Athletic Competition Timing Standards
Today we update our understanding of best practice catalogs for outdoor and indoor watersport; primarily swimming and rowing. Use the login credentials at the upper right of our home page.
Michael Phelps Named No. 1 Athlete of Century By ESPN – https://t.co/ABuAyuQJBy pic.twitter.com/0swFlxT6ei
— Swimming World (@SwimmingWorld) July 18, 2024
USA Swimming and the National Collegiate Athletic Association Swimming are two distinct organizations that oversee different aspects of competitive swimming in the United States. USA Swimming governs competitive swimming in the United States across all age groups and skill levels, while NCAA Swimming specifically focuses on collegiate-level swimming and diving competitions within the NCAA framework. Both organizations play crucial roles in the development and promotion of swimming in the United States.
Governing Body:
USA Swimming is the national governing body for the sport of swimming in the United States. It is responsible for overseeing competitive swimming at all levels, from grassroots programs to elite national and international competitions.
NCAA Swimming: NCAA Swimming is part of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), which governs intercollegiate sports in the United States. NCAA Swimming specifically deals with collegiate-level swimming competitions among universities and colleges.
Scope:
USA Swimming is responsible for organizing and regulating competitive swimming for all age groups and skill levels, from youth swimmers to Masters swimmers (adults). It oversees swim clubs, hosts competitions, and develops national teams for international events.
NCAA Swimming: NCAA Swimming focuses exclusively on college-level swimming and diving competitions. It sets the rules and guidelines for swimming and diving programs at NCAA member institutions.
Membership:
Individuals, swim clubs, and teams can become members of USA Swimming, allowing them to participate in USA Swimming-sanctioned events, access coaching resources, and benefit from the organization’s development programs.
NCAA Swimming: NCAA Swimming is composed of collegiate athletes who compete for their respective universities and colleges. Athletes are typically student-athletes who represent their schools in NCAA-sanctioned competitions.
Competition Format:
USA Swimming hosts a wide range of competitions, including local, regional, and national meets, as well as Olympic Trials and international events. Swimmers compete as individuals, representing their swim clubs or teams.
NCAA Swimming: NCAA Swimming primarily consists of dual meets, invitational meets, and conference championships at the collegiate level. Swimmers represent their respective universities or colleges, earning points for their teams in dual meets and competing for conference and national titles.
Scholarships:
USA Swimming itself does not offer scholarships. Scholarships for competitive swimmers are typically awarded by colleges and universities based on an athlete’s performance and potential.
NCAA Swimming: NCAA member institutions offer scholarships to talented student-athletes in various sports, including swimming. These scholarships can cover tuition, room, board, and other expenses, making NCAA swimming an avenue for athletes to receive financial support for their education.
Turning our pool deck into a GYM 🤙🏋️♀️ pic.twitter.com/vfilShA8Ef
— Bobby Guntoro (@bobbygunt) September 25, 2023
Your call 📱 pic.twitter.com/4ubIUklHCi
— uncwswimdive (@uncwswimdive) July 9, 2024
The moment a father consoles daughter after missing out on olympics medal
pic.twitter.com/kSHd4AIH4Z— Science girl (@gunsnrosesgirl3) August 8, 2024
Education communities provide a large market for recreational and therapeutic water technology suppliers. Some of the larger research universities have dozens of pools including those in university-affiliated healthcare facilities. Apart from publicly visible NCAA swimming programs there are whirpools in healthcare facilities and therapeutic tubs for athletes in other sports. Ownership of these facilities requires a cadre of conformance experts to assure water safety.
NSF International is one of the first names in this space and has collaborated with key industry stakeholders to make pools, spas and recreational water products safer since 1949. The parent document in its suite is NSF 50 Pool, Spa and Recreational Water Standards which covers everything from pool pumps, strainers, variable frequency drives and pool drains to suction fittings, grates, and ozone and ultraviolet systems.











The workspace for this committee is linked below:
Joint Committee on Recreational Water Facilities
(Standards Michigan is an observer on this and several other NSF committees and is the only “eyes and ears” for the user interest; arguably the largest market for swimming pools given their presence in schools and universities.)
