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Duration: 2 Hours

Location: Online

Trainer: Laura Hansen

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The Northwest Aquatic League ("NWAL" or "League") is a federation of teams organized to foster competitive swimming and good sportsmanship in a nondiscriminating environment

Team Representative

NWAL 2026 Summary of Rules Changes

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Page 12; II. Eligibility:

D. Paid coaches are ineligible to swim in the NWAL. Coaches shall follow the Coach Certification referenced in V.F.8 on page 50

Page 15; III. League Rules and Policies; B. Entries Events and Seeding; 2.Number of Events a Swimmer May Enter:

a. Swimmers may enter no more than three (3) individual events. Swimmers may not swim individual events in more than one age group. Swimmers may not swim more than 1 freestyle relay and 1 medley relay. A swimmer who participates in more than three (3) individual events or individual events in more than one age group; more than one (1) freestyle and/or relay; or more than one (1) medley relay during a meet shall be disqualified in all events,

including relays, in which the swimmer was entered.

Page 16; III. League Rules and Policies; B. Entries Events and Seeding; 3. Relay Entries

a. Dual Meets; ii.Relay teams shall have at least four names listed and an entry time , which may be an unofficial time or an official time (see III.5.a.i for the definition of an official time)

Page 16; III. League Rules and Policies; B. Entries Events and Seeding; 3. Relay Entries

b. Divisional Meet; ii.Relay teams shall have at least four names listed and an entry time , which may be an unofficial time or an official time (see III.5.a.i for the definition of an official time)

Page 18; III. League Rules and Policies; B. Entries Events and Seeding; 5.Seeding; a.General; ii. Official Times shall be used for all individual divisional meet entries at Divisionals and post season invitationals. including relay entries. Post season invitationals must also use only Official times for all swimmers. Relays must be entered with a time, no NTs will be allowed.

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NWAL 2026 Summary of Rules Changes

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Page 19; III. League Rules and Policies; B. Entries Events and Seeding; 5.Seeding; a.General; iv. Individual entry times for invitational meets shall be Official Times obtained during an NWAL meet or sanctioned invitational. The seed time for relays shall be established by adding the fastest Official Times of the individual swimmers for the stroke that they are swimming on the relay. Relays must be entered with a time, no NTs will be allowed.

Page_23; III. League Rules and Policies; H. Divisional Meets

4. Official Times shall be used for all divisional meet entries for individual events. including relay entries. Relay teams shall have at least four names listed and an entry time, which may be an unofficial time or official time.

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Page_25; III. League Rules and Policies; I. Disqualifications; 11. Coaches, assistants and/or spectators shall not be allowed in the starting, turn, finish areas, ready bench area or within five (5)feet of swimming pools, except to assist a swimmer with a prescribed medical device. Coaches, assistants and/or spectators shall not interfere with any meet official during the progress of any competition. No photography or digital recording is allowed in the restricted area behind the starting blocks. Starting area or area defined by the Meet Referee. Violation may result in expulsion from the meet at the discretion of the meet referee. This is for the privacy and protection of our swimmers while they are in a vulnerable position. Upon being apprised of a violation of this rule, it shall be the duty of the Meet Referee to remove, or have such offender

removed immediately.

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NWAL 2026 Summary of Rules Changes

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Page 30; V. Officials and Duties; A. MEET OFFICIALS

For all swimming meets there should not be less than the following:

1 Referee 4 Stroke and Turn Officials

1 Starter 1 Announcer

1 Chief Head Timer 1 Clerk of Course

2 Alternate Timers 1 Computer Person

3 Timers per lane (1Head Lane Timer/Scribe)

2 Ribbon Writers 1 from each team

1 Team Representative from each team

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Page 32; V. Officials and Duties; C. Certification and Recertification Requirements; 1. Certification of New Officials; d. Provisional Status; ii. The Provisional official shall be required to work a portion of three meets under the supervision of a Meet Referee, and to that Referee’s satisfaction. In order to become a fully certified official, the Provisional official shall return proof of completion of the required meet attendance to the Chairman of the Training and Certification Committee Their NWALcertified account within one month of the final NWAL Scheduled meet for the season. Any Provisional officials who do not complete this requirement shall revert to their previous level of certification, and shall be required to certify as a new official at the level they were Provisionally Certified.

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Page 33; V. Officials and Duties; C. Certification and Recertification Requirements;

4. Coach Certification Responsibilities

1. See Appendix F for certification and coach responsibilities

5. RECERTIFICATION OF OFFICIALS

1. Referees will have a yearly Refresher test.
2. Recertification of Referees, Starters, Stroke and Turn Officials,Clerk of Course, Computer, Team Representative , and Coaches may be required. Recertification procedures shall be determined by the Chairman of the Training Certification Committee subject to the approval of the Board.

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NWAL 2026 Summary of Rules Changes

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6. Expired Certification

Page 33; V. Officials and Duties; F. Duties of Officials; 1. Referee

b.The Meet/Deck Referee may overrule any meet official on a point of rule interpretation, or on a judgment decision pertaining to an action which he/she has personally observed (except for relay takeoffs in meets using dual confirmation). The Meet/Deck Referee shall may also disqualify swimmer(s) for any violations of the rules that he/she personally observes. The Meet Referee may remove any person from the meet area for Unsportsmanlike Conduct.

