Registration Checklist
Code of Conduct
General Meet Rules
Home Rules - Relay Carnival
Home Rules - Tri-Pool
Home Rules - Tri-Sectional
Home Rules - Novice
Home Rules - Championships

The Levittown Swimming Association (LSA) is limited to residents of the Hempstead/Oyster Bay Joint Pool District

1. REGISTRATION FORMS
   Provide a completed and signed copy of EACH of the following:
   □  LSA REGISTRATION FORM
   (the original and one copy)
   □  LSA CODE OF CONDUCT
   □  LSA HOLD HARMLESS AGREEMENT
2. PROOF OF IDENTITY
   □  Provide a photocopy of any ONE of the following:
   • Driver License
   • Government-issued ID card
   • Passport
3. PROOF OF RESIDENCY
   These are Town requirements; LSA has no flexibility to deviate.
   You must reside in the Joint Pool District. (see: pool map)
   □  Provide a photocopy of any ONE of the following:
   • Current Mortgage
   • Deed
   • Lease for legal 2-family apartment or apartment building
   • Current General Tax Bill (NOT School Tax bill)
     • Tax Bill must show taxes paid for
       "HEMP-OB-COM-HL/POOL PARK DIST"
   ► If the name/address on the Photo ID does not match the name/address on the mortgage/deed/lease/tax bill, in addition you must provide:

   □ A current letter from the child's school or school district office confirming the child is enrolled. Letter must show the child's full name and enrolled address.
4. PROOF OF AGE (NEW SWIMMERS ONLY)
   □  Provide a photocopy of any ONE of the following:

   • Birth Certificate
   • Passport
5. PAYMENT
   □  Cash or Check
   (made out to "Levittown Swimming Association" or "LSA")

The Levittown Swimming Association (LSA) enforces a Code of Conduct for all LSA sponsored events and practices. This code regards the treatment of swimmers and other children. The code is inflexible and strictly enforced. Parents, Coaches or Swimmers may be banned from attendance for any violation of the Code of Conduct.

1. The physical or verbal abuse of any swimmer by a Coach, Parent or other person connected to the organization is specifically forbidden. Physical abuse is defined as including (but not limited to) hitting, slapping, kicking, jerking, shaking or any other physical contact with the swimmer designed to discipline or humiliate. Verbal abuse is defined as any screaming or terminology directed at a swimmer with the intent of humiliating or demeaning the swimmer.
2. Profanity, obscenities, smoking (including vapor products), the drinking of alcoholic beverages or consumption of illegal drugs is strictly prohibited around the swimmers (meets and practices).
3. Any display of poor sportsmanship, such as aggressive or profane abuse directed at Swim Officials, Meet Directors, Volunteers or any other person, from the sidelines is also forbidden. Only the Head Coach (or acting Head Coach) is allowed to speak to officials. Parents and Assistant Coaches are forbidden from speaking to or criticizing the officials. Booing is not allowed under any circumstances.
4. Regarding the competitive nature of the swim meets; it is the obligation of Parents and Coaches to model correct sportsmanship to the swimmers regardless of the outcome. Coaches, Parents and Swimmers should be gracious in both victory and defeat. Taunting will not be tolerated. Parents and Coaches should emphasize and reward effort above winning and losing. Compliments should be freely given regardless of outcome.

The Code of Conduct is not written with the intent to limit or restrict a Parent's or Coach's desire or ability to teach and lead the youth he/she is working with, but is directed to enable us all to present a public posture that is above reproach and outside criticism. Above all, it is designed to create a positive and safe environment for developing the skills and character of our youth.

Note: Some rules have examples included, but the explanations provided do not bind LSA to the situation presented. LSA reserves the right to make changes to the rules as deemed necessary. Rules shown here are a summary to provide transparency regarding our standard practices, but do not necessarily represent ALL the rules that may apply to the meets listed.

