I am Luis Fernandez - of Woodley suspension (in)famy

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Luis, thank you for sharing. I agree that boys should not compete against girls, even in youth sports. As an official, I see you were trying to enforce rules and advocate for fair rules. Asking the three spectators questions about the swimmer was not appropriate. Writing “boy” on the meet sheet was not appropriate. I would’ve kept my concerns to meet officials, team reps, and the league to be most effective, professional, and kind. I also agree that the boards communication to you via email only, lacking specifics of the violation, and failing to interview you for your account were not appropriate.

Question for you- was the swimmer actually a boy or girl? Posts reference Terry wee actually a girl but I see no verification of that.

Can you link to NVSL rules about gender? I agree that league rules need to include gender policies.

Please tell me what rule the marshal was trying to enforce.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Luis, thank you for sharing. I agree that boys should not compete against girls, even in youth sports. As an official, I see you were trying to enforce rules and advocate for fair rules. Asking the three spectators questions about the swimmer was not appropriate. Writing “boy” on the meet sheet was not appropriate. I would’ve kept my concerns to meet officials, team reps, and the league to be most effective, professional, and kind. I also agree that the boards communication to you via email only, lacking specifics of the violation, and failing to interview you for your account were not appropriate.

Question for you- was the swimmer actually a boy or girl? Posts reference Terry wee actually a girl but I see no verification of that.

Can you link to NVSL rules about gender? I agree that league rules need to include gender policies.

Marshals are not officials; they are meet-specific deck volunteers.
They receive no formal training beyond a quick briefing from the ref before the meet. It’s very clear what rules they are empowered to enforce and swimmer eligibility is not among them. If a marshal observed an illegal fly finish that the stroke and turn judge missed, they don’t escalate it to the ref and then go bananas when there is no subsequent dq. Because he’s not there to enforce those rules and isn’t permitted to. In addition to the many other issues with this situation, the OP was out of line as a marshal and can’t use that role to justify his actions. (Note, a primary responsibility of marshals IS to ensure there is no foul language or abusive behavior on deck.)

[Anonymous]

The family should sue for sexual harassment.

[Anonymous]

This guy definitely acted inappropriately. At the same time, if there was a clear rule and something like birth certificates submitted when each child registers for summer swim, there would be no reason for a random parent to question the gender of a swimmer. It would be a settled matter well before any meet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This guy definitely acted inappropriately. At the same time, if there was a clear rule and something like birth certificates submitted when each child registers for summer swim, there would be no reason for a random parent to question the gender of a swimmer. It would be a settled matter well before any meet.

There is a clear rule. In non-elite swimming, athletes self-identify (or their parents identify for them) and swim as the gender they register with. Mini meets are absolutely “non-elite”. It is a settled matter.

Birth certificates in VA can be changed to reflect a new gender identity, so requiring people to bring them serves no purpose.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This guy definitely acted inappropriately. At the same time, if there was a clear rule and something like birth certificates submitted when each child registers for summer swim, there would be no reason for a random parent to question the gender of a swimmer. It would be a settled matter well before any meet.

Team rep here. Yes, I’d love to add inspecting 200 birth certificates to the list of duties for my volunteer job that already takes over my life and makes it difficult to do my paid, FT job. Not to mention, teams don’t have budgets for a secure system for that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This guy definitely acted inappropriately. At the same time, if there was a clear rule and something like birth certificates submitted when each child registers for summer swim, there would be no reason for a random parent to question the gender of a swimmer. It would be a settled matter well before any meet.

I don’t think you are going to get people doing birth certificates and blood tests to sign up their 5 year old for the weekend u10 meet’s kick board race.

[Anonymous]

Wait, I just got caught up on this thread again. The child in question is a girl?!?!? Is that true?

[Anonymous]

Yelling and Swearing at other parents, at a kids meet, with lots of kids around, is unacceptable. Regardless of the righteousness of the cause (which I happen to agree with.) If this had just been a kid out of age group and he reacted that way he should have been kicked out too. We ‘protect’ kids sports by keeping out parents who lose their temper around kids because they can’t be trusted.

[Anonymous]

Challenging this child’s supporters and going full-on bullying with a Sharpie means you are the problem here. You should be kicked out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wait, I just got caught up on this thread again. The child in question is a girl?!?!? Is that true?

Yes it’s true, she’s a girl and Luis has gone quiet here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This guy definitely acted inappropriately. At the same time, if there was a clear rule and something like birth certificates submitted when each child registers for summer swim, there would be no reason for a random parent to question the gender of a swimmer. It would be a settled matter well before any meet.