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Page 36; V. Officials and Duties; F. Duties of Officials; 1. Referee

L. The Meet/Deck Referee shall ensure that officials use the language of the rulebook in describing violations in writing and in communication of disqualifications to swimmers and coaches. Disqualification codes are provided by the makers of meet software for ease of reference by the computer personnel. On deck, disqualification codes can be used in conjunction with the written disqualification, but they cannot replace them. However, failure to use the language of the rulebook in describing violations does not invalidate a disqualification(See Appendix C, for further clarification on swimmers with disabilities)

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Page 40; V. Officials and Duties; F. Duties of Officials;2. Starter

B. Start; ii. For each Heat following the first Heat of an event, the starter shall announce the heat number and request the swimmers to “step up” onto the blocks for forward start events or “step in” for backstroke start events. When the Deck Referee is satisfied that the course is clear, and the swimmers are ready, he/she shall blow a single long whistle. The starter shall then announce distance and stroke, pause and then address the swimmers with the command “take your mark,” in a calm, conversational tone. When, in the starter’s judgment, the swimmers are stationary and ready to begin the race, the starter shall sound the starting signal.

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NWAL 2026 Summary of Rules Changes

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Page 44-45_; V. Officials and Duties; F. Duties of Officials;4. Timers

a. Chief Head Timer

i. Assignment of Timers to lanes shall be the responsibility of the Chief Head Timer.

ii. The Chief Timer shall be responsible for delivery to the Scorers of all Official Times as reported to them by the Head Lane Timers, including the times of disqualified Swimmers.

ii. There shall be at least two (2) Alternate Timer Watches, started by the Head Timer, whose time shall be used only as a substitute in the event of failure of an Official Lane Timer's watch or its operator. Alternate Timers may substitute for Official Lane Timers only in the event of failure of a watch or its operator.

b. Head Lane Timer/Scribe

The Chief Head Timer may designate one Timer/Scribe on each lane as the Head Lane Timer/Scribe. The Head Lane Timer/Scribe shall be responsible for the following

i. Determination if the proper swimmer is in his lane and in position visible to the starter.

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NWAL 2026 Summary of Rules Changes

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Timers Continued

ii. Determination of and recording of all watch times.

c. Lane Timers

The Timers shall be placed directly over their assigned lane at the finish. Teams must use equal representation per lane when possible.

i. Each Timer shall look at the strobe light and start his/her watch at the instant of the strobe flash never by sound.

ii. All watches shall be stopped immediately when in the opinion of the Timer any part of the swimmer’s body touches the solid end of the pool or course.

NOTE: It is not the responsibility of the Lane Timer to judge if the finish touch meets the requirements of the appropriate stroke rule.

iii. All Lane Timers shall promptly report their times to the Head Lane Timer/Scribe or his designate, present their watches for inspection if required, and shall not clear them until given the "Clear Watches" command.

iv. The time of each watch is recorded by the Head Lane Timer, or designated Scribe, on the Lane Timer's card, and the Official Time of the lane established as provided above.

v. Timers should report the times from their watches in the same order on the card for each heat.

d. Alternate Timers

There shall be at least two (2) Alternate Timers, whose time shall be used only as a substitute in the event of failure of an Official Lane Timer's watch or its operator. Alternate Timers may substitute for Official Lane Timers only in the event of failure of a watch or its operator. Moved to Head Timer

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NWAL 2026 Summary of Rules Changes

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Page 47; V. Officials and Duties; F. Duties of Officials;8. Coaches

8. COACHES

a. Coaches shall obtain an annual background check that is cleared by NWAL before working with any NWAL swimmer in or out of the water.

b. Coaches must pass the NWAL coaches test with 90% success before working with any NWAL swimmer in or out of the water.

a. See Appendix F: Coaches Responsibilities

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Page 52; VII: Facilities;B.Recommended; 4. TWO WAY RADIOS

The use of Two Way Radios for communication between Officials is recommended but optional. The use of Two Way Radios shall follow the latest published NWAL guidelines available on the NWAL web site.

a. The Meet Referee is responsible for accepting the radios to be used, the channel used, the assignment of radios to Officials, and the protocols for radio use by Officials.

b.The use of radios for communication between Officials should be on a channel that is for Officials only.

c.Radios do not eliminate the requirement to signal an observed infraction by immediately raising one hand over head with palm open.

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NWAL 2026 Summary of Rules Changes

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Stroke Rule Change

Page 59; VIII. The Strokes, Relays, and Finishes

E. Individual Medley

2. Rules pertaining to each stroke used shall govern where applicable. except for the Freestyle where the swimmer can swim in any manner other than a legal butterfly, breast or backstroke (a legal backstroke shall include a propulsive motion of the arms or legs while the swimmer is towards the back).

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Page 60; VIII. The Strokes, Relays, and Finishes

H. Medley Relay

2. Rules pertaining to each stroke used shall govern where applicable. except for the Freestyle where the swimmer can swim in any manner other than a legal butterfly, breast or backstroke (a legal backstroke shall include a propulsive motion of the arms or legs while the swimmer is towards the back).

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NWAL 2026 Summary of Rules Changes

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Page 62-63; Meet Referee Appendix A:

n) The Meet Referee shall ensure that Computer Personnel determine the Official Time for each lane in each race using the Primary Timing System (as described in VI.C.) according to the following procedure:

i) Automatic Timing

a) The NWAL intends to mirror the Automatic Timing protocols in use by USA Swimming and the National Federation of High School Swimming. The current version of this protocol in use by the NWAL is available at https://nwal.org/nwal-downloads under the "Touchpad Protocol" link.

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q. Shall prohibit the use of tobacco products in the ready bench area, finish, or starting area of the swimming pool deck;

q.Shall prohibit the use of tobacco and vaping products in the vicinity of the meet. (Note: vapes also added to the NWAL Code of Conduct document)

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T. Shall, in those situations where an individual is unable to comply with the literal meaning of a rule by reason of a physical handicap, interpret the rule in such a way as to allow the individual to comply so long as no advantage or disadvantage is conferred upon other competitors or that individual; (Note: Specific guidelines for officiating swimmers with disabilities are posted on the NWAL website.) (Note: See Appendix C: Guidelines and Recommendations for Officiating Swimmers with Disabilities)

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W. Shall ensure that officials use the language of the rulebook in describing violations in writing and in communication of disqualifications to swimmers and coaches. Disqualification codes are provided by the makers of meet software for ease of reference by the computer personnel. On deck, disqualification codes can be used in conjunction with the written disqualification, but they cannot replace them. However, failure to use the language of the rulebook in describing violations does not invalidate a disqualification(See Appendix C, for further clarification on swimmer with disabilities)

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X. May prohibit the display of insignia that violates the Insignia Rule;

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NWAL 2026 Summary of Rules Changes

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PG. 74;Create Appendix F: Coaches Responsibilities

Contained in this document are rules, procedures, and guidelines that you as a coach should know in order to effectively execute the duties of your position.   These rules and responsibilities are in line with the NWAL Rulebook.

