Oct 30, 2020
Virtual Swim Meets
Swim BC has reviewing and working with a web-based platform that enables clubs to run competitions designed to permit an easy / fast set-up, provide minimal touch points, and can run virtual competitions (limiting numbers of individuals on the pool deck and reducing travel requirements).
The US based company, Swimmingly, is used by many swim leagues and LSC’s. We’ve been working with Swimmingly in a pilot project designed to determine the appropriateness of the platform for Swim BC clubs. Three clubs, COMOX, LOSC, and HST have been participating in the pilot, providing us with a good sense of its functionality. Thanks to Tyler Lewall, Zach Haw, Brian Metcalfe and Brad Hutton and their clubs for their assistance.
Next Steps
We’d like to encourage each club to investigate and thoroughly review Swimmingly and then indicate to Swim BC if your club might be interested in Swimmingly as a tool to address competition in the time of COVID, and beyond. Please provide that input using the Swim BC Swimmingly Inquiry Form by Friday, November 6th.
Please note that Swim BC is investigating the opportunity to support each club in the province with the purchase of the Swimmingly Starter Kit. Its intended that the associated ongoing costs would then be the responsibility of the club. (ie/ monthly fee for the online Clubhouse).
About Swimmingly
Swimmingly an easy-to-use app that runs your entire swim meet, handling the actual operations of the swim meet – on the pool deck (timing system, DQ process, scoring, ribbon label printing). Swimmingly shortens the length of the swim meet and reduces the number volunteers needed to run each meet.
Each official uploads an app onto their phone and the starting, timing of races, stroke and turn judging, and scorekeeping is all managed by the app on the phone. No more stopwatches, clipboards, or paper. It can be set-up in minutes, and you can have the session up and running very quickly.
The results are immediately viewable on the website or app for the phone and can be uploaded to Team Manager (if needed).
The platform is an innovative way to conduct Time Trials and Swim Meets and gives the opportunity to run Virtual Meets by compiling the results from events run at different locations.
The system can hook up to most starter systems or an external speaker. It does not interface with touchpads or scoreboards. It is best used for Time Trials, Virtual Swim Meets, and Developmental Meets. We are also interested in the new ways that you come up with using the platform… what about a skins meet, or a virtual meet with a team in Texas! There are many opportunities to explore.
Swimmingly was developed by Charlie Houchin, US Olympic Gold Medalist, and has a team of swimming minded people. They have been proactive on working to ensure that Swimmingly suits our specific needs and have updated the software to accept our SNC ID Numbers as well as add a number of features that are relevant to us.
Questions
If you would like more information regarding this Swim BC initiative, please contact Cory Beatt Swim BC Technical Director.
Oct 22, 2020
Swim BC would typically have announced the awards for the 2019/20 season at the 2020 BC Swimming Congress Awards Banquet. As we know, the Congress was cancelled this year due to COVID. When the decision to cancel was made, Swim BC took the opportunity to make much needed revisions to the organizations awards system, realigning to add more swimmer categories and generate quantifiable criteria.
The new Swim BC Awards structure and criteria can be reviewed here. Please note that the Swim BC Senior Swimmers of the Year will not be presented this year due to lack of competition.
Swim BC Awards Announcements
The Swim BC Awards will be announced at 4:00 PM on each day of the week of November 2nd through 6th. The schedule is:
Monday, November 2nd: Swim BC Official of the Year and Swim BC Volunteer of the Year
Tuesday, November 3rd: Swim BC Coaches of the Year (male and female)
Wednesday, November 4th: Provincial Para Swimmers of the Year (male and female)
Thursday, November 5th: Provincial Swimmers of the Year (male and female)
Friday, November 6th: Swim BC Club of the Year and Swim BC Presidents Award
Sep 29, 2020
Last week Swim BC announced that no sanctions would be available for clubs prior to October 31st. Updating this message, we will permit Class I –Time Trials (record attempts only) prior to October 31st. These Time Trials will be permitted for swimmers aging up prior to October 31st. Clubs will be required to submit the Swimmer’s name and ID number in the Meet Package document when applying for the sanction. For more information please contact Carrie Matheson.
Sep 28, 2020
Swim BC is currently working on the Return to Swimming: Competition Plan for our clubs. This is a lengthy process that requires a great amount of thought and collaboration to deliver a plan that is safe and meaningful for our membership.
Once the Plan becomes available, sanctioned single club Time Trials ONLY will be permitted. Sanctions will be available after Oct 31st. There will be no sanctioned regional and/or club invitational meets until further notice. Swim BC will review the Competition Plan and circumstances listed above in December.
Note: Pre-competitive swimmers are eligible to compete in ONE sanctioned Time Trial before they are required to upgrade to their appropriate competitive category.
Sep 21, 2020
From Indigenous Sport, Physical Activity and Recreation Council (ISPARC) – “The North American Indigenous Games (NAIG) Council announced that the Halifax 2020 North American Indigenous Games (NAIG) will be further postponed due to the ongoing situation with the global COVID-19 pandemic.
The Halifax 2020 NAIG was set to bring together over 5,000 Indigenous participants from across North America to compete in the multi-sport event and to celebrate cultural heritage in July of 2020. Due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, it was announced on March 25, 2020, the NAIG would be postponed to 2021. The NAIG Council has determined that for the health and safety of all, delivering the NAIG in the summer of 2021 is no longer feasible.
During the coming months, NAIG Council and the NAIG 2020 Host Society, together with its funders and partners, will explore new arrangements for the future delivery of the Games. Plans would include addressing the impact of postponement on NAIG Governing Rules, including age eligibility and team selection processes.”
For more information, you can read the ISPARC Press Release and the official statement from NAIG Council.