I don’t think you are going to get people doing birth certificates and blood tests to sign up their 5 year old for the weekend u10 meet’s kick board race.

+1.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Luis, thank you for sharing. I agree that boys should not compete against girls, even in youth sports. As an official, I see you were trying to enforce rules and advocate for fair rules. Asking the three spectators questions about the swimmer was not appropriate. Writing “boy” on the meet sheet was not appropriate. I would’ve kept my concerns to meet officials, team reps, and the league to be most effective, professional, and kind. I also agree that the boards communication to you via email only, lacking specifics of the violation, and failing to interview you for your account were not appropriate.

Question for you- was the swimmer actually a boy or girl? Posts reference Terry wee actually a girl but I see no verification of that.

Can you link to NVSL rules about gender? I agree that league rules need to include gender policies.

Marshals are not officials; they are meet-specific deck volunteers.
They receive no formal training beyond a quick briefing from the ref before the meet. It’s very clear what rules they are empowered to enforce and swimmer eligibility is not among them. If a marshal observed an illegal fly finish that the stroke and turn judge missed, they don’t escalate it to the ref and then go bananas when there is no subsequent dq. Because he’s not there to enforce those rules and isn’t permitted to. In addition to the many other issues with this situation, the OP was out of line as a marshal and can’t use that role to justify his actions. (Note, a primary responsibility of marshals IS to ensure there is no foul language or abusive behavior on deck.)

His account (posted on his original post) stated that he is a certified meet official, although yes you are correct, he was volunteering as a marshall in this meet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Luis, thank you for sharing. I agree that boys should not compete against girls, even in youth sports. As an official, I see you were trying to enforce rules and advocate for fair rules. Asking the three spectators questions about the swimmer was not appropriate. Writing “boy” on the meet sheet was not appropriate. I would’ve kept my concerns to meet officials, team reps, and the league to be most effective, professional, and kind. I also agree that the boards communication to you via email only, lacking specifics of the violation, and failing to interview you for your account were not appropriate.

Question for you- was the swimmer actually a boy or girl? Posts reference Terry wee actually a girl but I see no verification of that.

Can you link to NVSL rules about gender? I agree that league rules need to include gender policies.

Marshals are not officials; they are meet-specific deck volunteers.
They receive no formal training beyond a quick briefing from the ref before the meet. It’s very clear what rules they are empowered to enforce and swimmer eligibility is not among them. If a marshal observed an illegal fly finish that the stroke and turn judge missed, they don’t escalate it to the ref and then go bananas when there is no subsequent dq. Because he’s not there to enforce those rules and isn’t permitted to. In addition to the many other issues with this situation, the OP was out of line as a marshal and can’t use that role to justify his actions. (Note, a primary responsibility of marshals IS to ensure there is no foul language or abusive behavior on deck.)

His account (posted on his original post) stated that he is a certified meet official, although yes you are correct, he was volunteering as a marshall in this meet.

It doesn't matter. I'm a certified meet official -- stroke and turn. I'm there to judge whether a kid's flip turn is legal, not whether they are a boy or a girl.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Luis, thank you for sharing. I agree that boys should not compete against girls, even in youth sports. As an official, I see you were trying to enforce rules and advocate for fair rules. Asking the three spectators questions about the swimmer was not appropriate. Writing “boy” on the meet sheet was not appropriate. I would’ve kept my concerns to meet officials, team reps, and the league to be most effective, professional, and kind. I also agree that the boards communication to you via email only, lacking specifics of the violation, and failing to interview you for your account were not appropriate.

Question for you- was the swimmer actually a boy or girl? Posts reference Terry wee actually a girl but I see no verification of that.

Can you link to NVSL rules about gender? I agree that league rules need to include gender policies.

Marshals are not officials; they are meet-specific deck volunteers.
They receive no formal training beyond a quick briefing from the ref before the meet. It’s very clear what rules they are empowered to enforce and swimmer eligibility is not among them. If a marshal observed an illegal fly finish that the stroke and turn judge missed, they don’t escalate it to the ref and then go bananas when there is no subsequent dq. Because he’s not there to enforce those rules and isn’t permitted to. In addition to the many other issues with this situation, the OP was out of line as a marshal and can’t use that role to justify his actions. (Note, a primary responsibility of marshals IS to ensure there is no foul language or abusive behavior on deck.)

His account (posted on his original post) stated that he is a certified meet official, although yes you are correct, he was volunteering as a marshall in this meet.

He isn’t a certified stroke and turn, starter, or referee.
https://www.mynvsl.com/file/37044/Clinic_Attendance_NVSL_16July2025_pdf