Coaches Certification:

• Coaches shall obtain an annual background check that is cleared by NWAL before working with an NWAL swimmer in or out of the water.
• Coaches must pass the NWAL coaches test with 90% success before working with any NWAL swimmer in and out of the water.

NWAL Safe Kids:

• Coaches will abide by NWAL Safe Kids Policies and Guidelines, found on the NWAL.org website.

NWAL Code of Conduct:

• Coaches will abide by the NWAL Code of Conduct, found on the NWAL.org website.

NWAL League Rules and Policies

• Coaches should know the league rules and policies in regards to
• Entries, Events and Seeding - pg.
• Scratch Meeting- pg
• Exhibition Swimming pg
• Divisional Meets pg
• Disqualifications pg
• Protest and Disciplinary actions pg
• Facilities pg.
• Strokes, Relay and Finishes pg.
• Appendix A: Separation of Duties: Meet Referee and Deck Referee pg.
• Appendix B: Order of Events pg.
• Appendix C: Swimmers with Disabilities pg.
• Appendix H: Team Representative Job Description pg

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NWAL 2026 Summary of Rules Changes

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Appendix G: Pg. 75-77 Division Representative Job Description

March: Attend NWAL Board meeting. Agenda traditionally includes:

• Approval of special divisional rules.

• Approval of bid for divisional medals.

• Approval of bids for invitational meets.

• Remind Team Representatives of certification process.

April: Check with teams to assure they have distributed information on training for officials and coaches to the appropriate team Members.

May: Call and conduct a divisional meeting to begin discussion of divisional meet. (See Rule III.H.)

• Program for divisionals.

• Entry limitations.

• Trophies.

• Heat ribbons.

• Other expenses (including money for medals).

• Complete exchange of team information

June: Record dual meet scores as reported by host team rep following each meet.

Call and conduct a division meeting to finalize plans for divisional meet:

• Officials and other personnel.

• Team Areas.

• Warm-up schedules.

• Concessions.

• Parking.

• Other specifics.

July: Complete final report on season and return to the League Manager.

• Remind Team Representatives to complete annual survey for team dues discount.
• Remind Team Representatives to check on all provisional officials to upload VOD forms.

NWAL 2026 Summary of Rules Changes

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Appendix H: Pg. 78 Team Representative Job Description

4. Other Duties

• Payment of NWAL dues in a timely manner.

• Assure Team Rosters up to date in NWAL’s Prescribed Team Management Software.

• NWAL Roles are updated in NWAL’s Prescribed Team Management Software.

• Supplying requested meet personnel for dual meets, divisional, and post season invitationals, e.g. Ponderosa, All Star.

• Ensuring that the final roster of active swimmers is up to date and accurate.

• Preparing and returning year end survey timely.

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Team Representative Job Description

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METHOD OF SELECTION AND TERM: To be determined by the Team. It is advisable for the team reps to be selected prior to the January Annual Meeting and serve throughout the season.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Desire to represent one’s team in decisions made by the division.
• Knowledge of NWAL rules (Referee certification is desirable).
• Experience as a team parent with knowledge of team operation.
• Willingness to communicate with team board, division representative, and other team reps.
• Willingness to attend division meetings (3 or 4 per season).
• Time available to do the job.
• Recommend the person be an active member of the team board.
• Must become certified as a Team Representative through NWAL’s certification process.

GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES: The team rep’s main responsibility is to serve as a communication link between team and the league, division and other teams. This involves not only passing on information from the league or division to the team but also gathering information from the team and returning it to the league or division. Often a team rep may delegate certain responsibilities to other team board members or committees but the team rep is ultimately responsible for assuring the information is provided correctly and on time.

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Team Representative Job Description

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SPECIFIC DUTIES:

• Attend league and division meetings to represent the team's views on items to be decided by the division and provide input to the division rep on matters concerning the league.
• Encourage certification and re-certification of officials and potential officials on your team by forwarding training and testing dates and information to parents.
• Make sure the team has supplied the necessary forms, data, money, or personnel as required by the league or division.
• Other duties:

• Payment of NWAL dues in a timely manner.

• Assure Team Rosters up to date in NWAL’s Prescribed Team Management Software.

• NWAL Roles are updated in NWAL’s Prescribed Team Management Software.

• Supplying requested meet personnel for dual meets, divisional, and mid and post season invitationals, e.g. Ponderosa, All Star.

• Preparing and returning year end survey timely.

• Represent the team and be the point of communication with other teams and the Meet Referee during swimming meets.
• Communicate problems involving other teams to the division rep.
• Shall remain engaged during the meet for the interest of their team through the entire meet and until the Meet Referee has signed off on the meet Final Results.
• Shall ensure their team has sufficient volunteers to fulfill the needs of equal representation of all including but not limited to, Certified Officials, Meet Results Entry (middle time selection), Results Entry Verification, Lane Timers, Scribes and Ready Bench.

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Eligibility and Waivers: Pre-Season

The goal of the NWAL is to promote a competitive program for community swimmers. The intent of the following rules regarding team representations is to promote the community concept and at the same time make provisions for situations where NWAL swimmers' families are Members of a Club or reside in an area that does not have a community team.