For purposes of clarity, the following terms are used herein:
• MEET refers to a series of swimming competitions held on the same day.
• EVENT refers to a specific race: a RELAY or INDIVIDUAL EVENT.
• TEAM is always in reference to a POOL TEAM. A RELAY team is referred to simply as a RELAY.
• The DECK is everything inside the fence that is immediately adjacent to the competition lanes and includes everything south of the peninsula (on the east) and everything south of the chute exit (on the west). The two swimming lanes immediately north of the competition lanes, connecting to the peninsula, are also off limits to spectators as they must remain open for lap swimming. The peninsula itself is not considered part of the DECK.

1. All swimmers must be properly registered, with fees paid and proof of residency provided, in order to participate in any LSA EVENT. Lineups are generally due by the Thursday prior to the MEET, but registration must be validated before the swimmer enters the water.
2. By order of the Head Lifeguard, we are required to keep the DECK as clear as possible at all times. Coaches and spectators are not allowed on the DECK while an EVENT is running. No video recording or photography allowed on the DECK without a permit. Crossing over to use the restrooms is only allowed between EVENTS.
3. No parents, coaches, timers or spectators are allowed to approach the scorer's table. All questions or concerns should be handled by the TEAM's head coach or acting head coach, working with the Meet Director.
   The Meet Directors are:
   • Relay Carnival - LSA President
   • Tri-Pool North - Vice President of North
   • Tri-Pool Central - Vice President of Central
   • Tri-Pool South - Vice President of South
   • Tri-Section - Board of Supervisors
   • Novice - LSA President
   • Championships - LSA President
4. LSA utilizes various officials at every MEET:
• Meet Director (unpaid volunteer)
• responsible for logistics of running the meet.
• resolves rule conflicts according to established protocols.
• Official Referee (paid professional)
• provides order of finish and DQ strokes.
• Official Starter (paid professional)
• provides fair start and run downs.
• Chief Timer (unpaid volunteer)
• responsible for all watches and timers.
• provides 1st place finish time for the referee.
• Timers (15 or more unpaid volunteers)
• three per lane for most events, two per lane for Tri-Meet events, with spare timers available as relief, to provide finish times.
• Meet Seeder (unpaid volunteer)
• enters rostered lineups as provided by head coaches.
• enters alternates and corrections submitted by head coaches.
• ensures rostering and substitution compliance.
• Scorer's Table (unpaid volunteers)
• records all DQ's issued by officials
• reconciles times reported by timers to official run down.
• enters placement of finishes as reported by the referee.
• ensures proper entry of results into the computer.
• prints labels for trophies and ribbons.
• prints result sheets for head coaches.
• provides HTML results for website.
5. Meet Officials (listed above) must strive to be unbiased while on the DECK performing their duties. MEET officials must not cheer or distract swimmers before, during or after any EVENT.
6. Once the MEET starts, swimmers may be disqualified if they do not stay in their TEAM's designated area, except when on DECK, or while going to/from the bullpen or chute. Swimmers will be disqualified if they leave the premises. The playground equipment and general admission pool are considered out of bounds. Swimmers are only allowed in the general admission portion of the pool if the Meet Director declares a heat emergency, in which case further instructions will be provided.