There are 14 task groups that drill into specifics such as the following:
Chemical feeders
Pool chemical evaluation
Flotation systems
Filters
Water quality
Safety surfacing
The meeting packet is confidential to registered attendees. You may communicate directly with the NSF Joint Committee Chairperson, Mr. Tom Vyles (admin@standards.nsf.org) about arranging direct access as an observer or technical committee member.
Almost all ANSI accredited technical committees have a shortage of user-interests (compliance officers, manufacturers and installers usually dominate). We encourage anyone in the education facility industry paying the bill for the services of compliance officers, manufacturers and installers to participate.











We maintain this title on the standing agenda of our Water and Sport colloquia. See our CALENDAR for the next onine meeting; open to everyone.
Issue: [13-89]
Category: Water, Sport
Colleagues: Mike Anthony, Ron George, Larry Spielvogel
More
IAPMO Swimming Pool & Spa Standards
UL 1081 Standard for Swimming Pool Pumps, Filters, and Chlorinators | (UL Standards tend to be product standards so we rank them lower in our priority ranking than interoperability standards.)
2024 Uniform Swimming Pool, Spa and Hot Tub Code
The IAPMO code development process is one of the best in the land. Its Read-Only Access — needed for light research — is also the best in the land; unlike other ANSI accredited standards developers (who shall be un-named). The current edition is dated 2024, with the 2027 revision accepted public input until March 3, 2025 according the schedule linked below:
2027 USPSHTC Code Development Calendar
Related:
Supporting swimming pools with electricity involves various essential functions such as filtration, heating, lighting, and sanitation. Ensuring safety and energy efficiency is crucial, and pool owners can take steps to minimize electricity costs and environmental impact. Key points:
Filtration and Circulation: Swimming pools rely on electric pumps to circulate water through filters, removing debris and maintaining water quality.
Heating: Electric heaters or heat pumps are used to regulate water temperature for comfort, especially in colder seasons.
Lighting: Underwater and pool area lighting enhance safety and aesthetics, typically powered by electricity.
Chlorination and Sanitation: Electric chlorinators or ozone generators help maintain water cleanliness and hygiene.
Automation: Electric control systems enable pool owners to manage filtration, heating, and lighting remotely for convenience and energy efficiency.
Energy Efficiency: Pool owners can invest in energy-efficient equipment, like variable-speed pumps and LED lighting, to reduce electricity consumption and operating costs.
Operations and Maintenance: Regular electrical maintenance ensures safe and reliable pool operation, preventing electrical faults and hazards. The electricity cost for pool operation can be significant, so pool owners should consider energy-efficient practices and equipment to reduce expenses.
Education communities present one of the largest installed bases of artificially created bodies of water; the most abundance resource on earth. These bodies vary in size, purpose, and design but are all created by human intervention to serve specific needs, whether practical, recreational, or aesthetic. Safe and sustainable management of them in the Unite States are informed by best practice found in Article 680 of the National Electrical Code with scope statement below:
Construction and installation of electrical wiring for, and equipment in or adjacent to, all swimming, wading, therapeutic, and decorative pools; fountains; hot tubs; spas; and hydromassage bathtubs, whether permanently installed or storable, and to metallic auxiliary equipment, such as pumps, filters, and similar equipment.
Consultation on the First Draft of the 2026 revision closes August 24, 2024.
Related:
Pool, Fountain, Agriculture & Water Infrastructure Electrical Safety
https://www.si.com/extra-mustard/2016/08/15/michael-phelps-poses-bottom-university-michigan-pool-2005
University of Virginia — McIntire Amphitheatre
Concordia University Irvine — Nelson Amphitheatre
University of Houston — Wilhelmina’s Grove Amphitheater
From from time to time — particularly in the months of fairer weather, when many events are hosted outdoors — we break form from the grind of responding to c0nsultations to simply enjoy these spaces See our CALENDAR for our periodic Lively c0lloquia when we drill down into technical specifics.
