start • bottom • starting Line • width • perpendicular to first leg • positioned near Starter • (see photos )

  8. Course Structure (cont’d) Characteristics of Finish • chute finish recommended • swimmers funneled towards finish line • sized/designed for clusters of swimmers finishing • clearly marked • finish area controlled • non-participants well clear • personnel to aid swimmers in standing up and exiting the water

  9. Course Structure (cont’d) Timing • finish times – manually or electronically When manual: • positioned with clear view of finish • get order of finish and times • body markings clear When electronic: • wrist or ankle chips with analog and digital computers capture finish order and times by bib# • results are normally available immediately and can even be posted to the internet right after the races (Finishing swimmer reaching up to a touch pad so his wrist chip signals his finish to the timing computer)

  10. Safety Introduction OWS can be dangerous. Safety is the primary issue in any open water swimming event. consider all safety factors: start with... • who’s responsible? • local Red Cross, canoeing and/or rowing / kayak clubs • St. John Ambulance • local Emergency Medical Services organizations (fee likely)

  11. Safety Introduction Medical Evacuation Plan: • detailed procedures • methods for transporting swimmers • one plan required if the start and finish are same location • two plans required if start and finish are not in same location or more than ¼ km apart

  12. Safety (cont’d) Safety Monitor Stations • mechanisms/procedures for transporting injured swimmers • safety monitor stations positioned on course: • minimum one station per thirty (30) entrants or • one station for every ¼ km of course length, which ever number is greater

  13. Safety(cont’d) Safety Monitor Stations • cover complete course at all times • emergency evacuation boats cannot be counted as safety monitor stations • safety monitor stations equipped with • first aid supplies and • emergency signalling devices to summon a medical evacuation boat (e.g. day flares, smoke flares, cell phones, radios or flags)

  14. Safety(cont’d) Other Safety Considerations • detailed plan for cancelling • every participant accounted for • record participants’ numbers as they enter water • record marked off as they exit the course (either at finish or if removed) • diagrams of course layout ‘a must’ The Briefing • mandatory briefing for all swimmers/coaches prior to start • ensure instructions heard and understood • involve all contestants in briefing

  15. Safety (cont’d) Feeding stations • not yet rule but feeding stations may be required • generally provide water and nutrition: • at end of the race for events up to 5km. • over 5km feeding stations should be provided every 2 to 3km • if water temperature rises may need feeding stations closer together  • most swimmers only want water – some want power drinks or bars • several forms: • floating platforms serviced from boats • table in shallow water where swimmer may stand to drink, etc. • station positioned so swimmer cannot push off in direction of swim on leaving

  16. Safety(cont’d) The Briefing (con’t) Cover ... • swimmer obligations • starting procedures/signals • swimmer positioning at start area (faster swimmers in front) • safety and courtesy • getting aid while swimming • feeding stations • course directions/markers/rules • finish procedure • race termination procedure

  17. Safety(cont’d) The Briefing (con’t) • cut off time for event: • when reached, any swimmers still on course are disqualified and must be picked up by a support boat Escort and Pilot Craft • swims over 10 km, each swimmer has escort craft capable of keeping pace with swimmer • swims 3 and 10 km – meet director’s decision to provide escort craft • based on conditions and swimmers’ abilities • non-event boat traffic control must be provided • arrangements with the local law enforcement agency • escort craft must always display a fluorescent orange “skier down” flag

  18. Safety (con’t) Heat Size, Order, and Waves • in large events swimmers sent off in heats or waves • heats swum fastest to slowest, youngest to oldest, men before women or any combination thereof • size of heat/wave influenced by: • emergency provisions as stated earlier • course structure • numbers • time between heats should be uniform • allows participants to judge approximate start times (with warning signals) • heats differentiated by: • different coloured swim caps • different sex

  19. Volunteers • don’t have to go it alone – many volunteer groups and organizations will be willing to assist you. • try local organizations such as: • Sea Cadets • Boy Scouts • Civic groups • Boat clubs etc. • many will help for a shirt or their name & organization on the program and press releases

  20. Officials The following officials shall be appointed to Open Water Events • Chief Referee • Referees • Starter • Chief Timekeeper plus 2 Timekeepers • Safety Officer • Medical Officer • Chief Judge plus Chief Finish Judge plus 2 Finish Judges • Course Officer • Clerk of Course • Turn Judges (one per each alteration of the course) • Recorder • Announcer • Race Judge (one per competitor) except events of 10 km or less One person may perform two or more of the above roles.

