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Coaches Corner

2025 - 2026

Swim and Dive Coaches,

Below we will try to post information to help you and us to run smoother meets this season!

Meet Management - We encourage you to read over the Meet Management document on this website. It is written for officials but will show you what to expect from us as well as familiarizing you with different procedures like whistle commands.

Swimming Starts - We will use whistle commands at all meets to get swimmers ready and to call them to the blocks. Please see the NF Rule Book or the Meet Management document on this website. Please teach to your swimmers before the first meet!

Diving Entries - All diving sheets in dual, tri and quad meets are due to the referee no later than 15 minutes before the scheduled start of the meet. Each sheet must be signed by the diver and the coach and the information must be clearly and correctly written. Great diving sheets are under Diving on this website. We encourage you to use the computer-generated diving sheets! The link is also under the Diving section. Please remember that all divers are expected to be able to do all dives listed on the diving sheet.

Meet Entries - All student-athletes are limited to 4 entries in all meets. This includes exhibition swims or dives. No swimmer or diver may ever compete in more than 2 individual events. The only legal combinations are:

2 individual and 2 relays
1 individual and 3 relays
Or less of either

Arbiter Sports - If you are the coach of a team assigned to our officials' organization, please be sure to check your email for login information to Arbiter Sports for more important information.

Backstroke Ledges - New for the 2025-2026 Season

• There are specific depth requirements for the use of backstroke ledges. They exceed the requirements for starting blocks. In order for backstroke ledges to be used, the pool depth must be at least 6 feet for at least a distance of 5 meters from the starting wall in all lanes. Be sure to confirm the depth of all lanes for the appropriate distance from the wall.
• If backstroke ledges are to be used at a meet, they must be identical and be made available to all swimmers and all lanes. This is the responsibility of the facility and/or home team. This is similar to the requirement to provide identical starting blocks for all lanes, whether or not the swimmer chooses to use them.
• While the ledges must be made available to all, it is up to the athlete if they want to use it. This is similar to a swimmer's choice to start from the pool deck instead of using the starting block.
• Swimmers may not bring their own ledges for use. The requirement is that the equipment must be identical in all lanes, and that is unlikely and impossible to confirm when personal equipment is used. (eg. Swimmers can't bring their own starting blocks with them.)
• The ledge must be removed from the water immediately following the start of each heat when used. Failure to do so could cause touchpad or athlete safety issues at the turn and finish. GHSA has indicated that it is the responsibility of the coach/athlete to perform this task.
• Failure to remove the ledge, malfunctions of the ledge, improper use, etc, will be handled by officials in an appropriate manner, taking into account the circumstances of each situation.
• Ledges must be made available during warm ups to both teams. However, they should be installed and used only in one-way sprint lanes (where diving/block starts are allowed) and not used in general circle swimming lanes. General warm up safety rules apply, as always (eg. no diving/starts in circle swim lanes).
• The timeline of meets may be affected when backstroke ledges are used. Plan for short breaks after medley relays as well as before and after the backstroke events to install or remove the ledges from the blocks.
• Safety is of paramount concern. Given that very few facilities have this equipment, many teams will be unable to practice on backstroke ledges throughout the season. Backstroke Ledge Education is a point of emphasis from NFHS this season. Used properly, the ledge definitely provides an advantage at the start. However, used improperly, it can be dangerous. It is up to each team's coach to determine if their athletes are appropriately trained to use the equipment. However, it is legal equipment per GHSA, so there is no "mutual consent" required to use them. If an opposing team chooses not to use the ledges, then other teams can still use them, provided the equipment is made available to all competing.
• There is no specific requirement to inform teams that a certain meet or pool will be using this equipment. It is legal equipement for swim meets and is allowed by NFHS and GHSA.