“Community” is defined as a local neighborhood entity that may include subdivisions, villages, unnamed areas, or aggregates of these up to and including cities. A “Club” is defined as a commercial business that may include country clubs, health clubs, YMCA’s, etc.

“Member of a Club” means one who has paid a club’s normally charged initiation, annual or monthly fees and is entitled to full use (for class of membership) of the facilities year round (this specifically excludes swim team only memberships and clubs without other substantial facilities which would induce membership.

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• A swimmer who lives in a community represented by a NWAL swim team shall swim for the community team. The core area, or boundary of the team follow this hierarchy:
• If the community is governed by a Homeowners Association (HOA) or equivalent, the boundary of the team is the boundary of the HOA or equivalent
• If the community is a municipality (city, town, township), the boundary of the team is the city or town limits (not including the City of Houston).
• If the community has more than one team, then written criteria for determining the boundary of the team and/or distribution of swimmers must have been submitted to the League Officers for approval and kept by the teams.

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Eligibility and Waivers: Pre-Season

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• If a swimmer is also a Member of a Club represented by the NWAL, or resides in more than one community represented by the NWAL, the swimmer may choose the team he or she wishes to represent, but the swimmer shall represent the same team throughout the swim season.
• Any swimmer who lives in the area covered by the NWAL but does not live in a community represented by a NWAL team may join an NWAL team for which he or she meets that team’s membership requirements. In this case a swim team-only membership will be allowed.
• Paid coaches are ineligible to swim in the NWAL. Coaches shall follow the Coach Certification referenced in V.F.8
• Coaches' children may swim with the team their parents coach and meet that teams' membership requirements. A waiver is required to be on file in the event that the parent does not coach that team in subsequent years.
• Only NOVICE SWIMMERS may participate in the League. A NOVICE SWIMMER is any individual up to and including eighteen (18) years of age.
• Eligibility for an age group is determined by the individual age as of the end of the day on May 1 of the current year.
• To maintain a stable environment for team competition, it is expected that swimmers and their families shall not seek, nor be encouraged, to change NWAL teams except as an incident of a move of the family residence. The NWAL’s eligibility rules are established with this purpose in mind, recognizing that an individual’s opportunity to participate on a particular team shall be appropriately balanced against the League’s legitimate interest in maintaining stability and competitive fairness within the League. The NWAL Board may investigate and provide appropriate sanctions with regard to any instances that it deems may affect the stability and competitive fairness of the League.

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Eligibility and Waivers: Pre-Season

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1. Requests for eligibility waivers or exceptions shall be approved by the receiving Team Representative and the sending or original team as soon as possible. An eligibility waiver will be submitted using the NWAL Certification site for approval. The following are suggested exceptions that the Division(s) may consider (not all inclusive):
• Diagnosed disabilities that would be better served in a different age group or different team.
• Circumstances outside the swimmer’s control that would prevent the swimmer from otherwise being able to participate in NWAL swimming
• Swimmer previously given permission to swim on wrong team without the properly approved waiver.
• Swimmer denied membership because of team size restriction. (Only needs to be approved one time, not each year.)

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J. Every swimmer must complete all of their team’s registration requirements and agree to a waiver of all liabilities of NWAL and its teams before participating at any practice or swim meet. Any swimmer requiring an eligibility waiver or exception to swim for a team must (in addition to completing any and all registration requirements) have submitted an eligibility waiver to NWAL and received approval from NWAL for such eligibility waiver before participating at any practice or swim meets for such team. The deadline for requesting an eligibility waiver is prior to the first dual meet.

• Any waiver requests not approved by the affected Division may be appealed to the NWAL League Officers. All eligibility waivers approved at the Division level shall be submitted and approved using the NWAL Certification site for Waivers. The League Officers have the authority to override any eligibility waiver decisions made at the Division level in order to maintain consistency across the League. All appeals and Division-approved waivers shall be submitted on the NWAL Certification site for Waivers no later than two weeks prior to the start of the NWAL season. All approved waivers shall be displayed on the NWAL Certification Site for Waivers no later than the start of the NWAL season. All approved waivers are considered to be permanent unless there is a change in the swimmer’s eligibility circumstances.
• Any team wishing to contest the validity of a submitted waiver must provide documented proof to the satisfaction of the NWAL League Officers that the exception for the waiver is invalid or false.
• The violation of any of the above eligibility requirements may result in forfeiture of each meet in which an ineligible swimmer participated. [Note: The score of a forfeited meet, regardless of the reason for the forfeit, shall be 749 to 747. Violations determined by the NWAL League Officers to be willful or premeditated shall result in additional disciplinary action up to and including expulsion of both swimmer and team from the League.

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Monitoring Registration for Waivers

Log into your Teams Swimtopia Website> Manage>Click on Reports>Registration Details> Generate Report> Download Data to a Spreadsheet> Sort

Certifying Officials and Badges: Pre-Season

• It is the Team Representatives responsibility to print badges for all officials and coaches. You are the only one that has access to this.
• Team Representatives are to help guide all new and returning officials through the process of getting certified for the current season.
• Officials must log into their account and complete a background check every year.
• Once the background check is in and the Compliance attaches it to their account, their badge will populate.
• New Officials or Officials seeking certification at a new level must complete the course and pass the test.
• All Coaches MUST be certified (pass background check and NWAL coaches test) before the first practice. Please encourage them immediately when hired to complete the log in and background check and to take and pass the NWAL coaches test. This is for liability purposes.
• Their badge will populate when their test is completed.
• Please let coaches know they need to use the rulebook and the coaches guide off of the website to pass the test.
• 18 and Younger hired Coaches will send an e-mail to Compliance from their parents stating their good status in the community and they give consent to work for the team as a coach.
• Advice: Print more than one badge and bring them to the meets incase someone loses theirs.

