1. The current year National Federation Rules, the NYSPHSAA Hand Book and the following OCIAA rules shall apply:
A. A minimum of six participants is required to compete on a team level.
B. A mandatory list of required dives for OCIAA League meets must be compiled and distributed by the Chairperson to all participating schools prior to the start of the dual meet season.
C. If the host school has inadequate facilities (i.e. - diving board, water depth, starting blocks, etc.) they must inform the visiting school so that there is prior written mutual consent to conduct the meet.
D. The host school must provide a minimum of one (1) timer per lane.
E. Radios and tape decks are prohibited on the pool deck.
F. Host team must report meet results to the Middletown Times Herald Record which is the OCIAA Official League Newspaper and to the Section IX Swimming website.
G. To participate in a League Swim Meet as an individual, all necessary paperwork should be on file before the first League Swim Meet.
2. Unsportsmanlike Conduct:
a. When a coach is ejected from a contest please refer to NYSPHSAA Handbook # 27 Sportsmanship.
b. When a swimmer(s) is ejected or disqualified from a meet for unsportsmanlike conduct, the following action will be taken:
(1) First ejection - that swimmer(s) cannot participate in the next scheduled meet.
(2) Second ejection - that swimmer(s) cannot participate in the next two scheduled meets.
(3) Third ejection - that swimmer(s) cannot participate in any remaining scheduled meets including sectionals and any higher level of competition.
b. The official that ejected the swimmer(s) will notify the OCIAA Athletic Coordinator, prior to 12:00 noon the following day, of the name(s) of the player(s) and the type of infraction(s).
c. The coach of the swimmer(s) who was ejected will notify his/her Athletic Director. The Athletic Director will then contact the OCIAA Athletic Coordinator’s Office to confirm that the swimmer(s) will not be allowed to participate in that school’s next scheduled meet or meets as required above.
d. A swimmer(s) that is ejected from a meet, will not be allowed to be present at the site of any meet that swimmer(s) has been disqualified from participating in (home or away).
e. For unsportsmanlike violations that occur during the OCIAA season, penalties will carry over into sectional play. NYSPHSAA unsportsmanlike conduct rules will apply after the completion of the league season.
3. Championships:
An individual must have completed in six swim meets in order to participate in the League Championship.
There will be one conference: American. The Conference Champion will be determined by the point system: 2 points for a win, 1 point for a tie (Conference meets only). If there is still a tie after using the point system, the following will be used to determine the conference champion:
(1) Head-to-head between teams that are tied
(2) If teams are tied after these tiebreaker procedures co-conference champions will be declared.
4. Awards:
Plaques will be awarded to each boys and girls swim teams for the following:
1 OCIAA Champion (Dual Meet Season)
1 OCIAA Championship Meet Winner
Medals: Awarded to all finalists in the OCIAA championship. Individual and Relay Events – Top 8.
OCIAA Patches: Each individual school may purchase their own patches if they choose to do so.
5. Safety Guidelines at Meets
a. Coaches shall actively supervise their swimmers and divers during warm-up sessions at meets.
b. The available number of lanes for swimming warm-ups must be equally divided between both schools.
c. There shall be no swimming under the diving board(s) while divers are warming up.
d. Backstrokers shall ensure that they are not starting at the same time as a swimmer on the block. Swimmers are not to step up on the block if there is a backstroker ready to start.
e. Warm-up procedures shall be enforced during any breaks scheduled during the competition.
f. Hazards on deck, in the locker rooms, or in areas used by coaches, swimmers, spectators, or officials shall be removed or clearly marked.
g. A minimum of 30 minutes of warm-up must be provided to the visiting team in the event of a late arrival.
6. Rules Interpretation Meeting:
A Rules Interpretation Meeting will be held prior to each season.