The following bylaws were approved at the September 2025 league meeting and revised on November 16, 2025.

Section 1 – Members 

The Northern Suburban Swim League shall consist of a maximum of twelve (12) teams. Only teams who limit membership to residents of the local community or area served by the pool may be members of the League. Addition, removal, or reinstatement of members must be approved by a two-thirds (2/3) majority of current League members. Cause for removal of a team includes failure to conduct dual meets properly, be represented at League meetings, or carry out work assignments for the Championship meet. 

Under special circumstances, a team may be allowed to pass on league competition for one year with the payment of that year’s league dues. However, that team will be allowed a vote at league meetings. The following year, they must return to active league status or their membership in the Northern Suburban Swim League will be dropped. A team choosing not to pay dues and swim for a year forfeits their vote and membership in the League and must apply for reinstatement at a later time. 

Teams must notify the league president by March 30th if they will not have a team competing that year so that the schedule can be adjusted accordingly. 

The league and meets are a drug and alcohol-free environment. 

Section 2 – Annual League Meeting 

A meeting of representatives from each member team will be held in April. Each team shall have one vote in making decisions at this and any subsequent meetings. Changes to the League Rules will require a two-thirds (2/3) majority of current League members. 

Section 3 – Officers 

The League shall have four officers: President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer. Coaches cannot hold office. The President shall call the annual meeting, call additional meetings as needed, develop a dual meet schedule, and handle all other business for the League. The Vice-President shall assist the President, serve as chairperson of the championship committee, and become President the following year. The Secretary shall keep the minutes of all meetings and keep League records. The Treasurer shall collect dues, keep the books and pay all bills. The officers shall be provided by the teams in the following order:

Each team shall provide the President and the Secretary from the previous calendar year. The Vice-President shall be from the team which will provide the President and the Secretary the following year. It is expected that the Vice-President will assume the Presidency for the next year. The Treasurer shall be voted in and keep the position for as long as he/she is willing to hold the position or until voted out.

Section 4 – Dues 

Each member team will pay an annual $60.00 fee to cover administrative costs of the League. A financial report will be given at the April League meeting and appropriate action taken to deal with large surpluses or deficiencies. 

Section 5 – Technology Reimbursement 

A technical reimbursement of $300.00 per year will be provided to each team who submits receipts for purchases of software, computer, printer, or other equipment used to host a meet. This reimbursement must be used within a 2 year period. (example; 2021 must be used by the end of 2022 calendar year) 

Section 6 – Records 

Northern Suburban Swim League records will be set only at the annual League Championship Meet. Records will be updated annually, as provided for in “Responsibilities for Championships,” using preliminary as well as final results. No league records will be created by the first leg of a relay in the NSSL.

Section 1 – Application 

These rules apply to all competition among members of the Northern Suburban Swim League. 

Section 2 – Team Members 

Any person competing for a team of the Northern Suburban Swim League must be a bona fide member of the swim team that he/she is representing. 

Section 3 – One Team Only 

A person may compete for only one team in the Northern Suburban Swim League. The team with which he/she practices with as of June 1st of that given year shall be his/her team designate. The only time a team change is valid is when there has been a bona fide change of address. 

Section 4 – USA Swimming Rules 

The current USA Swimming Rules will govern competition. No leniency with regard to stroke and turn judging shall be allowed. This rule applies to all meets. There are no stroke and turn deviations.

Section 5 – Pool Depth 

All Northern Suburban Swim League teams must adhere to a combination of the U.S.A. Swimming guidelines and the host team’s policy regarding pool depth and the method of entry. As long as the minimum U.S.A. Swimming depth requirements are met, the host team’s policy will prevail

Section 1 – Determination of Age

Age is determined for the entire season by the swimmer’s age on June 1. A swimmer who was born on June 1 shall be considered, for the purpose of this rule, to be the age he/she is on June 2. Graduating high school seniors will be allowed to swim the summer season immediately following their graduation from high school, but the swimmer may not be older than 19.

Section 2 – Age Groups

The age groups for swimming shall be as follows: 6 and Under (free and back), 8 and Under, 9/10, 11/12, 13/14, and 15-19 year olds. Each age group will be divided into boys and girls.