Meet Officials Certification

• Certification and Recertification Requirements
1. Certification of New Officials

Candidates for certification shall be at least 19 years old and submit to an annual background check.

• Lectures.

Candidates for certification as Referees, Stroke and Turn Officials, Starters , Clerk of Course, Computer, and Team Representative shall attend a scheduled lecture for each level of certification attempt during the year that they attempt to be certified.

• On-deck training.

Candidates for certification as Stroke and Turn Officials or Starters shall attend a scheduled on-deck training session for the appropriate for the level of certification they are attempting. Referee, Clerk of Course, Team Representative, and Computer does not require on deck training.

• Tests.

Candidates for Certification as Referees, Stroke and Turn Officials, Starters, Coach, Clerk of Course, Computer, Team Representatives shall take a test and pass the test with the following minimum scores (the test is open book):

Referee 85% correct�Stroke and Turn 90% correct�Starter 90% correct�Coach 90% correct�Clerk of Course 90% correct�Computer 90% correct�Team Rep 90% correct

All recertification tests must be passed with 85% obtainment.

Except as authorized by the Chairman of the Training and Certification Committee, the written examination may be attempted up to five (5)

times each certification year. If the candidate does not pass by the 5th attempt, they shall either re-take the class that year or may wait until the next year to take the class again.

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Meet Officials Certification

• Provisional Status. (Applies only to Stroke and Turn Officials, Starters and Referees)
1. When a candidate has successfully completed all of the requirements for lectures on-deck training, and testing, the candidate shall be awarded Provisional status.
2. The Provisional official shall be required to work a portion of three meets under the supervision of a Meet Referee, and to that Referee’s satisfaction. In order to become a fully certified official, the Provisional official shall return proof of completion of the required meet attendance to their NWALcertified account within one month of the final NWAL Scheduled meet for the season. Any Provisional officials who do not complete this requirement shall revert to their previous level of certification, and shall be required to certify as a new official at the level they were Provisionally Certified.
3. Clerk of course, Team Representative and Computer shall not require a provisional certification.

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*** Once they have uploaded their vod to their nwalcertified account, you will need to print a new badge***

Meet Officials Certification

• Referee
• In addition to the above rules, candidates for Referee shall have a minimum of one (1) year prior experience as a Certified NWAL Starters. Hardship waivers of the 1-year prior certification requirement shall be requested by the Referee candidate in advance of the beginning of the NWAL season. Waiver requests shall be decided by the Chairman of the Training and Certification Committee.
• Starter
• Candidates for Starter shall have a minimum Certified Stroke and Turn Official. Hardship waivers of the 1-year prior certification requirement shall be requested by the Starter candidate in advance of the beginning of the NWAL season.
• Recertification of Officials

a. Referees will have a yearly Refresher test.

B. Recertification of Referees, Starters, Stroke and Turn Officials,Clerk of Course, Computer, Team Representative , and Coaches may be required. Recertification

procedures shall be determined by the Chairman of the Training Certification Committee subject to the approval of the Board.

4. Expired Certification

Any official who lets his or her certification expire may only be recertified by meeting the requirements for certification as a new official except as authorized by the Chairman of the Training and Certification Committee.

*** Team Representative will help guide Officials through the Certification Process***

*** Starters Recertify this year by Test only. Even if they became certified in 2025***

Coaches Certification

When they log in, they will become active. They can’t get their background attached till they do that or create an account.

Note: It is your responsibility to check that all officials and coaches have badge.

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They must have logged into nwalcertified, completed a background check, and completed any testing if necessary.

Print several copies of badges as coaches and officials often misplace them.

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Prior to the Meet: Meet Exchange

• The Entry List is the Official List.

The meet entry list shall be exchanged by Thursday at 6:00 P.M. Exchanges shall be performed through NWAL’s prescribed Team Management software and a PDF of Meet Entries shall be emailed to the other team simultaneously. Failure to exchange at the agreed time may be classified as unsportsmanlike conduct, and may be subject to sanction by the League Officers.

• If, as a matter of convenience, both team officials agree to an exchange of data at a time other than the Thursday 6:00 P.M. deadline, then the lists become official at the time of the exchange, and no subsequent modifications shall be allowed except those normally permitted during the scratch meeting.
• If discrepancies are discovered before the meet begins that are clearly due to human error, the Meet Referee has the discretion to make any adjustments as long as written documentation has been presented.
• In the event that discrepancies in entries are discovered after the entries have been exchanged, the Exchanged PDF of swimmer entry lists exchanged on Thursday shall be considered the official entry lists.

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Meet Entries: Seeding/Official Time

• Seeding
• General
1. All entry lists and seeding shall have the fastest Official Time. An Official Time is one that was swum without disqualification at a meet which was sanctioned by the NWAL in the current season. Non-official times may be used for an event (or for a stroke on a relay) only when the swimmer has not established an Official Time in the current season. If a non-official time is used, it shall be established at a time trial. Assisted swimming results in a N/T or no time and is not valid for entry into an NWAL sanctioned meet. A time swum in a meet, without a disqualification, that is delayed due to climatic conditions and not rescheduled is an Official Time. Split times are NOT Official Times.
2. Official Times shall be used for all entries at Divisionals and post season invitationals for individual events. Relay teams shall have at least four names listed and an entry time, which may be an unofficial time or official time.
3. A time trial may be scheduled at any time during the current season, in a NWAL certified pool and it does not need to be run using a standard meet format. However, all time trials must be completed in a NWAL-standard pool (VII.A.). NWAL officials are not required to be present in order to establish a non- official time at a time trial.
4. Entry times for invitational meets shall be Official Times obtained during an NWAL meet or sanctioned invitational. The seed time for relays shall be established by adding the fastest Official Times of the individual swimmers for the stroke that they are swimming on the relay.
5. Entries submitted with no time (N/T) shall not be allowed.