7. Junior Relay is four swimmers ages 12 and under with no more than two swimmers from the oldest age group for the MEET.
• INVALID: 3 from 11-12 group - [only 2 from older group]
•    VALID: 2 from 11-12 group + 2 swimmers under age 11.
•    VALID: 1 from 11-12 group + 3 swimmers under age 11.
•    VALID: 0 from 11-12 group, 4 swimmers under age 11.
• INVALID: anyone from 13+OVER group - [cannot swim down]
8. Senior Relay is any four swimmers, at least one of which is 13 year or older, with no more than two swimmers from the oldest age group. A 12+UNDER swimmer may move up to complete a Senior Relay, but once they move up they are not allowed to move back down for subsequent RELAYS in the same MEET.
• INVALID: 3 from 15+OVER group - [only 2 from older group]
•    VALID: 2 from 15+OVER group + 2 younger swimmers.
•    VALID: 1 from 15+OVER group + 3 younger swimmers.
•    VALID: 0 from 15+OVER group, 1 from 13-14 group + 3 younger swimmers.
• INVALID: no one from 13+OVER group - [considered a Junior Relay]
9. If a TEAM is allowed to submit multiple RELAYS for the same EVENT, they must designate an 'A' RELAY, 'B' RELAY, 'C' RELAY, etc. The members of the 'C' RELAY may serve as alternates for the 'B' RELAY. The members of the 'B' RELAY may serve as alternates for the 'A' RELAY. Members of the 'A' RELAY cannot serve as alternates for the EVENT. Up to three additional swimmers can be listed as alternates, but they can only substitute for the last-lettered RELAY (i.e. for 'C' RELAY only).
10. An OPEN EVENT has no age restriction.
11. A MIXED or CO-ED EVENT has no gender restriction.
12. Unless stated otherwise, LSA follows the rules and protocols of the National Federation of State High School Associations for all scheduled MEETS.
    Significant Rules Include:
• No diving in water less than 4 feet deep. Events with swimmers entering the water at the shallow end (east side) will require a shallow-water start by the shallow-side swimmers. The swimmer may enter the water, feet first, at any time after the previous swimmer enters the water at the other end and must keep at least one hand and one foot in contact with the wall until the start signal is given or the previous swimmer touches the wall beside them.
The following events are subject to this rule:
RELAY CARNIVAL
• 100Y Medley RELAYS - Events 1 & 2
  (2nd and 4th swimmer)
• 100Y Backstroke RELAYS - Events 9 & 10
  (2nd and 4th swimmer)
• 100Y Butterfly RELAYS - Events 13 & 14
  (2nd and 4th swimmer)
• 100Y Breaststroke RELAYS - Events 17 & 18
  (2nd and 4th swimmer)
• 100Y Freestyle RELAYS - Events 21 & 22
  (2nd and 4th swimmer)
• 250Y Sprint RELAYS - Events 5, 6, 7, 8, 25, 26 & 27
  (1st swimmer only)
Tri-Pool / TRI-SECTION
• 100Y Medley RELAYS - Events 1 & 2
  (2nd and 4th swimmer)
• 100Y Freestyle RELAYS - Events 29 & 30
  (2nd and 4th swimmer)
CHAMPIONSHIPS
• 100Y Freestyle RELAYS - Events 55 & 56
  (2nd and 4th swimmer)
• Jewelry prohibition. This rule was restored in 2018. Swimmers can be disqualified for wearing jewelry. This is a safety rule to avoid possible injury.
• Caps and swimsuits of other swim organizations cannot be worn in competition. Non-compliant caps may be worn inside-out. Non-compliant suits may result is disqualification.
  • Exceptions to suit violations may be extended on case-by-case basis, but are not binding precedent.

