Shaving Violation Costs Broadneck County Swimming Title

UPDATE (6:25 p.m.)—An illegal shaving the day of the meet has cost Broadneck High School’s girls varsity swim team its county championship, according to a schools spokesman.

Severna Park High School's girls varsity swim team has been named the new champion of the Feb. 10 event after points were redistributed, with Broadneck placing third.

A Bruins swimmer was disqualified after officials learned that she had shaved "on site" just before the competition began, in violation of the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) rulebook, a release from the school system said.

“No team personnel/competitor shall perform any on-site shaving before, during or after the meet," according to the rulebook.

According to the NFHS rule book, on-site shaving is prohibited for health and safety reasons, and also prevents the transmission of blood-borne diseases. 

“It is very important that coaches counsel their athletes on the danger and inappropriateness of on-site shaving ranging from sharing razors, possible cuts and exchange of body fluid (blood) and spreading communicable disease to cleanliness issues at the facility," according to the NFHS.  “Coaches have the responsibility to educate their athletes and enforce this restriction.”

Disciplinary action has been taken against the coach, according to a press release.

Patch is reaching out for comments from swimmers and parents who were involved with this year's team.

Email me if you have more information.

The full press release: 

Broadneck High School’s varsity girls swim team has been forced to forfeit its county championship after it was discovered that a student-athlete and coach violated rules of the meet.  

School system officials were made aware this week of a concern that one of the team’s swimmers improperly prepared for the county championship meet, held on February 10, by shaving on-site just prior to the start of the competition. 

Anne Arundel County Public Schools Office of Athletics officials immediately notified all necessary parties and redistributed the points earned by the disqualified swimmer to the other participating teams.  

As a result, the county championship has been awarded to Severna Park High School. Broadneck finished third.

Under National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) 2011-2012 swimming and diving and water polo rules, “No team personnel/competitor shall perform any on-site shaving before, during or after the meet.”

The penalty for breaking the rule is disqualification for the applicable meet.

The coach violated a rule in the 2011-2012 AACPS Athletics Handbook that addresses a coach’s responsibility to abide by the rules of the game and promote ethical relationships among coaches and players.

Appropriate disciplinary action has been taken against the coach.