New AIDA Competition Rules

[BennyB]

Looks like there's a change in rules coming in soon. The main changes seem to be bringing the surface protocol down from 20 seconds to 15 seconds, and allowing only 1 OK sign and 1 verbal "I'm OK" or "I am OK" during the SP.

Does anyone have a summary of all the changes between the current version and the upcoming version?

Thoughts/comments?

Cheers,
Ben

[naiad]

NOOOOOO! How am I ever going to manage that?

For static it's not too bad, as I always manage to remain in a reasonable state, if I don't LMC. For dynamic I come up and rest my face on the side of the pool, too exhausted to breathe. And I don't even do long distances.

If I compete I'll just try my best and see what happens.

Lucia

[DeepThought]

Or try a performance which you are sure to do clean and not close to dying. I think this is why they made the rules that way.

[spaghetti]

Originally Posted by DeepThought

Or try a performance which you are sure to do clean and not close to dying. I think this is why they made the rules that way.

Good thing

[naiad]

I do always finish clean. It's just that I get very tired! There's no sign of LMC, and I feel the same way that I would after anything else tiring.

If I did a performance which is not tiring, it would be about 20m!

If I do compete it will be mostly for static and free immersion. Although I like dynamic, and will continue training, I have to admit that it's just too much sometimes!

[ggarrett]

Originally Posted by BennyB

...allowing only 1 OK sign and 1 verbal "I'm OK" or "I am OK" during the SP.

I understood that the protocol begins when the goggles come off and ends when the athlete says "I'm OK..."

So, I interprete saying OK before the goggles come off as not counting and after the first OK as also not counting because the protocol has ended or hasn't started. So, I think the athlete can say OK several times. I will have to reread this part.

The time limit has shortened to reduce serious LMCs from qualifying. This approach seems a lot more objective than the old LMC rules which turned out highly subjective.

Peace,
Glen

[ggarrett]

Here's what the new AIDA rules say,

"1.28.1
After resurfacing the athlete has 15s to perform the Surface Protocol (SP). The SP has to be performed without any cues from the jury or the officials. The SP begins when the athlete starts removing his/her facial equipment. In case the athlete is not using facial equipment, the SP starts when the athlete gives the OK-sign to the judge.

1.28.2
Surface protocol:
1) remove ALL facial equipment (mask, goggles and nose clip).
2) give 1 visible OK-sign to the judge.
3) give 1 verbal OK to the judge by saying "I'm OK" or "I am OK", in International competitions this has to be done in English.

All the above has to be done IN THIS SPECIFIC ORDER within the given time window of 15s after resurfacing. Before starting the SP and after completing the SP the athlete has the liberty to make multiple verbal/visible signals however as soon as the SP has started all other/extra signals will lead to disqualification (noted as “failing SP”). The SP is considered as completed when the athlete has given the verbal OK."

So, the athlete can say "I'm OK" and signal OK as much as they want before they take off their face gear. They can also signal and say "I'm OK" as much as they want after they say "I'm OK" provided that they first followed steps 1,2,3 above. An athlete just can't signal twice (or more) before saying the verbal OK. After they say the first verbal OK, the protocol ends and they can signal and say OK as much as they want.

My question is: I like to take my goggles off with both hands and to signal with both hands at the same time. Does signaling with both hands at the same time count as signaling once or twice? Judges please.

In peace,
Glen

[jome]

Soo, how do these rules in your opinnion treat using an EQEX type of balloon thingy for static? I could not find a rule that prohibits it, but maybe I'm just missing some general "anything else is banned"-type of clause...

I'm really tempted to try it in a competition just to make a point, but I'm not sure I would like such a lame record...

[ggarrett]

Originally Posted by jome

...I could not find a rule that prohibits it...

Interesting...

"1.20
Any inhalation of oxygen and/or highly oxygenated mixtures 45 minutes prior to the athlete's performance is forbidden.

1.21
Other performance-enhancing products can be forbidden; In case of doubt the judge has the power to decide."

Judges, being as they are, would probably use 1.21 on you, but anything's worth a try.

Peace,
Glen

[Panos Lianos]

yeah, go ahead and try it

[BennyB]

Well, I attended the AIDA Hellas Winter Games on the weekend which used the new rules. All in all I think there was only one case where a red card was given directly because of the new rules. One athlete took 16.5 seconds between surfacing and performing the SP. Other red cards were given for the SP being in the incorrect order, not removing noseclips, and BO's, however these were all in the old rules anyway.

My thoughts were that the new rules had minimal impact on the overall results, considering there were approx 20 athletes in the 3 disciplines and there was only 1 case of failed SP due to the time restraint. It also helps to have a very detailed briefing before the comp, which we did.

I think the old rules (before the introduction of the LMC rule last year) were too biased against the athlete, where the slightest tick could DQ them, the introduction of the LMC rule fixed that problem but turned the issue around 180 degrees where the athlete could get away with far more than they should, now this amendment to the LMC rule is bringing back the objectivity within reason.

Cheers,
Ben