  21. Officials(cont’d) The Chief Referee shall: OWS 3.1 Have full control & authority over all officials & shall approve their assignments & instruct them regarding any special features or regulations related to the competition. The Referee shall enforce all Rules & decisions of FINA & shall decide all questions relating to the actual conduct of the meet, the event or the competition, the final settlement of which is not otherwise covered by these Rules. OWS 3.2 Have authority to intervene in the competition at any stage to ensure that FINA Rules are observed (& in conjunction with the Safety Officer, stop the race if conditions are unsafe) OWS 3.3 Adjudicate on all protests related to the competition. OWS 3.4 Give a decision in cases where the judges’ decisions & times recorded do not agree. OWS 3.5 Signal swimmers, by raised flag and short blasts of a whistle, that the start is imminent and when satisfied indicate by pointing the flag at the starter that the competition may commence.

  22. Officials(cont’d) The Chief Referee shall (con’t): OWS 3.6 Disqualify any swimmer for any violation of the Rules that he personally observes or which is reported to him by the authorized officials. OWS 3.7 Ensure that all necessary officials for the conduct of the competition are at their respective posts. He/she may appoint substitutes for any who are absent, incapable of acting or found to be inefficient and appoint additional officials if considered necessary. OWS 3.8 Receive all reports prior to start from the Clerk of Course, Course officer and Safety Officer etc. The Refereesshall: OWS 3.9 Have the authority to intervene in the competition at any stage to ensure that FINA Rules are observed. OWS 3.10 Disqualify any swimmer for any violation of the Rules that he/she personally observes.

  23. Officials(cont’d) Chief Referee Checklist: Before the Start • Attend technical meeting • 2 hrs prior to start • check course temperature • validate assignments with OC • 15 min. prior to star: • reports from CoC, Safety Officer, Course Officer • receives final course plan from OC • verifies course with SO, CO, and coach delegate if present • receives Start List from Recorder

  24. Officials(cont’d) Chief Referee Checklist: During the Race • Follow event from boat • Signal start with FINA tweets and turns field over to starter • Apply rules (Shared with Referees): • Warn → on slight errors • Advise → on first infractions • Yellow Card + Race Number • DQ → on serious fault or second offence – Red Card + Race Number – swimmer withdrawn from water • Record voluntary withdrawals/DQs and advise CFJ

  25. Officials(cont’d) Chief Referee Checklist: After the Race • Ensure course is clear • Receive results from CFJ, verify, and sign them • Judge any protests Supplies: • Thermometer, GPS, FINA rules, Megaphone, Whistle, Stopwatch, Numbers (or Whiteboard and Marker), Red and Yellow Cards, Paper, Pencils, Radio (walkie-talkie), Flag (different colour than starter

  26. Officials(cont’d) The Starter shall: OWS 3.10 Be stationed in such a position as to be clearly visible to all competitors. OWS 3.11 On signal of the Referee raise a distinctive flag into the vertical position. OWS 3.12 Simultaneously (1) bring the “flag holding” arm down, with arm kept straight and (2) activate an audible signal.

  27. Officials(cont’d) The Chief Timekeeper shall: OWS 3.12 Assign at least three (3) timekeepers to their positions for the start and finish. OWS 3.13 Ensure a time check is made to allow all persons to synchronize their watches with the official running clocks 15 minutes before the start time. OWS 3.14 Collect from each Timekeeper a card showing the time recorded for each swimmer, and if necessary, inspect their watches. OWS 3.15 Record or examine the official time on the card for each swimmer.

  28. Officials(cont’d) TheTimekeepersshall: OWS 3.16 Take the time of each swimmer assigned. The watches must have memory and print out capability and shall be certified correct to the satisfaction of the Management Committee. OWS 3.17 Start their watches at the starting signal, and only stop their watches when instructed by the Chief Timekeeper. OWS 3.18 Promptly after each finish record the time and swimmers’ number on the time card and turn it over to the Chief Timekeeper. NOTE: Even when automatic Officiating Equipment is used, a full complement of hand timers is used.

  29. Officials(cont’d) The Chief JudgeShall: OWS 3.19 Assign each judge to a position OWS 3.20 Record and communicate any decision received from the referees during the competition. OWS 3.21 Collect after the race , signed results sheets from each Judge and establish the result and placing which shall be sent directly to the Referee. The Finish Judges(three) shall: OWS 3.22 Be positioned in line with the finish where they shall at all times have a clear view of the finish. OWS 3.23 Record after each finish the placing of the swimmers according to the assignment NOTE: Finish Judges shall NOT act as Timekeepers in the same event.