1. The LSA President acts as Meet Director, unless delegated to an Acting Meet Director.
2. A swimmer may officially participate in two EVENTS. If a TEAM is lacking enough swimmers to offer every swimmer two opportunities to swim, a swimmer may participate a third time in order to fill the RELAY, but that EVENT will be considered an exhibition. No swimmer may participate in more than three EVENTS.
3. Deck scratches are allowed at RELAY CARNIVAL. (i.e. Changes made on deck versus being submitted prior to the MEET.) Individual RELAY members will not be announced over the intercom, therefore substituting alternates at RELAY CARNIVAL can be done at any time provided changes are submitted to the scorer's table in a timely manner.
4. Generally speaking, swimmers will NOT be disqualified for minor infractions at RELAY CARNIVAL, but the ultimate decision is delegated to the official referee. In any case, infractions will be noted and provided to head coaches so they can provide feedback to their swimmers.
• Example: A swimmer that performs an incorrect turn, such as failing to touch with both hands, would not be disqualified. However, a swimmer that performs the wrong stroke for the entire length would be disqualified if it created a significant advantage over the other RELAYS. In that case, the RELAY, rather than being disqualified, would be entered as a exhibition so their finish time will still appear on the printed record for coaching purposes.

1. Tri-Pool is a closed MEET. Each Section holds a seperate Tri-Pool MEET, open to members of their Section only.
2. Each Vice President acts as Meet Director for their assigned section, unless delegated to an Acting Meet Director.
3. Each TEAM is assigned to fixed lane pairs (1&4, 2&5, 3&6). Lane pair assignments alternate from TEAM to TEAM, year by year.
4. For INDIVIDUAL EVENTS, each TEAM is allowed up to two (2) entrants and one (1) alternate.
5. For RELAY EVENTS, each TEAM is allowed up to two (2) RELAYS and up to three (3) alternate swimmers. When submitting multiple RELAYS, TEAMS must designate an 'A' RELAY and 'B' RELAY. Members of the 'B' RELAY serve as alternates for the 'A' RELAY and the three additional alternates can substitute into the 'B' RELAY. Members of the 'A' RELAY cannot serve as alternates for the EVENT.
6. Each swimmer is allowed to participate in a total of three EVENTS, and may enter either:
• TWO INDIVIDUAL and ONE RELAY.
  OR
• ONE INDIVIDUAL and TWO RELAYS.
7. No exhibitions permitted. If a swimmer exceeds the number of allowed EVENTS, the EVENT(s) exceeding the limit will be disqualified even if that results in the disqualification of an entire RELAY. Head coaches are expected to schedule appropriately.
• Example: Sam is rostered for events 9, 19, 29 and listed as an alternate for event 39. If Sam swims the first three events then he is ineligible as an alternate for event 39.
  
  If Sam swims event 39 anyway, the RELAY will be disqualified. Coach cannot decide after the fact that one of Sam's first three events was an exhibition in order to save the RELAY from disqualification. Coach should have made a pre-MEET change to the lineup in order to allow Sam to legally swim in event 39.
8. Any swimmer that scratches an EVENT is ineligible for subsequent EVENTS in the same MEET.
• Example: Sara is nervous about swimming butterfly (event 14), but she is excited to swim the freestyle RELAY (event 30). If Sara does not show up for event 14 (scratch) then she is ineligible for event 30 and must be replaced by an alternate.
• Example: Sam is rostered for events 9, 19, 29 and listed as an alternate for event 39. Sam swims event 9 but scratches event 19 in order to swim as the alternate in event 39.
  
  Sam is ineligible for all events after event 19. Sam will be disqualified if he swims event 29 and he will disqualify the RELAY if he swims in event 39. Coach should have made a pre-MEET change to the lineup in order to remove Sam from event 19.
9. If a swimmer wishes to skip a rostered EVENT, they must appear at the starting block when called and declare a false start (DFS) to the official referee. The official will sign their card and deliver it to the scorer's table.
• Example: Sara is nervous about swimming butterfly (event 14), but she is excited to swim the freestyle RELAY (event 30). Sara can DFS event 14 and still be eligible for event 30.
• Example: Sam is rostered for events 9, 19, 29 and listed as an alternate for event 39. Sam swims event 9 but decides to DFS in event 19 because Coach wants him to swim as the alternate in event 39.
  
  Sam is still eligible for event 29 or 39, but not both. A false start is a DQ, so even though Sam did not swim, event 19 was still considered his second event. If he swims event 29, event 39 would be his fourth event, disqualifying the RELAY. Coach should have made a pre-MEET change to the lineup in order to remove Sam from event 19 in favor of event 39.
  

1. The Chair of the Board of Supervisors or delegated Board Member acts as Meet Director.
2. TRI-SECTION is a closed MEET, based on the outcome of the three Tri-Pool MEETS.
• For INDIVIDUAL EVENTS, first and second place finishers compete, third through sixth place finishers serve as alternates.
• Example: Sam finishes third in event 9 at Tri-Pool, which makes him the first alternate for event 9 at TRI-SECTION.
  