Section 3 – Age Group Competition

A competitor must compete in a single age group (his/her age group or older) in a meet. There are two exceptions: (1) 8 and Unders may compete in the 9/10 Individual Medley; (2) Swimmers may be moved up one age group to fill a position in the relays, but must return to the appropriate age group for individual events.

Section 1 – Schedule

When the League is at its maximum size of twelve teams, dual meets will be scheduled as follows: Eight (8) dual meets shall be scheduled according to the final team placement in the previous summer’s Championship Meet. The top six (6) teams shall be scheduled to compete against each other and the final six (6) teams shall be scheduled to compete against each other. Then, the remaining dual meets will be scheduled against teams from the other flight. When the League is smaller than twelve, the League President will try to schedule at least seven (7) meets for each team.

Section 2 – Awards

The hosting team shall provide ribbons for First, Second, and Third places in all individual and relay events. Quantities must be turned into Evendale by March 31^st of that year so order can be placed and available by the meeting just prior to the first meet. The hosting team may provide ribbons for exhibition swimmers or any other ribbons that they believe is appropriate at their own costs.

Section 3 – Cancellation of Meets

No dual meet may be cancelled without the agreement of both participating teams head coach and league representative.

Section 4 – Scoring

Scoring shall be as follows: (a) Individual events, 5-3-1 points for places 1-2-3 respectively; (b) Relay events, 7-4-2 points for places 1-2-3 respectively. In six lane pools or larger, sweeps will stand. All individual event participants, relay team members, and exhibition swimmers must be listed, with times, on the score sheet.

Section 5 – Event Limitations

An individual may compete in a maximum of four (4) events, including one Medley and/or Freestyle Relay. Each team may compete up to three (3) swimmers or three (3) relay teams in a particular event in six-lane pools or larger. In a tri-meet, each team may compete up to two (2) swimmers or two (2) relay teams in a particular event.

Section 6 – Order of Events

The order of events is listed separately on the last page.

Section 7 – Officials

Referee/Stroke/Turn Judges – Need a minimum of 4 officials 2 from host team and 2 from visiting team. Minimum certification to be “league certified” (preferred to be USA/YMCA or High School Certified). Responsible for stroke and turn violations. Protocol to follow USA rules unless league rules apply. Positions on deck to be on the ends of the pool in the middle of the lane responsible for and then move to the corners for relay take offs unless there are enough officials to cover both relay take offs and Stroke/Turns. The visiting team will be required to furnish an individual for the Scorer’s table and (2) stroke/turn judges who will be placed at opposite ends of the pool and opposite group of lanes. Certified judges are preferred.

For Championships the league strives to use as many USA/YMCA or High School certified as possible.

Head Timer, meet Referee or Starter – Responsible for training and organizing timers at each meet including proper positioning and recording of times.

Timers – Minimum (2) per lane with backup. Shall record times for each race on lane slip provided. Slips to be presented to “scoring”. The official time shall follow USA Rules.

Scoring – NSSL uses Team Manager for entries and Meet Manager for running and scoring meets. USA rules apply for all scoring.

Backstroke – Officials will use the Ohio High School Rules for Backstroke. Once the swimmer has turned over on their breast and finished their one arm or two arm simultaneous arm pull, they may kick or glide independently before making the flip turn.

Section 8 – Lane Assignments

The home team will have lanes 1-3-5 and the visiting team will have lanes 2-4-6 in six-lane pools or larger; in a tri-meet the home team will have lanes 1 and 4 and the visiting teams will have lanes 2 and 5, and lanes 3 and 6. For eight lane pools, the extra two lanes may be used for exhibition in lanes 7 and 8.

Section 9 – Exhibition

A maximum of sixteen (16) exhibition heats will be permitted at dual meets. The exhibition heats should be decided upon by both coaches at least 6 hours prior to the start of the meet and the meet referee and/or starter should be informed before the meet starts. In the normal order of any event, the exhibition heat(s) will be swum after the regulation heat.

Section 10 – Line-ups

Coaches should have meet entries via Meet Manager files to home team scorer with all final changes by the beginning of their team warm-ups. The final heat sheet should be finalized 15 minutes prior to the start of the meet. Once the meet begins, coaches should also try to keep the meet starter and/or referee informed of last-minute cancellations only, particularly of any changes that may require canceling a heat. Once the meet starts, adding a person as an exhibition swimmer only and only if there is an open spot. The league has voted that timers will use the timer sheet provided in Meet Manager and print them out before the meet. These timer sheet along with any DQ sheet from the offices will be collected and turned in to the scorers table and the results will be entered into Meet Manager. If the starter combines two or more heats, the swimmer takes his timer slip to the changed timer lane and the timer changes the lane number on the slip.