  30. Officials(cont’d) Each Race Judge shall: OWS 3.24 Be positioned in an escort safety craft, assigned by random draw prior to the start, so as to be able to observe, at all times, his appointed swimmer. OWS 3.25 Ensure at all times that the Rules of competition are complied with, violations being recorded in writing and reported to the Referee at the earliest opportunity.

  31. Officials(cont’d) Each Race Judge shall: OWS 3.26 Have the power to order a swimmer from the water upon expiry of any time limit so ordered by the Referee. OWS 3.27 Ensure that his appointed swimmer “does not use unfair advantage”1 or commit unsporting impedance on another swimmer and if the situation requires instruct a swimmer to maintain clearance from any other swimmer. 1 this rule is controversial for triathletes: they often draft in the swim leg

  32. Officials(cont’d) The Turn Judges Shall: OWS 3.28 Be positioned as to ensure all swimmers exercise the alterations in course as shown in the competition information documents and as given at the pre-race briefing. OWS 3.29 Record any infringement of the turn procedures on the record sheets provided and indicate the infringement to the Race Judge at the time of the infringement by blasts on a whistle. OWS 3.30 Promptly upon completion of the event deliver the signed record sheet to the Chief Judge.

  33. Officials(cont’d) The Safety Officershall: OWS 3.31 Be responsible to the Referee for all aspects of safety related to the conduct of the competition OWS 3.32 Check that the entire course, with special regard to the start and finish area, is safe, suitable and free of any obstruction OWS 3.33 Be responsible for ensuring that sufficient powered safety craft are available during the competition so as to provide full safety backup to the escort safety craft OWS 3.34 Provide prior to the events to all swimmers a tide / current chart clearly indicating the time of tide changes on the course and showing the effect of tides or current on a swimmer’s progress along the course OWS 3.35 In conjunction with the Medical Officer, advise the Referee if, in their opinion, conditions are unsuitable for staging the competition and make recommendations for the modification of the course or the manner in which the competition is conducted.

  34. Officials(cont’d) The Medical Officershall: OWS 3.36 Be responsible to Referee for all medical aspects related to the competition and competitors. OWS 3.37 Inform the local medical facilities of the nature of the competition and ensure that any casualties can be evacuated to medical facilities at the earliest opportunity. OWS 3.38 In conjunction with the Safety Officer, advise the Referee if, in their opinion, conditions are unsuitable for staging the competition and make recommendations for the modification of the course or the manner in which the competition is conducted.

  35. Officials(cont’d) The Course Officershall: OWS 3.39 Be responsible to the Management Committee for the correct survey of the course. OWS 3.40 Ensure the start and finish areas are correctly marked and all equipment has been correctly installed and, where applicable, is in working order. OWS 3.41 Ensure all course alteration points are correctly marked, and manned prior to the commencement of the competition. OWS 3.42 With the Referee and Safety Officer inspect the course and markings prior to the commencement of competition. OWS 3.43 Ensure that Turn Judges are in position prior to the start of the competition and report this to the Assistant Referee.

  36. Officials(cont’d) The Clerk of the Course shall: OWS 3.44 Assemble and prepare competitors prior to the competition and ensure proper reception facilities at the finish are available for all competitors. OWS 3.45 Ensure each competitor is identified correctly with their race number and ensure that all swimmers have trimmed fingernails and are not wearing any jewelry, including watches. OWS 3.46 Be certain all swimmers are present, in the assembly area, at the required time prior to the start. .

  37. Officials(cont’d) The Clerk of the Course shall: OWS 3.47 Keep swimmers and officials informed of the time remaining, before the start at suitable intervals until the last five minutes, during which one minute warnings shall be given. OWS 3.48 Be responsible for ensuring that all clothing and equipment left in the start area is transported to the finish area and kept in safekeeping. OWS 3.49 Ensure that all competitors leaving the water at the finish have the basic equipment required for their well being should their own attendants not be present at that time.

  38. Officials(cont’d) The Recorder shall: OWS 3.50 Record withdrawals from the competition, enter results on official forms, and maintain record for team awards if appropriate. COWS 3.50.1 - Be responsible to the Referee and Chief Judge for keeping the official results lists. These shall be when the Men’s and Women’s events start at the same time. A combined finishing list by time and overall position: • the Men’s Result list • the Women’s Result list COWS 3.50.2 – When completed and after being signed by the Chief Judge and Referee, the “Officials Results Lists” shall be known as the “Ratified Results List” for the Event COWS 3.50-3 The Ratified Results List shall be printed & distributed within one hour of the last swimmer finishing or in the event of a dispute, within 15 minutes of the settlement of that dispute.

