IHSAA Rules

Coaches’ Protocol for Coaching Divers Other Than Members of Their Own Middle School or High School Team During Middle School or High School Season.

Follow guidelines as set forth by the IHSAA for both middle school and high school coaching practices

1. Coaches who represent an IHSAA school may not coach divers of the same gender but different high school affiliations at the same station at the same time (stations examples: 1m, 3m, Plat, Trampoline, Dryboard).

2. Coaches who represent an IHSAA school may not coach or spend an inordinate amount of time with divers of other high school or middle school teams at competitions. If a coach were accused of doing so, this could render the athlete to whom assistance had given ineligible due to IHSAA rules. Potential political ramifications would likely be embarrassing and damaging at all administrative levels of the home team of the coach – word of professional misbehavior at any level spreads swiftly.

3. When attending a meet with some satellite team divers who perform for an opposing team, coaches who represent an IHSAA school should follow #2 above. Coaches may proactively handle the situation by preparing the athlete in a more suitable setting, like at practice days before the competition. If the diver’s safety is an issue, have the referee communicate with the opposing coach about the safety concern.

4. A fair amount of high school and middle school coaches will tell on coaches who represent an IHSAA school for coaching other divers against IHSAA guidelines. Swim officials will report this. The IHSAA office will respect the Starz Diving Club organization until they are pushed to the wall in the spotlight, at which time some unsuspecting coach and athlete would be made an firm example for all (i.e. – One of our elite divers was almost rendered ineligible for State Championship participation because she wore a hair band on her wrist during one of her dives at the sectional competition. The swim official that made the call considered the hair band to be a jewelry violation. He admitted that he could have prevented the situation but chose not to. The negative publicity and state-wide controversy that followed her case likely contributed to this great diver’s sadly diminished performance at the State Meet.). The more our organization succeeds, the more our staff members will find themselves in the fishbowl, scrutinized by high school and middle school peers, and swimming officials.

5. It is important to establish and practice the proper rules of IHSAA compliance so that coaches who represent an IHSAA school can defend themselves and their school with integrity and credibility if accused of foul play.