In synchronized swimming, the reform of the refereeing system is under discussion. Changes to the rules could have come into effect last year, but due to the pandemic the process has been delayed. The jury will judge the current World Cup according to the old canons, but what happens next…
First Vice-President of the Russian Synchronized Swimming Federation talks about proposed rules reform Olga Brusnikina.
HOW IT WILL BE
The idea with changes in the rules is designed to give a more objective evaluation of the programs. It is expected that the changes will affect three important aspects:
COMPLEXITY
– In the new edition of the rules in terms of complexity, we do not try to bring new elements. The set includes those that are already (!) Performed, they will simply be divided into certain groups, levels with the allocation of a certain number of points.
When setting up a program, the coach focuses on listing these elements, choosing which ones will be presented.
For example, there are five groups of elements, divided by level from one to nine. The ninth is of very high difficulty. Accordingly, if the program is saturated with such elements, its point complexity will be significant.
Thus, if before the complexity was determined “by eye” by the judge, now it will be declared by the trainer himself. Each of the elements of the program will be assessed separately, the sum of points will be calculated according to the formula.
SYNCHRONICITY AND JUDGES
Synchronicity has been proposed to be transferred to a technological level. Three counters will register errors – small, medium and large.
Also in our sport there will be technical controllers – six people. They will not give a rating of the program in points, but will control its execution – three people for complexity and timing.
There will be two juries. One will judge the artistic part, the second – the execution of the elements. Here they are already rating and expressing their opinion about the program. Here the subjective moment remains, especially in the artistic part of the program.
ACROBATICS AND THE RUSSIAN QUESTION
— Any new system must always be balanced. This also applies to rule systems. Maybe at some point complexity will pull, maybe execution, maybe synchronicity. Now, it is difficult to assess precisely this.
The programs of the Russian national team are very complex and very intense. In synchronicity, we are also ahead of everyone else. Our attention was not so focused on acrobatics, perhaps in this regard it is worth adding attention.
HAVE YOU HEARD OUR OPINION?
– The current version of the rules is still a trial balloon, the rules are being finalized. Unfortunately, it has not yet been possible to carry out many tests in this regard.
The vote on the new rules is scheduled for October at the technical congress.
Officially, no one excluded or removed us from this discussion, but with the start of the military special operation in Ukraine, the intensity of communication decreased. We continue to work, give our recommendations, our comments.
We didn’t go to the World Cup, despite the fact that there was no such suspension for officials at the time. We have decided not to create additional difficulties for the organizers, so that there are no negative moments.
Now we continue to work and I can say that even in the absence of international competitions there is no time for respite – it will be necessary to prepare seminars for referees and coaches, which we hope to organize immediately afterwards official adoption of the rules. This is important and very responsible work.
In addition, we will have several competitions. Student Spartakiade, then the Friendship Games. We hope that several teams from other countries will come to the Friendship Games in Kazan. We won’t reveal any secrets, but there is interest in these competitions. And in August – the Spartakiad of the strongest, it will be held in the Moscow region, at the federal base “Round Lake”. So we don’t have time to rest.
Source : MatchTV
