Swimming and Diving Rule Changes Interpretations Editorial Changes Points of Emphasis

Rule Water Depth  Water a minimum of four feet deep is required from the end wall to a minimum distance of 16’5” (5 meters) from the end wall, when racing starts are used.

SITUATION #1  The water depth at the starting end wall is 3' 6", but at the 16' 4" (5-meter mark) it is 4 feet deep. The swimmers are allowed to use the starting blocks in competition because the water is 4 feet deep at the 5- meter mark. Ruling: Illegal. Comment: In order to use starting blocks, the water depth MUST be a minimum of 4 feet deep from the starting end wall for a distance of at least 16' 4" (5 meters) , Pen 2-7-1, 2

Rule  New pools are set-up to swim both yards and meters, and there is confusion on exactly where to set the backstroke flags when meter races are swum. Pools constructed prior to June 2004 are not required to move flags.

SITUATION #2  At a meet in a 25-meter pool built in 2000, a coach insists the home team be disqualified from the backstroke event because the flags are located 5 yards from the end wall rather than 5 meters. Ruling: No disqualification. Comment: Proper placement of backstroke flags in meter pools is 5 meters from the end wall and in yard pools proper placement is 5 yards from the end wall for pools constructed after June Prior to that date, either placement is permissible , Pen 2-7-4

Rule  In dual meets the referee shall designate the time of submission of entries and changes. Changes may be submitted to the referee, or the referees’ designee, prior to the start of the race.  Technology may play a part in this decision.

Rule  For relay events in all meets, the coach shall submit to the referee, or the referee’s designee, the name of the lead off swimmer for the relay, not later than the conclusion of the race.  Rationale: Other than the lead swimmer, the relay order does not have to be designated.

SITUATION #3  A coach turns in a relay card with the 4 swimmers designated and the lead swimmer declared. Before the 1 st swimmer steps onto the block the coach decides to change the order of the 1 st & 3 rd swimmers. The coach notifies the computer operator of the change before the conclusion of the race.  RULING: Proper procedure. COMMENT: The coach shall submit to the referee, or the referee’s designee, the name of the lead swimmer no later than the conclusion of the race , 8-3-4

Rule  A dive begins when the diver assumes a starting position.  Rationale: Athletes and officials needed the beginning and ending of a swim/dive to help clarify when to address non- technical related infractions such as jewelry.

Rule  A dive ends when the diver has passed below the surface of the water.  Rationale: This definition helps officials stay focused on participants in the event, rather than being distracted after an athlete has completed the dive.

Rule  Today uniforms come in a variety of styles, fabrics and patterns. The NFHS rules permit one or two piece suits and permit full bodied suits. The rule does not permit three piece suits.

Rule 3-3 PEN  When it is discovered during his/her swim/dive, that a swimmer/diver is wearing illegal attire or jewelry, he/she shall be disqualified from the event.  Rationale: Officials should not be distracted from watching active participants during an event, by watching participants who have completed the event.

SITUATION #4  A swimmer is discovered by the referee to be wearing an illegal suit: (a) after being called to the blocks, but before entering the water, (b) after her relay has started, but before she steps onto the block for her leg of the relay, ( c) after she has finished her leg of the relay, but before the relay race has ended. Ruling: (a) is illegal; (b) & ( c) are legal.

Situation #4, continued  Comment: The logo/jewelry rule is now enforced from the time a swimmer is called to the blocks, or steps onto the blocks for the 2 nd – 4 th swimmers in a relay, until he or she finishes his/her prescribed distance. For divers, the rule is enforced from the time the diver begins their dive until they finish the dive , , 3-3-1, 3-3 Pen., 8-1-7

Rule 4-2-2j;  The responsibility of the referee is to determine if there is a malfunction of the primary timing system, and determine the need for integrated back-up times. The back-up time(s) shall be adjusted for the timing system difference before integrating them with the accurate primary times.

Rule 4-2-2j;  Rationale: Before integrating back-up times, the referee must determine the need for the integration. This clarifies who determines the integration of back-up times.

SITUATION #5  During a dual meet, the referee determines that the timing system malfunctioned during a race. The referee, (a) decides to adjust and integrate back up times for that heat, (b) decides not to integrate back up times for that heat. Ruling: Both procedures are legal j, 6-4-1

SITUATION #5, continued  Comment: The referee determines whether there is a need to adjust & integrate back up times during a meet. For example, if the times have no impact on advancement, or scoring, the referee may decide not to adjust & integrate back up times. If times are adjusted & integrated, the procedure in Rule should be followed.

Rule  The touch pad determines the official time during a race.

