New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-01-15
Amateur Athletic Union
Plans a Sweeping Re-
vision of Rules.
CHAMPIONSHIPS IN
TWO CLASSES NOW
Juniors and Seniors Will Compete
for Titles in Separate
Contests.

Numerous changes I'm the swimming and
fancy diving rules OF the Amateur Ath-
letic Union have been proposed to the
governing board of that body. and mail
vote viii be taken on them, probably In
time To permit Of their adoption for the
championships TO be held this -pring
James r.. sullivan. secretary-treasurer OF
the y. A. L., mailed copy of the amend
ments yesterday to the board OF cover
nors former presidents and secretaries
and delegates at large of the y. \. l..
and their votes must he in by January -.
The amendments provide for junior
and senior class and define the contests
TO be held i'm the two classes. both in
doors and outdoors. For the purpose OF
defining eligibility to the junior class. con-
tests will be confined TO free style swim
ming, back stroke. breast stroke, diving
and plunge for distance.
The annual championships are TO be
arranged as follows
Outdoor swimming meeting senior class
40 Yards. $40 yards, one mile. long ais
tancc, high diving.
outdoor swimming mecunS-Junior class
-ii0 Yards, one mile, high diving
IndSr swimming meeting-senior class
- - Yards, 100 yards. 22J yards, 800 yards.
back stroke LOO yards; breast stroke, 20,
Yards: fancy diving from the spring
board. plunge for distance relay, ~
Yards. flour men: water polo.
Indoor swimming meeting Junior class
100 wards, 80 Yards, back stroke. 10
Yards. breast stroke. l"r yards; fanc!
diving from the springboard.
Outdoor championships are TO be held
over a properly staked off course not less
l,af II of than ~ NdI0-
i'm length, and shall be held ~ Stlll. open
water or i'm tidal waters at high tide.
TIE long distance championship may Dt
held over a straight course. either III Sun
or running water The distance should
he selected with view of making the
time OF the race not less than one hour
and not more than 2le hours Indoor
championships shall be held i'm baths not
less than 90 feet and not more than 10
feet in length.
Not more than one Of the free style
swimming championships may be hello on
any one daY. and junior championships
are to he held only at the discretion oil
the y. \. L. championship committee.
The reasons for the amendments to the
diving rules and tables are explained by
the swimming committee of the Metro
politan Association as follows:
When the present diving regulations
doubt whether 10 suggest the method
used in Germany and Austria of adding
points for difficulty TO the points given Tor
execution. or TO adopt the method USED m
Swcd'o. Norway and Finland OF mutt
plyu .ne points for diihculty by the
point .tNcn for execution. Although II
was acknowledge the multiplication
method furnished faircr results, the addl-
ton method was suggested because ~
was less laborious and took considerably
1ul to. q
scores
However. during the two years that the
addition method has been in use practice
has demonstrated its fallacy. Competl'
tors have taken advantage Of its weak
ness and have invariably selected dive
Which called for the highest points with
out regard to their ability 10 execute
them, relying on getting the fuli score ioi
difficulty even if the dive was not per
formed The multiplication method VII
remedy this state OF affairs. because nc
matter how high the degree of difficulty
OF a dive may be the final result OF null
IMPLICATION will he low il the points Giver
for the execution of the particular dive
should be low.
The amendments 10 Section - Of Gen
eral Rule 90 are made to conform oul
rules more closely TO the rules OF forelgi
nations and the international SWIMMING
Federation and TO provide more DEFINITE
regulations as TO swimming records.
The rules governing swimming records
are TO ne superseded by the following
amendment:
American records shall he recognized
over the following distances, II maze ovel
a course OF not less than ~ feet and no
more than 22U yards in length, % yards
100 wards l20 yards. 200 yards. 800 YARDS
l40 and 800 Yards for swimming on I'M
back: 100 Yards and 80 yards. for swim
ming the breaststroke 100 and 200 yards
for relay racing club teams of four or fv'
men. each 10 swim 70 and 100 yards, anC
over the following distances II made Owe
a course not less than 20 feet and no
more than 30 yards In length: For ~
Yards 600 yards and one mile. FOL
pltnging one minute time limit.
American records can be made only II
still water OF in tidal waters where th'
swimmer has not been aided by the tide
No performance made in handicap com
petition shall be allowed as record un
less AT least three watches shall have
been started on the competitor claiming
such record.
No record shall be allowed for any per
Torrance where the distance does no
finish at the end of the course. unless 2
rope. TO indicate the record distance ]:
stretched across the course al q suff
Gent height from the surface OF th'
water not to interfere with the swim