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Pursuant to the emergency safety
power provisions of Rule 504.8, the USA Swimming Board of Directors,
at its meeting held on May 7, 2011, passed the attached Open Water
legislation. This legislation has received the approval of a
majority of the voting members of the Rules & Regulations Committee,
the Safety Education Committee, and our legal counsel. These new
rules were precipitated by the recommendations of the Open Water
Review Commission chaired by Mr. Richard Pound (“The Pound
Commission”), which investigated the circumstances surrounding the
death of Fran Crippen, while he was participating in a FINA Open
Water World Cup Event. The additions to our Rules &
Regulations, which are attached, include the following:
1. A requirement that for any open water event, the Meet Host shall
develop a Safety Plan;
2. Provides that the meet referee or meet director has the ability
to independently withdraw the sanction or approval for an open water
event if adequate safety precautions are not in effect on the day of
the race; and have the authority to independently stop the race at
anytime if safety becomes a concern.
3. Provides that every open water event shall have an Independent
Safety Monitor who has the authority to withdraw the sanction or
approval, or to stop the race at any time if adequate safety
precautions are not in place
4. Establishes a maximum and minimum water temperature for open
water competitions; and
5. Establishes water quality requirements.
In addition to the changes to our Rules & Regulations, the Board
adopted, as part of the USA Swimming Policy Manual, a standardized
open water sanction application and established the requirements for
a safety plan. This Sanction Application must be completed in order
to obtain a sanction or an approval for any open water competition,
and must be accompanied by a written safety plan. The standardized
sanction application and safety plan requirements are listed
below.For those open water competitions that have already obtained a
sanction or approval, it is very strongly recommended that a written
safety plan be adopted prior to the competition. The new USA
Swimming Rules & Regulations, standardized sanction application, and
safety plan requirements are effective immediately. If you have
questions concerning the enclosed please contact me.
Dan McAllen, Chair
USA Swimming Rules & Regulations Committee
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