Section 11 – Warm-ups

If warm-ups are divided (with one team in the water at a time), the host team should warm up first, so that the visiting team may warm up second.

Section 12 – Timers

The host team will provide the timers for their home meets. The Timers should arrive no later than 15 minutes before the meet starts. The host team should provide the watches and a back-up timer.

Pool Lanes

Section 13 – Official Results

At the end of the meet, all DQ slips for each team will be given to that team’s coach along with ribbons for that team. Also, the Scorer will print out 3 sets of result sheets from Meet Manager and initial each page and sign the last page and add the time of the posting of the final results. The meet will not be official until 24 after the posting time of the final results. The Meet Referee and both coaches should also sign all three copies and each coach shall receive a signed copy and the home team rep should keep the third signed copy.

Section 1 – Date

The Northern Suburban Swim League Championship Meet is generally held the third Monday and Tuesday of July with Preliminary heats on Monday and Finals on Tuesday. This date may be changed if agreed upon at a general meeting. If all or part of the first session of the preliminaries is canceled due to weather, all preliminaries completed shall be scored as finals and all remaining preliminaries events shall be conducted as timed finals on Championship Day.

Section 2 – Conducting Championships

A committee chaired by the League Vice-President shall plan and run League Championships. Each team will be assigned a responsibility for the Championships Meet. In addition, each team will be required to furnish timers and officials. The host team shall have exclusive rights to the concessions. Prior to the start of the season championship responsibilities for all teams will be confirmed for that year.

Section 3 – Entries

Each team will have unlimited team entries in the Freestyle and Backstroke events. A maximum of six (6) entries per team, per event, will be allowed in the 200 Freestyle, Butterfly, Individual Medley, and Breaststroke events. A maximum of two (2) Medley Relays per team, per eventand two (2) Freestyle Relays per team, per event will be permitted.

Section 4 – Eligibility

In order to be eligible to compete in the Championship Meet, a swimmer must have competed in two (2) scheduled league meets that season. Any swimmer seeking a waiver of the two-meet rule must present a letter to the league president requesting the waiver and explaining the reasons for it by June 1. The League Representatives will consider each such request on an individual basis by the July meeting at the latest.

Section 5 – Seeding

Seeding of the preliminaries for the Championship Meet will be based on actual times swum during the current season and circle seeded. The Championship and Consolation heats for finals will be seeded as timed finals in accordance with rule 102.5 in the U.S.A. Swimming Rule Book.

Section 6 – Scoring

Individual events – for places 1 through 12 respectively:

16 - 13 - 12 - 11 - 10 - 9 - 7 - 5 - 4 - 3 - 2 - 1

Relay events – for places 1 through 12 respectively:

32 - 26 - 24 - 22 - 20 - 18 - 14 - 10 - 8 - 6 - 4 - 2

Section 7 – Awards

Medals will be awarded for places 1 through 6; ribbons for places 7 through 12. Ribbons will also be awarded for places 13 through 18 in individual events for 12 and under swimmers; these places will not be scored, however. For the purpose of team awards only, the league will be divided into two divisions (Large and Small) based on the numbers of swimmers entered per team in Championships that year. If there is an uneven number of teams, the middle team will be placed in the division with the team whose numbers are closest to their numbers of swimmers entered in Championship. For example, if there are 9 teams, the 5th team will need to be placed. If the 4th team has 100 swimmers, the 5th team has 90 swimmers, and the 6th team has 70 swimmers, then the 5th team goes to the large division, as 90 is closer to 100 than it is to 70. If exactly in the middle, the decision moves to the 3rd and 7th largest teams, and so on, until there is a clear division. TravelingTrophies will be given to the top three teams in each division.All teams will get a plate for their plaque.All participants will receive a participation ribbon.

Section 8 – Swimming Event Limitation

A maximum of four (4) events, including one Medley and/or Freestyle Relay, may be entered by an individual. These events may be four (4) individual events, three (3) individual events and one (1) relay, or two (2) individual events and two (2) relays.

