Israeli Swimming Association Approves Major Governance Reforms After a Decade

The Israeli Swimming Association held general meetings on June 30, 2026, where member clubs approved the 2025 financial reports and comprehensive amendments to the association's bylaws for the first time in about ten years. Among the key changes, retired judge Rahamim Cohen was appointed as the new president of the association's disciplinary court, and new members were appointed to the committee overseeing conflict of interest concerns.

Significant bylaw revisions include limiting the term of the association's chairman to two four-year terms, with a possible third and final term only by a two-thirds majority vote, capping service at a maximum of 12 years. A similar term limit was set for the disciplinary court president. These term limits will be implemented starting with the next leadership elections, which were also set to occur every four years in September.

The amendments also addressed voting procedures, a contentious issue in recent years. Each athlete's vote will count only once regardless of how many disciplines they participate in, and the qualifying age for voting membership was unified at 11 years for both boys and girls. Additionally, the criteria for competitions granting quality points were refined to include only those awarding medals at the most recent World Swimming Championships.

The reforms were unanimously approved. The committee responsible for drafting the changes was established by association chairman Attorney Hagai Ashlagi, who emphasized the importance of term limits to encourage fresh ideas and reduce internal conflicts. Ashlagi also urged caution for those entering the water without sufficient swimming skills, referencing recent tragic water accidents in Israel. He encouraged parents to enroll their children in swimming clubs to develop lifelong skills and safety habits.

These reforms aim to simplify vote counting, reduce disputes, and promote the growth of swimming sports across Israel for athletes, coaches, clubs, and the general public.