All, 3 things to bring to you today.

1. NWAL Certified (www.nwalcertified.com) is up an running.  Returning officials can log in to get active, and new officials and returning officials looking to increase their certification (SNT to Starter and Starter to Ref) can now sign up for classes.  All lecture portions of the classes are online this year with the only on-deck requirement being for Starters.  Anyone taking the Starter class would be required to take the online lecture, then take the on-deck after the lecture.  They can sign up for both classes at the same time.  The lectures are still live classes, not videos.  The participants need to be able to get logged in to the GoToMeeting and be present for the entire class to get credit.  There is a Power Point with videos involved so they need to use a laptop or desktop computer.  Our testing showed that video quality on a phone or ipad does not transmit well.  Anyone with questions should email [email protected].
Referee recertification tests are now active as well.

2. 19 Year Old Eligibility - The board voted in favor of allowing 19 year old swimmers to participate this season with the following restrictions:

a. They have to have actively participated on YOUR team in the 2019 season.

b. The swimmer will have to have an approved waiver, submitted through NWAL Certified.

c. The swimmer would then receive a letter of approval from NWAL Eligibility to be presented upon request at any meet they attend.

d. The swimmer cannot be a paid NWAL coach.

This exception is for the 2021 season only.  

3. We have had questions about if your current enrollment between 2 teams is below the 200 swimmer mark if you can run a combined meet.  The short answer is no.  The meet templates are already set up.  What you can do is run a 2 session meet on the same day.  So your 10 and unders would swim the early session and the 11 and ups would swim the 2nd session (or vice versa).  

We understand that this season is not going to be ideal.  We would love to have a normal season but that just is not going to happen this year.  Our goal is to make sure the kids can swim and we make the environment as safe as possible for everyone involved.  There will be no pleasing everyone and you will get your share of complaints, but please keep in mind and let everyone know that this is for the kids.  

Thank you for your patience and understanding.  Once kids are in the water having fun and competing again it will be worth it.  That is what this is all about.

Thanks,

NWAL Board