  39. Officials(cont’d) The Announcer shall: COWS 3.51.1 – Be responsible by the Organizing committee for the communication of all relevant information related to the current positions and retirements from the race COWS 3.51.2 – On instructions of the Chief Timekeeper, give a time check fifteen (15) minutes before the start of the event

  40. Officials(cont’d) The Announcer shall: COWS 3.51.3 – Make every attempt to ensure spectators have information related to incoming swimmers COWS 3.51.4 – Ensure that the correct National Anthem is played at the presentation ceremony when such a ceremony takes place at the finishing point of the event

  41. Apparel Swimmers for men & women • swimwear shall be non-transparent, not cover the neck, extend past the shoulder, nor extend below the ankle (i.e. suitable, in good moral taste GR 5.1) • swimwear shall be made of textile material (i.e. no buoyancy support) • goggles, a maximum of 2 caps, a nose clip and earplugs may be used (OWS 6.9) • swimmers may use body grease in moderation (referee’s decision) (OWS 6.10)

  42. Apparel Officials for men & women • it is easier for swimmers if all officials are dressed in white, but meet may provide apparel • shorts, sunglasses and hats are permitted (sunscreen) • an officials badge or ID of some sort is recommended

  43. The Venue General • course approved by FINA for World Championships/FINA competitions • salt or fresh water • certificate of Suitability • turn markers /Turn Judge craft/platforms securely fixed • turns/alterations of course clearly indicated • beach area inspected

  44. The Venue (cont’d) Water Depth / Water Temperature • the minimum water depth: 1.40 meters • the minimum water temperature: 16 C°1 • checked race day 2 hours before start, mid-course at 40 cm • completed in the presence of a Commission: • Referee • Member of Organizing Committee • One coach from all teams present (if applicable, designated during the Technical meeting) • water quality suitable for swimming 1 the minimum water temperature for SNC is 16C° the minimum water temperature for Masters swimming, 18C°

  45. The Race Preparing For The Start • generally, competitors: • standing on a fixed platform1 or • treading water if sufficient depth • Clerk of Course signals start approaching intervals • (more frequent within 5 minutes) • large entries can be divided into waves e.g. men/women, age bands etc. • swimmers clearly identified body (several places) & cap • start Line clearly defined 1 positions on fixed platforms assigned by random draw

  46. The Race The Start Ready • Referee indicates start is near by: • holding a flag held upright • short whistle blasts • & turns race over to starter by pointing flag SET • Starter clearly visible to all competitors GO • two signals: • audible (whistle or horn) • visible (dropping of flag) • Referee determines if start fair • may stop and restart competition

  47. The Race (cont’d) Escort Safety Craft • escort safety craft positioned so swimmer is at or forward of mid- point • minimum crew is two: race judge and support person (chosen by the swimmer)

  48. The Race (cont’d) Disqualification Procedure The OWS disqualification procedure’s 2 steps: 1st Incident: • yellow flag waved • card bearing the swimmer’s number raised to inform swimmer he/she i in violation of rules 2nd Incident: • red flag waved • card bearing swimmer’s number is raised by the Referee (OWS 3.6) to inform swimmer of 2nd violation • swimmer now disqualified and must: • leave the water immediately • be placed in an escort craft, and • take no further part in the race

  49. The Race (cont’d) Disqualification Guidelines • If the referee feels an action of a swimmer or escort craft is unsporting, the swimmer should be immediately disqualified (a FINA rule) • Swimmers may not receive support from any fixed or floating object and cannot touch or be touched by their escort safety craft or crew • As mentioned earlier, swimmers cannot use devices that aid speed, endurance or buoyancy and must be properly attired • Swimmers may not draft off the swimmer just ahead of them (i.e. be within 0.5 metres of the feet of the that swimmer). It should be noted that there is some debate about whether drafting should be included under OWS 3.27 "unfair advantage.“ At the beginning of a race, it can certainly be difficult to judge.

  50. The Race (cont’d) Disqualification Guidelines (con’t) • pacing swimmer by another person entering water is illegal • coaching by swimmer’s representative in escort safety craft permitted – no whistle used • taking sustenance, swimmers may stand on bottom but not walk or push off to resume: no contact with support craft beyond sustenance allowed (see OWS rules 6.6 & 6.7) • OWS races normally have a time limit • Swimmers still in the water when the time limit is reached / signaled are normally removed from the water by support craft • If close to finish line, may be allowed to finish Unexpected Termination of a Race • if race stopped after 50% of allotted course completed by leading swimmers, finish positions awarded either by position, at stoppage or by position at turning point passed prior to stop signal, where places were observed

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