Sorry Doak, see "Clause G"

Today was a disapointing day on a few levels.  I struggled with my leg injury quite a bit today knowing that this issue may prevent me from performing well at Nationals this Friday.  The second bit of bad news came in the form of an email from the Associate Athletic Director at U of M who is in charge of Compliance.  The short version is: I'm too old to train at the same time as U of M swimmers.  This may not sound that bad but it means I will not be able to participate in some of the group practices or trips.  In the months leading up to this judgement we were working on an "Olympic Waiver" which if approved would have allowed me to train at the same time and location as all the U of M swimmers, easing all the scheduling of practices, trips and vans.  Every other post grad swimmer I train with was granted the waiver because they have only had the chance to compete in one other Olympic Games.  Due to the fact that I COULD HAVE trained for the 2004 and 2008 games after graduating from EMU, this is the limitation of the waiver.  See Clause G below:

14.1.8.3.2 U.S. Olympic Committee/National Governing Body -- Practice. 

A student with eligibility remaining who is not enrolled or who is enrolled in less than a minimum full-time program of studies, or a former student-athlete may participate on a regular basis in organized practice sessions, provided the following conditions are met: (Adopted: 1/9/96, Revised:  1/14/97 effective 8/1/97, 1/16/10 effective 5/1/10)

(a) The practice sessions take place at the institution the individual previously attended as an undergraduate or currently attends or previously attended as a graduate student, except that a former student-athlete who has graduated and has no eligibility remaining may participate in practice sessions at an institution other than the one he or she previously attended;  (Revised:  4/29/10 effective 8/1/10)

(b) In the case of a former student-athlete, the practice sessions involve an individual sport or women's rowing; (Revised:  4/28/05 effective 8/1/05, 1/17/09 effective 8/1/09)

(c) In the case of a current student-athlete with eligibility remaining, the practice sessions involve an individual or team sport; (Revised: 4/28/05 effective 8/1/05)

(d) The U.S. Olympic Committee or national governing body in the sport has recommended the individual's participation;

(e) The individual does not participate in any coaching activities unless the institution designates the individual in the appropriate coaching limits;

(f) In the case of a student-athlete with NCAA eligibility remaining in the sport, such participation occurs only during the academic year immediately preceding the Olympic Games; and

(g) In the case of a former student-athlete, such participation shall be limited to the number of years that allows the individual to practice with the institution's team in preparation for two consecutive Olympic Games following exhaustion of eligibility or completion of degree, whichever is earlier. A student-athlete who has not graduated must be enrolled (full or part time) and making progress toward a degree. (Adopted:  4/25/02 effective 8/1/02, Revised:  4/29/10 effective 8/1/10)

I was forwarded the following email:

"We have run into an issue with the Doak waiver.  The rule that permits this specifies that a waiver can only be granted for former student-athletes who are training for the two Olympics immediately following the exhaustion of their eligibility or their graduation from college, whichever is earlier  (see part g below).  In Doak’s case, he exhausted his eligibility in 2003, which means that the next two Olympics were 2004 and 2008.  This is his third Olympics since exhausting his eligibility, so he no longer qualifies for this waiver."

What this means in the immediate future is that I may not be able to go to the Florida Keys this winter for a holiday training trip. The positive flip side to this all is that if I have to train alone, it will give me more time to focus on specific aspects of my race that I want to improve like my underwater kicking.   I'll have more details soon.