Well, now that most conferences' championship meets are over, the NCAA has
released a memorandum categorically explicating their position on so-called so-called technical swimsuits.
A snip:
Since the NCAA does not currently have the capability to test swimsuits, and since there seemingly is no discernible justification for treating any one technical suit differently from any other for purposes of use at intercollegiate competition, the committees have decided to permit all technical swimsuits for all 2009 NCAA swimming and diving championships.Okay. That is a steaming pile of nothing. Their logic says that since they can't test the suits, there is no reason to even consider disallowing any of them. They actually held a committee/staff teleconference to make this hollow, unspecific, see-no-evil "decision."
You could argue that it's FINA's fault for largely ignoring the enormous proliferation of sport-changing competition wear, but the NCAA can't just claim helplessness and pin responsibility on the higher-ups. If FINA isn't doing anything, the NCAA should take some initiative. It's fine that the suits are allowed at nationals this year - no reason to change mid-season. And I don't think the suits should be banned, necessarily - not my decision to make. But between now and next winter, I think it's reasonable to expect both FINA and the NCAA to explain a little further about what
exactly is allowed and what isn't. As precisely as they explain the rules about, oh, I don't know, maybe something trivial, like the manufacturer's logo on those suits?
We also would like to take this opportunity to remind the membership that, per NCAA Bylaw 12.5.4, “a student-athlete’s institution’s official uniform (including numbered racing bibs and warm-ups) and all other items of apparel (e.g., socks, head bands, T-shirts, wrist bands, visors or hats, swim caps and towels) shall bear only a single manufacturer’s or distributor’s normal label or trademark (regardless of the visibility of the label or trademark), not to exceed 2¼ square inches in area (rectangle, square, parallelogram) including any additional material (e.g., patch) surrounding the normal trademark or logo.” As we prepare for the championships, it is important that everyone is in compliance with this bylaw and it is the individual participants’ and institutions’ ultimate responsibility to adhere to the bylaw. Division I institutions are reminded also to review NCAA Bylaw 31.1.7 pertaining to bench personnel. A violation of these bylaws will result in a report being sent to NCAA Enforcement. Yes! Just like that! A detailed and no-nonsense description of the rules, and it's for something that nobody actually cares about! Hold as many teleconferences as it takes, NCAA - if it means an actual decision, we can wait.
UPDATE: I poked around FINA's site and found
this. It's not bad. I'll be watching for what happens at the Bureau meeting in Dubai this month.
A snip:
You could argue that it's FINA's fault for largely ignoring the enormous proliferation of sport-changing competition wear, but the NCAA can't just claim helplessness and pin responsibility on the higher-ups. If FINA isn't doing anything, the NCAA should take some initiative. It's fine that the suits are allowed at nationals this year - no reason to change mid-season. And I don't think the suits should be banned, necessarily - not my decision to make. But between now and next winter, I think it's reasonable to expect both FINA and the NCAA to explain a little further about what exactly is allowed and what isn't. As precisely as they explain the rules about, oh, I don't know, maybe something trivial, like the manufacturer's logo on those suits?
1 comment:
ha, that Bureau meeting mentions that an e-stim device cannot be built into the suit. That's a good way to prevent people from electrocuting themselves. I can't imagine jumping into a pool with electrodes taped to my body.
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