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Seeding in Lanes

Note: A swimmer is not scratched for failure to get to the ready bench. However, If the swimmer left the meet/scratched post printing of the heat sheets, that is when the COC has the authority to communicate changes to lanes, etc to the deck referee. This is where the COC with the Deck Referee make every attempt to not have a swimmer swim alone and seed the last heat full. Documentation on COC heat sheets, deck referee heat sheets, and on lane timer sheets.

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Number of Events/Relays

• Number of Events a Swimmer may Enter
• Swimmers may enter no more than three (3) individual events. Swimmers may not swim individual events in more than one age group. Swimmers may not swim more than 1 freestyle relay and 1 medley relay. A swimmer who participates in more than three (3) individual events or individual events in more than one age group; more than one (1) freestyle relay; or more than one (1) medley relay during a meet shall be disqualified in all events, including relays, in which the swimmer was entered.
• An event is defined by the stroke, gender and age group. For example, 9 & 10 Boys Freestyle is an event. Freestyle alone is not classified as an event. This means there are 80 events in a dual meet and 86 events in a divisional meet.
• A swimmer is not officially scratched until the swimmer fails to step up onto the blocks prior to the Deck Referee’s whistle.
4. Relay Entries
• Dual Meets
1. A club may enter up to three (3) teams in each dual meet relay event. Only one (1) relay team entered is eligible to score points. (See Scoring III.6.a.v)
2. Relay teams shall have at least four names listed and an official time (see III.5.a.i for the definition of an official time)
3. All swimmers listed on the official entry list are automatically alternates for both relays in their respective age groups. Alternates may be substituted for the relay members listed on the official entry list.
4. If a team enters more than one relay in an event, the members of each relay team are considered alternates to the other relay teams in that event.
5. The four swimmers in the relay shall be recorded on the lane timer sheet at the ready bench.

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Number of Events/Relays

Divisional Meets

• A club may only enter one (1) team in each relay event.
• Relay teams shall have at least four names listed and an official time (see scoring III.5.a.i for establishing an official time).
• All swimmers listed on the official entry list are automatically alternates for both relays in their respective age groups. Alternates may be substituted for the relay members listed on the official entry list.
• The four swimmers in the relay shall be recorded on the lane timer sheet at the ready bench.
• The number of relays a swimmer can participate in will be decided at the annual meeting. The division can choose either 2 relays per swimmer or 3 relays per swimmer. NWAL highly encourages each division to choose 2 relays per swimmer to allow for additional swimmers to participate in relays at divisional meets. The mixed relay shall consist of 2 girls and 2 boys per mixed relay event.

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Scratch Meeting: Morning of Meet

• Scratch Meeting
• The purpose of the scratch meeting is to make adjustments on relay teams in age groups that have been reduced to fewer than four swimmers because one or more of the swimmers did not show up for the meet by the time of the scratch meeting. Teams may scratch a swimmer who is not attending the meet and reseed the meet. 
• At the scratch meeting a team may move a swimmer officially entered in the meet from a lower age group into a relay for a higher age group (up to two age groups) of the same gender provided that the team does not have enough swimmers in the higher age group available. The swimmer moved into the higher age group for one or more relays may remain in all individual events originally entered in the lower age group. Swimmers are only allowed to swim one freestyle and one medley relay at dual meets. After making these Adjustments, all swimmers must remain in compliance with the number of events a swimmer may enter.
• Substitution of alternates on relay teams may be done at any time, not necessarily during the scratch meeting.
• Swimmers may be entered into the meet at the scratch meeting with approval of both team representatives and the Meet Referee.
• No adjustments shall be made after the start of the meet. The fact that a relay alternate swims is not an adjustment

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** You need to be available in the computer room to approve changes**

Meet Officials/Attire

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• Meet Officials

For all swimming meets there should not be less than the following:

1 Referee 4 Stroke and Turn Officials

1 Starter 1 Announcer

1 Head Timer 1 Clerk of Course

1 Computer Person

3 Timers per lane (1 Head Lane Timer/Scribe)

2 Ribbon - 1 from each team

1 Team Representative from each team

An individual may act in more than one capacity when necessary.

All NWAL swim meets are required to have a Referee present to act as Meet Referee. A provisional Referee can also act as Meet Referee. Meets conducted without a Meet Referee will lose Sanction and may continue but all times swum will be considered as unofficial.

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• Officials’ Attire

While officiating during any regularly scheduled NWAL swim meet, including Divisional Meets and Invitational Meets, Referees, Stroke and Turn Officials, Starters, Clerk of Course, and Computer Certified Personnel shall wear a standard uniform which bears no writing, symbol, insignia, or other mark identifying the official's NWAL swim team affiliation. The standard NWAL uniform shall be a white collared shirt with sleeves (Sleeves or cap sleeves are allowed for ladies) and navy-blue pants,shorts or skirt. NWAL Board approved shirts with NWAL insignia may be worn on deck by only qualified officials.

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Meet Officials

• Meet Officials Requirements
• NWAL certified Referees, Stroke and Turn Officials, Starters and Clerk of Course, Computer shall officiate at regularly scheduled NWAL swim meet, including the Divisional Meets and Invitational Swim Meets. If additional non NWAL certified stroke and turn officials, ready bench or computer personnel are required they will work under the supervision of and direction of a NWAL certified official.
1. Teams without a certified Referee may use their Provisional Referee in the capacity of Meet Referee only if
1. The team is unable to secure a certified Referee from another team in NWAL, and
2. The team's opponent elects not to use their certified Referee in the capacity of Meet Referee.
2. Teams without a sufficient number of Stroke and Turn officials to handle their assignment coverage shall allow the opponent to use their certified officials.
3. All teams at an NWAL meet shall, whenever possible, have equal representation of all duties, including but not limited to, on-deck officials, Meet Results Entry (middle time selection), Results Entry Verification, Lane Timers, Scribes and Ready Bench. Any deviation from this operational balance can be considered unsportsmanlike conduct.