  
• For RELAY EVENTS, first and second place RELAYS and their alternates compete. If a RELAY cannot compete then the next place RELAY will compete as the alternate.
• Example: SLATE's RELAY places third in event 29 at Tri-Pool South. The first place RELAY (ACORN) is missing a swimmer, but they can substitute one of their eligible alternates in order to avoid forfeiting the placement. The second place RELAY (BLUEGRASS) is also missing a swimmer; however, their alternates are unavailable. BLUEGRASS must step aside to allow SLATE to compete as the alternate RELAY.
3. A swimmer cannot exceed three EVENTS, which includes the EVENTS in which they participated at Tri-Pool.
   • Example: Sam was rostered for events 9, 19, 29 and listed as an alternate for event 39. Sam swam events 9, 19 and 29 at Tri-Pool, but did not advance. Coach wants to put Sam in event 39 as an alternate at TRI-SECTION.
     
     Sam is not eligible to participate as an alternate in event 39 because he already participated in three events at Tri-Pool (events 9, 19 and 29)
4. A swimmer is not disqualified from TRI-SECTION EVENTS for which they completed at Tri-Pool, but scratches from Tri-Pool carry forward to TRI-SECTION.
• Example: Sam finished first in event 9, but scratched event 19 at Tri-Pool. Coach wants to put Sam in as an alternate for event 39 at TRI-SECTION.
  
  While Sam is eligible to swim in event 9 at TRI-SECTION, he is not eligible for any events after event 19. Sam cannot be used as an alternate in event 39.

1. The LSA President acts as Meet Director, unless delegated to an Acting Meet Director.
2. NOVICE is a closed 'invitational' MEET. Swimmers that have NOT won a medal or trophy in LSA competition are eligible for NOVICE. Also, swimmers 11 and over with seed times above the designated threshold per event are eligible. Medals or trophies are awarded to first, second and third place finishers at NOVICE and CHAMPIONSHIPS only.
3. All NOVICE EVENTS are INDIVIDUAL only, no RELAYS. Each swimmer may participate in up to two (2) EVENTS. A third EVENT may be listed as a alternate. DECK scratches are allowed in NOVICE without affecting forward participation. In this situation, DECK scratches should be handled similar to declaring a false start, in order to give the scoring table ample warning of the change.
• Example: Coach is encouraging 10-year old Sara to swim the butterfly, but she's not sure she's ready. Coach rosters her in the Freestyle (event 3) and Backstroke (event 19) and lists the Butterfly (event 27) as an alternate event. If Sara swims events 3 and 19 then she is ineligible for event 27.
  
  At the MEET, Coach convinces Sara to go for the butterfly. Coach is allowed to scratch her from event 19 without disqualifying her from event 27.
4. An award ceremony will immediately follow the completion of NOVICE, weather permitting.
• Medals are awarded to first, second and third place finishers.
• Ribbons are awarded to fourth, fifth and sixth place finishers.
• Heat winner ribbons are awarded to swimmers that place first in their heat.
• Honorable mention ribbons are awarded to swimmers who did not receive a ribbon or medal.

