Virtual Swim MeetsSwim 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 TylerLewall, Zach Haw, Brian Metcalfe and Brad Hutton and their clubs for their assistance.Next StepsWe’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 SwimminglySwimmingly 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 labelprinting). 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. QuestionsIf you would like more information regarding this Swim BC initiative, please contact Cory Beatt Swim BC Technical Director.
Since the beginning of the season we’ve been anticipating what a return to competition might look like, and what would be required to keep our swimmers, coaches and officials safe. To address this, Swim BC has determined that step one is introducing “in-club” Time Trials with significant amendments to required officiating complements, working to maintain total participants under 50 individuals.
Attached is the Swim BC “Return to Competition Guidelines Step 1 – Time Trials”. This document incorporates viaSport Phase 3 competition guidelines as well as Swim BC Return to Swimming Guidelines. Please review the document carefully and determine what your club’s time trial opportunities may be. Please note that Swim BC does not require a further club Board motion to adopt these guidelines.
Future Competition: Swim BC will be communicating a decision as to whether the Winter Championship Meets (Divisional and Provincial) will go forward as planned. That announcement will be made November 30th. Any possibility for a return to standard competition (intra-club, regional and invitational) will be made in conjunction with viaSport guidelines and the BCCDC / PHO orders.
To the BC and Canadian Swimming Community,
It is with great sadness that we inform the swimming community, and in particular the officiating fraternity and parents of national team members of the passing of Barbara Johns. Mother of Brian and Kevin Johns, and wife to Lawrie Johns, Barbara played a significant role in BC swimming. Please share with us in remembering a valued member of the swimming family.
A profile of her achievements contributed by her family can be found below.
Ken Radford
Executive Director
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Barbara Johns passed away peacefully on October 24th at the age of 72. Barbara was a pillar of the swimming officiating and volunteer community for over 35 years. She officiated at more than 300 meets and spent more than 600 days on deck and loved every minute of it.
Barbara supported her sons, Kevin and Brian, as they began their swimming journeys in 1986. Like most swim parents, she understood that officiating was a part of the commitment. While Barbara did every position on deck, she particularly excelled at Clerking and Refereeing. She presented clinics for every officiating position and evaluated/mentored numerous referees during her officiating career. She was also an active member of the BC Swim Officials Association when it was still a stand-alone entity.
As a result of her commitment to officiating, she was able to follow her sons to their meets in the Lower Mainland, across the province, throughout the country and, eventually, at international level competitions such as the Pan Pacific Championships. She had a strong desire to do more at the international level, but unfortunately age restrictions placed by FINA at the time prevented her from doing so.
She was very proud of her sons’ accomplishments in the water, as they both were medalists at the National Level and have been inducted into the UBC Sports Hall of Fame. In 2003, Barbara served as the referee at the CIS (now USports) Nationals where her son, Brian, broke the 400 IM SC WORLD record. As the referee, she signed the world record application for her son’s performance, a very unique and proud moment for Barbara during her time as an official.
Barbara was also a behind the scenes activist for C-SPOT (Canadian Swim Parents Organizing Themselves) which was an organization formed to help the parents of National Team swimmers to attend the international meets that their children were competing at. Due to the success of this activism, Swimming Canada took over the many of the tasks started by C-SPOT in order to help parents more easily attend the international competitions of their children. This helped Barbara connect many swim parents together and help form life-long friendships that stretched far beyond the pool deck.
The only thing that superseded her love for swimming and officiating was her love for her three, soon to be four, granddaughters; a full Johns Relay team for her to continue her love for the sport. She left an indelible mark on the swimming community and her presence at our meets will be sorely missed.
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
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