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Duties of Officials: Meet Referee

MEET REFEREE

An individual may not act simultaneously as the Team Representative and the Meet Referee. The Meet Referee can simultaneously fulfill any of the deck roles including Deck Referee, Starter, and Stroke & Turn official and will remain the Meet Referee.

The Meet Referee:

• Is ultimately accountable for ensuring that NWAL meets are operated according to the current NWAL rules and other applicable sanctioning documents;
• Shall determine if adjustments to Official Entry Lists are allowed due to discrepancies caused by human error;
• Shall have full authority over all officials and shall assign and instruct them;
• Shall determine preferences for open lanes, reseeding and combining of events;
• Is accountable for the Scratch meeting, officials meeting, and Timers meeting;
• Shall enforce all the rules and shall decide all questions relating to the actual conduct of the meet, including eliminating any behavior by an official, coach, competitor or spectator that interferes with the operation of the meet by means of, but not limited to, suspension of the meet or forfeiture;
• May overrule any meet official on a point of rule interpretation, or on a judgment decision pertaining to an action which he/she has personally observed (except for relay takeoffs in meets using dual confirmation);

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• It is the Meet Referee’s job to see that the meet is run fairly for all swimmers.
• The Team Representative works with the Meet Referee as a liaison between the team and the Meet Referee to communicate decisions and outcomes.

Scoring

• Scoring
• General:
1. Places shall be awarded on a time basis. If the time of relay teams or swimmers are identical, those swimmers or relay teams shall be declared tied. The fastest and succeeding times shall place the order of finish.
2. When two or more competitors tie, the points of the places involved shall be added together and equally divided among the tied participants.
3. When an individual or relay team is disqualified, the following places move up in order of finish.
4. No event points or event ribbons shall be awarded to the disqualified entry or team.
5. The total number of first places shall be used to determine the winner of a meet if both teams are equal in total points. The total number of second places shall be used to determine the winner if the score is tied and the number of first places is equal
1. Dual Meets:
1. Individual Events: 7-5-4-3-2-1�(1^st through 6^th place respectively)
2. Relays: 7-3 �(A team may only score relay points for one place. If one team wins both 1^st and 2^nd place then only 1^st place (7 points) shall be awarded)
2. Divisional Meets:
• Individual Events: 14-12-10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2 � (1^st through 12^th place respectively)
• 5 Team Divisional Relays: 14-10-7-5-3 �(1^st through 5^th place respectively)
• 6 Team Divisional Relays: 14-10-7-5-3-1 �(1^st through 6^th place respectively)

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Ending a Meet

• Rules for Ending a Meet
• The meet is considered officially ended when the last swimmer touches the wall in the last heat on the schedule, assuming all active protests have been resolved.
• Within 15 minutes of completion of the final heat of the final event and resolution of all issues and protests, the Meet Referee shall verify the score and if found correct, shall sign the score sheet, thus establishing the Official Score. The Official Score shall not be changed later, unless within 48 hours after the completion of the meet a Team Representative brings to the attention of the Meet Referee or a NWAL Officer an error which affects the outcome of the meet.
• If the Meet Referee neglects to sign the Official Score sheet after a meet, the results as indicated on the score sheet become official 15 minutes after completion of the last heat of the last event. The Official Score shall not be changed later, unless within 24 hours after the completion of the meet a Team Representative brings to the attention of the Meet Referee or an NWAL Officer an error which affects the outcome of the meet.
• For Dual meets, the host team shall upload the full electronic results (*.cl2 and *.mdb files (zipped)) to the NWAL Team Management Software within 48 hours of the conclusion of the meet. Failure to provide the results prior to this deadline shall be considered Unsportsmanlike Conduct, and shall result in disciplinary action at the discretion of the NWAL League Officers. NWAL teams using the prescribed Team Management Software to run the meet will not have to upload results they will be uploaded automatically during the meet.
• Times that are entered in error that are discovered after the 48-hour upload period will be brought to an NWAL Officer's attention by the Meet Referee. The NWAL officer will look into the error with the support of the teams involved and if this time is deemed to negatively impact the swimmer the time will be adjusted. The Change in time will not change the result score of the meet.

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Team Rep: Protests and Disciplinary Actions

• Protests and Disciplinary Actions
• Certified Team Reps or Coaches are the only Team members to approach a Meet Referee of a disputed call, protest or disciplinary action.
• Protests against judgment decisions of starters, stroke, turn, and relay takeoff judges shall only be considered by the Meet Referee, who has the authority to disqualify swimmers for any violation of the rules that he personally observes.
• Any other protest arising from the competition itself shall be made to the Meet Referee prior to the completion of the meet. If the protest is not resolved immediately, the protesting Team Representative may, within 36 hours, file a written protest accompanied by $100 to their Division Representative or to a League Officer for Board adjudication at the earliest possible time which shall then be binding on all parties. Any monies received with protests are non-refundable unless the protest resolved in favor of the protester.
• Until final action is determined, the results of any heat, event, or meet conducted under protest shall not be announced, and awards for that contested situation shall not be awarded nor scoring of points allowed unless the protest is officially withdrawn.
• Disciplinary action taken by a Meet Referee against a coach or official shall be reported in writing to the First Vice-President before the next scheduled meet.
• The League Officers shall have the final authority to censure or discipline team personnel.
• The League Officers shall have the discretion to refer any protest to the Training and Certification Committee for input, clarification and recommendations prior to ruling on the protest.
• Physical, mental and verbal abuse of any of the participants, coaches, managers, employees, spectators or volunteers involved in our sponsored activities is not permitted before, during or after sponsored activities.
1. Notwithstanding requirements to report allegations of sexual abuse immediately to the proper authorities, allegations of abuse away from competition are to be made first to the Meet Referee and, if before or after the meet, should be made to the respective Team Representatives for reporting to the First Vice President / Head of Officials.
2. Unless referred to NWAL legal counsel or insurance claims adjuster, allegations will be adjudicated by the Head of Officials, utilizing appropriate investigation techniques and reports from the respective parties involved.
3. Decisions by the First Vice President / Head of Officials may be appealed to League Officers for review. Decisions by the League Officers are final.