Section 9 – Entry Deadline

All entries for the Championship Meet must be in the hands of the entry chairperson the Wednesday before the start of championships. Late entries will not be accepted. For an entry to be complete, it must include the list of entrants with times stated to hundredths of a second and the entry fee. If hundredths are not stated, 0.99 will be added.

Section 10 – Entry Fees

The entry fee is $2.00 per swimmer per individual event and $8.00 per relay team per relay event. All checks will be turned into, or mailed to the Treasurer by the end of the meet after finals.

Section 11 – Official Times/Places

Automatic electronic timing equipment shall be used in the Championship Meet. A primary (touchpad) and secondary (back-up button) system shall be used, backed up by manual watches in case of electronic failure. The official time shall be determined using the current USA Swimming Rule Book, except for the Backstroke rules are the same as the State of Ohio High School rules.

Section 12 – Equipment Required for Championship Meets

1. Electronic timing system, computerized scoring, and head sets (rented equipment paid for by the League)
2. Public address system
3. Starting blocks
4. Lane lines
5. Backstroke flags
6. False start rope
7. An Electronic Starting System and a back-up
8. Bull horn for Clerk of Course
9. Ready chairs for Clerk of Course
10. Tables for the timing system, computers, and awards
11. Two whistles for the referee and recall starter
12. DQ slips for referees and judges
13. Head sets radios for officials 8 recommended
14. USA Swimming Rule Book and NSSL Rules
15. NSSL Record Book

Section 13 – Minimum Officials Required for the Championship Meet

1. Meet Referee
2. Assistant Meet Referee
3. Starter
4. Recall Starter
5. Head Timer
6. Stroke and Turn Judges (4) two each end of the pool
7. Relay Take-Off Judges (4) two each end of the pool

Section 14 – Minimum Workers Needed for the Championship Meet

1. Meet Director (provided by the host team)
2. Admissions & Heat Sheets – team assignment
3. Announcer – team assignment
4. Awards – team assignment
5. Clerk of Course – team assignment
6. Entries & Scoring (computer) – team assignment or league paid operator
7. Runners (minimum 2) – team assignment
8. Records – team assignment
9. Timers (2 per lane) – team assignment
10. Timing System Operators (provided by whoever supplies the timing system)

Section 15 – Alternates

An alternate, once he/she is placed on the starting blocks by the meet starter, will not be called down and the qualified swimmer then gives up his/her opportunity to swim that event. The Alternate will only be used to fill a slot in Consultation heat 7-12.

Section 16 – Order of Events

The Championship Meet preliminaries will be divided into two sessions: Session I – 6 & Under timed final events, 8 & Under, and 9/10 individual events, and the 8 & Under Girls and Boys Freestyle Relay timed final events, according to the prescribed order of events; Session II – 11/12 ,13/14 and 15-19 year old individual events according to the prescribed order of events. The League may vote at its April meeting to alter the distribution of age groups or events among the sessions for that season only in the interest of keeping both sessions to a manageable length; such a vote will not constitute a change of this rule.

The Championship Meet finals will be run according to the prescribed order of events, with the exception of the 6 & Under Freestyle and Backstroke events and the 8 & Under Freestyle Relay events, which will have already been contested.

Section 17 – Gate Admission and Heat Sheets

Gate admission will be $5.00 per person per session and does not include a heat sheet. Wrist bands will be used. Children under 4, league swimmers and league coaches are free. Workers must pay.  $8 all day pass for first day.

Section 1 – Protests by Individuals 

At any dual meet or championship meet, all protests shall be directed to the meet referee within 30 minutes of the posting of the results for that event during the championship meet. The meet referee shall decide any protest and the meet shall continue. Coaches and/or parents shall have no communication with the judges, timers or officials in the matter of complaints. 

Section 2 – Disqualification Explanation 

Any disqualifications that occur during a dual meet or championship meet shall be explained, when possible, to the swimmer and/or coach at the end of the event. If a swimmer false starts prior to the start of the race, they will be disqualified but they will be allowed to swim the race.

Section 1 – Scheduling of Invitational Meets

Any team in the Northern Suburban Swim League may host an invitational swimming meet. However, no invitational meet may be held within five days before or after the League Championship Meet.

Northern Suburban Swim League
Order of Events