abstract
| - The act of wrapping a towel around an athlete’s body in order to change into or remove a swim-suit in public is known as “deck dressing/changing.” The Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) policy states: swimmers/divers are prohibited from changing into or out of swimsuits (deck dressing/changing) outside the designated locker rooms at any level of PIAA sanctioned competition including warm-ups. The PIAA has determined “deck dressing/changing” is unsporting conduct. For violation of this policy, the swimmer/diver shall be disqualified from further participation for unsporting conduct per NFHS 2015-2016 Swimming Rules, page 31, Rule 3-6-1, “Conduct.” Member schools are strongly encouraged to adopt a similar policy for all practice sessions held during the PIAA swimming/diving season. Addendum: The following scenarios were presented as to what officials may see during or after a meet: a) A swimmer/diver who deck dresses/changes is disqualified for “unsporting con-duct” from the current meet and the next scheduled meet, no matter what that meet may be, i.e., if the unsporting conduct is issued at the League Championships, the next meet would probably be the District Meet and the swimmer/diver would be disqualified from that meet. b) If the infraction occurs after a meet is over but before the referee signs the scoresheet, the swimmer/diver is disqualified for “unsporting conduct” and disqualified from the next scheduled meet. c) If the infraction occurs after the scoresheet is signed but is witnessed by an official, the official obtains the athlete’s name and reports the incident, in writing, including the athlete and coach’s name and the school to the PIAA. The PIAA will then address the matter with the school’s principal/athletic director. Do not use the PIAA Disqualification Form to report the last scenario, as the official is not disqualifying the athlete but is reporting the incident.
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