NWAL Incident Report

Form Link

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Team Rep: Delay or Postponement of Meets

3. Delay or Postponement of Meets Due to Climatic Conditions
• The Host Team Meet Referee, working with the Team Reps for both teams, may postpone a dual meet up to 24 hours prior to that meet due to unfavorable climatic conditions or unavailability of the pool.
• If a dual meet has progressed through event 60, and is suspended due to unfavorable climatic conditions, the meet is considered complete, no reschedule is necessary, and the results through the last event completed shall be the final score.
• The Visiting Team may also postpone a dual meet up to 24 hours prior to scheduled meet start, due to circumstances which would significantly impact their participation, and shall do so only with concurrence of the Host Team Meet Referee and both Team Reps.
• In either of the above situations (A and B), the process for re-scheduling of the meet must be followed as per rule IV.C. If either team should be without a Meet Referee, contact NWAL 1st VP (Officials@nwal.org) to ensure that your team is represented in this process.

Team Rep: Delay or Postponement of Meets

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E. Swimming competition shall be suspended immediately when thunder is heard, or lightning is visible.

• The meet shall be suspended until 15 minutes after the last thunder was heard or the last lightning was sighted. Note that local facility rules and/or pool management rules regarding thunderstorm suspension, should they exist, take precedence over NWAL rules.
• When a meet is suspended because of lightning and/or thunder, the pool area shall be cleared immediately of all participants, officials, and spectators.
• When a meet in progress is suspended, the Meet Referee and both Team Representatives shall meet prior to leaving the facilities to determine what course of action to pursue.
• Delayed meet postponed.
1. Team Representatives may agree mutually to postpone any meet that has been suspended due to climatic conditions.
2. A meet suspended for 2 hours in the aggregate shall be considered postponed unless both Team Representatives agree otherwise.
• Re-scheduling of postponed meets is by mutual agreement. Any team acting in an unresponsive manner during the climatic rescheduling process will be considered as unsportsmanlike and risk meet forfeiture.
• In the event that Team Representatives cannot mutually agree to a date to reschedule a dual meet, the following procedure shall be implemented:
• The host team shall offer three (3) dates prior to the next scheduled meet when the facility will be available for rescheduling the meet. The rescheduled meet is to occur prior to the next scheduled meet.
• The visiting team shall select one of the dates to reschedule the meet.
• In the event that the facility is not available, or if by mutual agreement the meet is not rescheduled, the meet shall be declared a draw. In that event each team shall be awarded one half of the total points for the meet (748 points each for a dual meet).
• The Weather Delay Form, located on the NWAL website, shall be filled out by the host team when any weather delay or postponement occurs and be signed by both teams. This form shall be filled out during the delays and all information recorded. Failure to do so may result in forfeiture of the meet by the home team in the event of disagreements. This applies to both dual and divisional meets.
• Divisional meets shall be rescheduled and completed through event 86.
2. If other pool conditions such as water quality make it unsafe or inadvisable to swim, the meet shall be postponed and rescheduled as necessary using an approach consistent with Rule IV.B.

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Weather Delay Form

Form Link

Team Rep: Divisional Meets

• Divisional Meets
• Decisions such as fee amount, awards, time, place, number of entries, use of electronic touchpads, etc., are to be made by each Division's Team Representatives prior to the beginning of each year’s competition.
• Decisions on officials, concessions, and other incidental items shall be made by each Division's Team Representatives prior to the Divisional Meet.
• No team shall be considered the "Home" team for a Divisional Meet.
• Official Times shall be used for all divisional meet entries, including relay entries.
• For the Divisional meet the Division Representative shall ensure that the full electronic results (*.cl2 and *.mdb files (zipped)) and the score of the meet are uploaded to the NWAL Team Management Site within 24 hours of the conclusion of the meet. Failure to provide results prior to this deadline may be considered Unsportsmanlike Conduct of all Division team equally, and may result in disciplinary action at the discretion of the NWAL League Officers.
• In order to participate in Divisionals, swimmers must participate in 2 NWAL Certified Dual Meets. Participation is defined as a swimmer entering the water in an NWAL event with or without disqualification otherwise known as a splash.
• Teams do not have the option to forego divisional meets and must make a good faith effort to share proportionately in planning, costs, volunteers and assignments. Failure to participate or to provide the opportunity for equal representation may be considered unsportsmanlike conduct and is subject to NWAL sanction. A Meet Referee must be identified, and it is recommended that a Meet Coordinator be appointed. The Meet Coordinator does not have to be the Division Representative but is a likely candidate.

*** Divisional Planning Document Available on the NWAL Website as a guide.***

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• Be sure that Roles in your personal Teams Swimtopia is Updated!

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• Nwalcertified is a testing/certification platform, when NWAL send out e-mails with information to particular roles, for example to team reps, it goes to whomever you have as a person set to that role.

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Update your

Team Information Page

in

NWALCertified

NWAL Scholarships

https://www.nwal.org/

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Due by May 1st

Taking the Team Representative Test

• Once Attendance is Verified, you will be allowed to take the corresponding Team Rep test in nwalcertified.com
• Once you pass the test, you will Certified
• Please contact officials@nwal.org if your Team Rep Functions do not activate in nwalcertified.com
• Once your background check is in the system, your badge will populate.

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