USA Swimming Rules Chair Dan McAllen Appointed as NCAA Observer at Winter Nationals

At Wednesday’s coaches’ meeting at the 2014 Winter National Championships in Greensboro, North Carolina, USA Swimming Rules Chair Dan McAllen was announced as the official NCAA observer for the 2014 Winter National Championships.

That role has taken on new significance this year, as two major rules changes by FINA have left NCAA athletes trying to earn qualification times for the NCAA Championships at Winter Nationals in some limbo.

The two major changes include the introduction of the backstroke wedges and the change to the underwater pullout rules – both changes which were approved by FINA last weekend.

NCAA rules do not change in season, so if these rules are to change (and McAllen expected they would), the changes won’t be in effect until the 2015-2016 season.

McAllen says that officials tasked with observing NCAA swims would be making marks that athletes followed NCAA rules, and if NCAA rules aren’t followed, then those times will not be submitted to the NCAA.

McAllen’s general advice was simple: “Don’t cheat, we won’t have to worry about it…play by the rules you’ve been playing with all  along.”

• Read more about the backstroke ledges here.
• Read more about the breaststroke rules changes here.