SITUATION #6  8-1-7a In a race being timed with automatic timing, a timer stops his watch or backup button when: (a) a backstroker crosses the vertical plane above the touch pad, (b) a swimmer touches a non-sensitive area of the pad, ( c) a swimmer touches the finish pad, but not hard enough to activate the pad. Ruling: (a) Incorrect procedure, (b) & ( c) Correct procedure

SITUATION #6, continued  Comment: When automatic timing equipment is used, the official time for all swimmers is when the swimmers touches the pad, or where the pad should be when in proper position. The swimmers are NOT responsible for activating the pad. In (b) & ( c), the referee should adjust and integrate backup times as per rule 6-4-1b.

SITUATION #7  8-1-7b In a race being timed with automatic timing, a swimmer touches the finish end wall, but not the pad. The timer stops her watch because the timing pad: (a) has fallen off the gutter during the race, (b) has moved out of position by sliding to one side of the lane during the race, ( c) does not cover the entire width of the lane. Ruling: Correct procedure in all cases. Comment: It is not the swimmer’s responsibility to touch the pad if it is out of position or does cover the width of the lane

SITUATION #8  In a race being timed with automatic timing, a timer stops his watch when the swimmer in his lane puts his hand in the gutter above the finish pad. Ruling: Incorrect procedure. Comment: It is the swimmer’s responsibility to touch the pad, or where the pad should be when in proper position. This swimmer has not legally finished the race

4-6-2;  The former rules allowed dual confirmation only for championship meets. Changes to rule & allow dual confirmation at meets other than championship meets, if there are a sufficient number of officials present.

SITUATION #9  At a dual meet with two, or more, officials the referee informs the coaches that dual confirmation will be used for all starts and relay take offs. Ruling: Correct procedure. Comment: Dual confirmation for false starts and relays takeoffs, can be used at any meet where there are a sufficient number of officials , 4-6-3

Rule 8-1-1;  The swimmers shall step into the water feet first. Prior to the start, they must have at least one hand in contact with the starting platform or end wall.  For the backstroke start swimmers shall step into the water feet first. Prior to the start they must lineup in the water facing the starting end with both hands in contact with the end of the pool or the starting platform.

Rule  In the individual medley, each section must be finished in accordance with the rule which applies to the stroke being swum.  Rationale: Consistency at the end of the stroke and the end of the race is easier to officiate.

SITUATION #10  During the transition from the backstroke to the breaststroke in the IM, a swimmer (a) executes a legal backstroke flip turn, (b) executes a legal backstroke finish, then leaves the wall on the back, ( c) touches the wall on the back, executes a flip turn and assumes a position with the shoulders at, or past, the vertical toward the breast before the feet leave the wall. Ruling: (a) and (b) are illegal. ( c) is legal b, 8-2-2g, , 8-2 PEN

SITUATION #10, continued  Comment: Turns at the end of the first three strokes are considered FINISHES. Swimmers must execute a legal finish for the stroke being swum and begin the next stroke in legal position for that stroke before leaving the wall.

SITUATION #11  A diver is disqualified from diving competition because: a) she executes a dive other than that given on the score sheet, then on another dive falls into the water, thus making two failed dives, b) fails in the performance of two dives. Ruling: (a) & (b) correct procedure. Comment: The intent is that divers are disqualified if they fail two dives FOR ANY REASON , 9-8-3

SITUATION #12  A diver lists the position of a dive as 103 C, pike. Before performing the dive, the diver informs the referee she will perform the dive in pike position. The referee allows the change in position, but requires a dd of 1.6, rather than 1.7, because “C” is the tuck position and the dd in the tuck position is 1.6. Ruling: Correct procedure , 9-3-6

SITUATION #12, continued  Comment: The official description of a dive is the dive number and position (103 C). Divers are allowed to change the position of the dive by informing the referee prior to performing the dive, but the lower of the two dd’s must be used.

ADDITIONAL SITUATIONS

SITUATION 13  The referee has instructed the lap counters in the correct use of the lap counting devices. The referee notices the counter in lane 3 counting in descending order. The referee disqualifies the swimmer in lane 3. Ruling: Incorrect procedure. Comment: The use of a lap counter is optional, but when used, the device should be used a per rule If used incorrectly, it may be corrected without penalty or the counter may be asked to vacate the lane , 4-1-2

SITUATION 14  A swim team wears caps with the logo: (a) TIGERS (b) TIGERS 2005 ARE #1 Ruling: (a) Legal, (b) illegal. Comment: The logo rule limits manufacturers’ / advertisers’ logos and messages that could be construed as unsportsmanlike, not team logos , 3-5-1a, Pen , Pen

SITUATION #15  After stepping onto the blocks, but prior to the starter/referee's commands, the swimmer in Lane 3 claps loudly for several seconds. The starter/referee verbally warns the swimmer, but takes no additional action. Ruling: Proper procedure. Comment: Such clapping may be construed by the referee as taunting & in violation of rule 3-5-1, but is not necessarily taunting a, Pen , 4-2-1, 8-1-3a

SITUATION #15, continued  Additional Comment: While in most cases clapping is not taunting, it is still disruptive to the starting sequence. If swimmers feel the need to warm up their hands before swimming, they should do so before stepping onto the blocks.

