Texas Interscholastic Swimming Coaches Association Weighs In On Relay Touchpads; University Interscholastic League Requires More Input

AUSTIN, Texas, April 18. ACCORDING to an e-mail distributed by Penny DiPomazio, the Texas Interscholastic Swimming Coaches Association (TISCA) President, the organization has put forth a pair of recommendations regarding the relay touchpad controversy reported by Swimming World earlier this month.

Just as a refresher course for those that have not kept up with the previously reported story, Southlake Carroll's girls 400-yard freestyle relay was likely improperly disqualified based on the sole reliance on relay touchpad equipments – costing the team a 5A state championship. Plenty of evidence, including photos and videos from the meet, called into question several other relay touchpad disqualifications from the meet as well.

At the latest TISCA board meeting, the board members elected to put forth two separate rule change recommendations. The first would require dual confirmation of any relay disqualification, meaning that two of the three "judges" (the equipment, and two officials) would have to agree that a disqualification occurred. The second rule change request would be to allow for the implementation of video review. Both of these motions passed.

According to DiPomazio's e-mail, see in full below, Traci Neely of the University Interscholastic League (UIL) and Charles Logan of the University of Texas Swim Center voiced their desire to not have to go back to the dual confirmation rule that had been in place in 2009. The pair desired that video review should be the option researched. Neely, according to DiPomazio, however, stated that "she would need more schools to put in writing that they want a change and would be in favor of having the video review."

TISCA is currently in the process of organizing a grassroots effort to help convince Neely of the need for the new rules.

Penny DePomazio E-mail
Hello Everyone,

I am sure that many of you have already heard the outcome of the TISCA board meeting. However, I said that I would get back to you, so I am doing just that. Kevin Murphy gave his presentation to the board and then made a motion that we return to the 2009 protocol of having dual verification, also including that the" lid" could not hurt you, but it could help you. Our second motion was to use video review with the "lids". This was our second motion, as we were concerned that the cost would be prohibitive and we wanted to make sure that we had something in place that would protect the swimmers if video was not an option. Both of these motions passed. I do not believe that was a surprise to anyone. I was pretty sure we had all the votes necessary going into the meeting.

Traci Neely of the UIL and Charles Logan of the UT swim center discussed these motions with us. They felt like we should not go backward by adopting the 2009 and prior protocol, but go forward with using video review. Both felt that this was a viable option that could be looked into. Traci also stated that she would need more schools to put in writing that they want a change and would be in favor of having the video review. At this time our plan is to send a mass mailing out to the TISCA members asking them and perhaps even their athletic departments to send an e-mail to Traci Neely in support of using video review. I will also send Traci an e-mail stating that TISCA supports using video review at the state championships.

I believe this is a positive step forward in assuring a fair and consistent state championship.

If you have any questions please feel free to e-mail or call.

Penny DiPomazio
Aquatic Center Co-Director
LISD Head Dive Coach
TISCA President

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