1. The LSA President acts as Meet Director, unless delegated to an Acting Meet Director.
2. CHAMPIONSHIPS is a two-day OPEN MEET, consisting of a first round on Saturday (trials) and a second round on Sunday (finals). The top six finishers in each EVENT on Saturday advance to Sunday. The next-placed finishers are the alternates, provided they did not scratch or DQ the EVENT.
3. Any EVENT with six or fewer qualified swimmers / RELAYS automatically advances to the finals and is referred to as a TIMED FINAL. Swimmers and RELAYS must check-in when their EVENT is called on Saturday. In the event that severe weather is predicted for Sunday, the TIMED FINAL may take place on Saturday to accommodate rainout contingencies.
4. There is no limit to the number of entrants per TEAM, but each entrant must be properly registered prior to the NOVICE MEET to be eligible for CHAMPIONSHIPS.
   • Effective 2019: All swimmers must be properly registered prior to the start of the season to participate in any LSA-sponsored PRACTICE or MEET.
5. Each swimmer is allowed to participate in a total of three EVENTS, and may enter either:
• TWO individual EVENTS and ONE RELAY.
  OR
• ONE individual EVENT and TWO RELAYS.
6. Each TEAM is allowed to submit multiple RELAYS for the same EVENT, but must designate an 'A' RELAY, 'B' RELAY, 'C' RELAY, etc. The members of the 'C' RELAY may serve as alternates for the 'B' RELAY. The members of the 'B' RELAY may serve as alternates for the 'A' RELAY. Members of the 'A' RELAY cannot serve as alternates for the EVENT. Up to three additional swimmers can be listed as alternates, but they can only substitute for the last-lettered RELAY (i.e. for 'C' RELAY only).
7. Lane assignments for the qualifying heats on Saturday will be determined at the MEET seeders' discretion, utilizing submitted times and prior event results to avoid mismatched heats. Consideration is given to swimmers that request lane 1. Lane assignments for the final round on Sunday will be based on Saturday's finish times, except for TIMED FINALs which will be at the MEET seeders' discretion.
8. Exhibitions are discouraged at CHAMPIONSHIPS. However, if a TEAM is lacking enough swimmers to offer every swimmer three opportunities to swim, a swimmer may participate a fourth time in order to fill a RELAY, but that EVENT will be considered an exhibition. The head coach must clearly identify exhibitions as such before the EVENT begins, otherwise when it is found that a swimmer exceeded the number of allowed EVENTS, the EVENT(s) exceeding the limit will be an exhibition, even if that results in the nullification of an entire RELAY. Head coaches are expected to schedule appropriately.
   See Tri-Pool rules for examples.
9. Swimmers may move up one OR TWO* age groups higher than their own age if needed to form a RELAY while retaining the right to complete in their age group for individual EVENTS, but once a swimmer moves up they cannot move back down for a subsequent RELAY.
• Moving up two age groups is only allowed at CHAMPIONSHIPS. In effect, it prohibits swimmers from the 8+Under group from moving into the 13+Over RELAY events because that would require moving up three age groups.
• Example: 10-year old Sara competes with her age group in the 25-yard Freestyle (event 7), and then is moved up two groups (from 9+10 to 11+12 to 13+14) in order for her to participate in the 13+Over Medley RELAY (event 33).
  
  Sara is still eligible for the individual events in her age group (events 37 & 47) but is not eligible to swim the 100 yard Free RELAY for her age group (event 55) because she is not allowed to flip flop between RELAY age groups. She is, however, eligible to swim the 200 yard Free RELAY with the 13+14 group (event 59).
  
  
• Example: 12-year old Scott competes with his age group in the Freestyle (event 10) and the Medley RELAY (event 32). Coach has rostered Scott in the Free RELAY for his age group (event 58) and has also listed Scott as an alternate for events 60 and 62.
  
  If Coach submits a timely pre-MEET change, he can legally move Scott up one age group to the 13+14 group (from event 58 to 60) or up two age groups to the 15+Over group (from event 58 to 62).
10. Any swimmer that scratches an EVENT is ineligible for further EVENTS in the same MEET, however, they may still swim in RELAYS as long as they are listed as an alternate. This EXCEPTION to the general rule allows accommodation at CHAMPIONSHIPS for swimmers that are lifeguards.
• Example: Stuart is a lifeguard rostered for events 16, 30, 34 (medley RELAY) and is listed as an alternate for event 62 (free RELAY). Stuart swims event 16 but is called to report for lifeguard duty. Stuart fails to declare a false start and scratches event 30.
  
  Normally, this would disqualify Stuart from all events after event 30. Indeed, Stuart is no longer eligible for event 34, because he was not listed as an alternate. (He was replaced by an alternate.) However, since he was listed as an alternate for event 62, he is still eligible to be alternated into the event on Saturday and Sunday.
11. If a swimmer wishes to skip a rostered EVENT, they must appear at the starting block before their EVENT goes off and declare a false start (DFS) to the official referee. The official will sign their card and deliver it to the scorer's table.
    See Tri-Pool rules for examples.