SITUATION #16  In a varsity meet being held in a six lane pool, the 50-yard freestyle has two heats, the first of which is an exhibition heat with one swimmer entered, while heat two has six varsity swimmers entered. (a) The referee requires two swimmers from the varsity heat to swim in the exhibition heat so there are a minimum of 3 swimmers in each heat, (b) the referee allows entrees to stand as listed. RULING: Both are correct procedure , 4-1-2

SITUATION #16, continued  COMMENT: While rule states there shall be a minimum of 3 swimmers seeded in each heat, the meet committee, or referee, can decide not to have 3 swimmers in an exhibition heat. In this situation, if 2 swimmers are moved from the varsity heat to the exhibition heat, both heats will be treated as timed finals and the exhibition swimmer’s time will not be counted in the final times or standings.

SITUATION 17  In a JV / Varsity meet, being held in a six lane pool, there are 8 swimmers entered in Varsity competition and 2 swimmers are entered in JV competition. The meet committee requires two swimmers from the varsity heat to swim in the JV heat so there are a minimum of 3 swimmers in each heat. RULING: Incorrect procedure , 4-1-1, 4-1-2

SITUATION 17, continued  Comment: JV & varsity meets are considered 2 separate meets and there is no need to shuffle swimmers so there are a minimum of 3 per heat. In this situation there would be 2 varsity heats of the 500 freestyle and each will be a timed final event.

SITUATION #18  The coach from team B sent an to the referee several hours after a Friday meet notifying her that School A had two swimmers compete in the wrong lanes. Both swimmers achieved state qualifying times. The Coach wants the swimmers from School A disqualified, the times erased from the state qualifying form, and the meet rescored. However the referee did not check messages until Monday. Although 48 hours has elapsed since the meet, the referee agrees the error was caught and reported within the appropriate time frame and should be corrected.

SITUATION #18, continued  RULING: Incorrect Procedure. COMMENT: Only clerical errors related to meet score can be corrected within the 48 hour time frame. Swimming in the wrong lane is not a clerical error, but a violation that must be penalized at the time it occurs , 4-2-3, 4-2-2d, Pen 3-5b

SITUATION #19  During the fourth quarter of the IM, a swimmer uses a dolphin kick after the turn then swims freestyle for the remainder of the race. The opposing coach insists that the swimmer be disqualified because the dolphin kick is part of a legal butterfly. The swimmer’s coach disagrees because the swimmer never swam a stroke of legal butterfly. RULING: Legal stroke c, 8-2-5

SITUATION #19, continued  COMMENT: Competitors in the final leg of the IM shall swim any stroke other than backstroke, breaststroke, or butterfly. A legal butterfly stroke includes the leg kick and arm stroke, not just a dolphin kick, therefore a dolphin kick off the turn is NOT illegal.

SITUATION 20  A backstroker passes under the backstroke flags & approaches the wall for their turn. While on their back, they take their final arm pull with their left arm, and continue rotating toward the breast. As part of their continuous motion, they rotate past the vertical toward the breast and pull with their right arm. They now execute a flip turn and leave the wall on their back. Ruling: Legal b, f

SITUATION 20, continued  Comment: The swimmer began their left arm pull while on their back so the initiation of the turning action did not begin until the pull with their right arm. After which no additional arm pulls were taken.

SITUATION 21 - DIVING  A diver assumes the starting position for dive 5134D (forward 1½ SS, 2 twists, free position). The diver is motionless, apparently engaging in mental preparation for this difficult dive. After about 30 seconds, and before the diver performs the dive, the diving referee instructs the judges to fail the dive. The diver’s coach protests because Rule 9 does not provide a specified period of time to execute the dive. RULING: Incorrect procedure by the referee.

SITUATION 21, continued  COMMENT: The penalty for unnecessary delay in the performance of a dive is disqualification of the diver from competition. Since this a severe penalty, it must be used carefully and a warning should be given before the penalty is enforced. The diving referee should indicate to the athlete, or her coach, that the dive must be performed within a reasonable time. After the dive has been announced, and the diver is on the board and appears ready to perform the dive, execution of the dive should begin with almost no delay. If not, then the referee should provide a quiet admonition to the diver ("Please perform your dive now") before any other action is taken. If the diver fails to respond to the referee's direction, then it may become appropriate to enforce the penalty of disqualification. This warning need not be repeated for subsequent dives by the same athlete. (9-8-3-c).

Editorial Changes  Editorial Changes: 2-7 Chart; 3-2-2; 3-2-3, 4, 6; 3-2-7; 3-3 PEN 1; 3-3-4; 4-6c; 9-3-3b; 9-3-4