Outdoor amphitheaters rely upon a broad ecosystem of consensus standards that quietly support every performance. Among them:
California State University San Marcos![]()

Clemson University
More coming
LEARN MORE:
Thunderstorm | Shelter (Building: 30/30 Rule)
The standards for delaying outdoor sports due to lightning are typically set by governing bodies such as sports leagues, associations, or organizations, as well as local weather authorities. These standards may vary depending on the specific sport, location, and level of play. However, some common guidelines for delaying outdoor sports due to lightning include:
It’s important to note that safety should always be the top priority when it comes to lightning and outdoor sports. Following established guidelines and seeking shelter when lightning is detected or severe weather warnings are issued can help protect participants from the dangers of lightning strikes.
There are various lightning detection and monitoring devices available on the market that can help you stay safe during thunderstorms. Some of these devices can track the distance of lightning strikes and alert you when lightning is detected within a certain radius of your location. Some devices can also provide real-time updates on lightning strikes in your area, allowing you to make informed decisions about when to seek shelter.
Examples of such devices include personal lightning detectors, lightning alert systems, and weather stations that have lightning detection capabilities. It is important to note that these devices should not be solely relied upon for lightning safety and should be used in conjunction with other safety measures, such as seeking shelter indoors and avoiding open areas during thunderstorms.
“Keep a green tree in your heart
and perhaps a singing bird will come”.
— Chinese proverb
The condition of campus gardens, trees and landscaping is a central element of ambiance, brand identity, environmental instruction and even revenue to education communities when tied to charitable donations. The Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA) is trade association of 2300 private tree care firms that is also an ANSI-accredited standards developer. It has several titles relevant to education communities and posts drafts of best practice titles at the link below:
Current Projects & Public Review Periods
Last year we tracked a revision of TCIA A300 that asserted leading practice for lightning protection has been released for public consultation. The consultation period closed and, like many standards setting organizations, leading practice discovery has been impeded by the circumstances of the pandemic.
We encourage our colleagues in business units responsible for lawns, trees, gardens and pathways to participate in the TCIA standards development process (Learn more HERE). Stakeholders in any interest category may communicate directly with Amy Tetreault at the Tree Care Industry Association, (603) 314-5380, atetreault@tcia.org, 136 Harvey Rd # 101, Londonderry, NH 03053.












We maintain the TCIA standards catalog on our periodic Bucolia and Pathway colloquia. See our CALENDAR for the next online meting; open to everyone.
Issue: [Various]
Category: Bucolia, Pathways
Colleagues: Mike Anthony, Jack Janveja, Richard Robben
LEARN MORE:
A Brief History of Isaac Newton’s Apple Tree
Learn how to apply an SRS redirect without unloading your primary suspension point in this instructional video and article featuring Aaron Feather, CTSP! https://t.co/qJCSQeg2iz
— Tree Care Industry Association (@WeAreTCIA) May 22, 2020
Always return to this Czesław Miłosz: pic.twitter.com/3Ydw75jwCQ
— Dr. Maya C. Popa (@MayaCPopa) July 4, 2023
Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare
Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals
Kids raised right….
— Carissa (@njoyzgrl81) April 6, 2024
Today we scan the status of literature that informs the safety and sustainability of the built environment for animals large and small. Animals are found in education communities as pets. sporting partners, agricultural research and teaching settings, as medical research subjects and clinical care facilities. ANSI-Accredited standards developers with a footprint in this domain are listed below:
American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers
ASHRAE International
Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers
Animal Kingdom: A Large and Diverse Dataset for Animal Behavior Understanding
International Code Council
National Fire Protection Association
Underwriters Laboratories
Government agencies at all levels borrow from best practice recommendations in the catalog of the foregoing standards developers. Conversely, those same standards developers borrow from the best practice recommendations from the same government agencies.
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More
National Research Council: Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals
National Library of Medicine: Regulation of Animal Research
Most education communities use the foregoing regulations upon which to build their own standards. For example:
New update alert! The 2022 update to the Trademark Assignment Dataset is now available online. Find 1.29 million trademark assignments, involving 2.28 million unique trademark properties issued by the USPTO between March 1952 and January 2023: https://t.co/njrDAbSpwB pic.twitter.com/GkAXrHoQ9T
— USPTO (@uspto) July 13, 2023
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