A RECENT SOLUTION TO HELP SCHOOL AND CLUB PROGRAMS

February 20, 2002

Does your school program restrict competition in outside events? One high school district has such a restriction. While its procedures allowed it to grant a waiver for national competition, the restriction would have normally prohibited high school swimmers from entering local or regional club meets during the high school competitive season.

US Synchronized Swimming (USA Synchro) was able to successfully explain that the high school program's goals and ours, as the governing body, were not inconsistent. Our role is rather broad -- to increase participation in the sport, and to encourage development at all ages -- while the school sought to protect the quality of high school athletic and academic performance. The fact that such local competition may qualify swimmers for regional competition, and in turn qualify them to continue toward national (and even international) competition and USA Synchro's National Teams, had not been fully understood by the high school district.

Once we were able to explain the general structure of club competition, the school district granted a waiver of the restriction for such qualifying competitions. We are committed to working with all school programs. If you have a similar problem in your area, we may be able to help. Have your club representative contact USA Synchro's President, Betty Hazle at bettyhazle@yahoo.com, for assistance.