Team Swim Rules

Introduction

As with all competitive sports, team swimming in the US and internationally is governed by an extensive set of swim rules and regulations. What follows is a look at basic team swim rules set by the governing body for international swim competitions, or *FINA, which serve as a guide for national and local swim clubs. The national governing body for the US, USA Swimming, provides its own official publication of a similar but modified set of rules.

For the complete and current rules for holding swim competitions in the US, see the USA Swimming Rulebook. Complete and current international swim competition rules and regulations can be viewed at FINA Swim Rules and Regulations.

* FINA stands for Federation Internationale de Natation, and is the international governing body for aquatic competitions.

Team Swim Rules

International team swimming rules and regulations cover the following key topics:

• Competition Management
• Officials
• Seeding of Heats, Finals, Semi-finals
• The Start
• Freestyle
• Backstroke
• Breaststroke
• Butterfly
• Medley
• The Race
• Timing
• World Records
• Automatic Officiating Procedure
• Age Group Rules

Competition Management

The management committee appointed by FINA oversees matters not assigned to the officials. The FINA Bureau appoints officials needed at the Olympics and World Championships. Officials at other international competitions are appointed by the governing body. Prior to events, management makes sure officiating equipment and/or judges are available and that all is in order prior to events.

Officials

Official personnel includes referees, control room supervisors, starters, clerk of course, inspectors of turns, judges of stroke, timekeepers, finish judges, and desk controllers. This rule establishes officials' duties, and how decisions are made during international swim competitions.

For information on officiating swim competitions in the US, see USA Swimming Rulebook, Article 102.

For information on conducting national competitions for swimmers with disabilities, see USA Swimming Rulebook, Article 105.

Seeding of Heats, Finals, Semi-finals

Key points:

• Best times for the past year must be given on an event's entry forms.
• If there's only one heat, it's swum during the finals. See rules for two or more heats swum, their lane assignments, and what to do in the absence of a 10-lane pool.
• The Management Committee establishes the starting and turning ends of the pool.
• If swimmers from different heats have the same times, there's a swim-off to determine a finalist.

For rules on seeding, and assigning lanes and heats for US swim competitions, see USA Swimming Rulebook, Article 102.

The Start

This segment covers the starting procedure for the freestyle, breaststroke, butterfly, and individual medleys. Also covered are the duties of the referee, and disqualifications.

Key points:

• The start in the freestyle and breaststroke is marked by a dive into the water.
• The start for the backstroke and medley is from the water, after the referee signals swimmers to enter the water.
• Referee start commands are made in English at international swim competitions.
• Athletes that start before signaled are disqualified. See rule for details.

For rules on conducting starts in national swim events, see USA Swimming Rulebook, Article 102; Section 12.

Freestyle

This rule covers starts for the freestyle, that is, any style swum in designated freestyle events. In an individual medley, freestyle is any style other than backstroke, breaststroke, or butterfly.

Rules concerning freestyle in US swim competitions are found in the USA Swimming Rulebook, Article 101; Section 5.

Backstroke

Key points:

• Prior to the start signal, swimmers are in the water facing the starting end.
• During the race, swimmers remain on their backs. Some part of the body breaks the surface at all times, except during turns.
• While turning, a part of the swimmer's body must touch the wall and swimmer must return to the back position after leaving the wall.
• Swimmers finishing must touch the wall.

Rules for conducting backstrokes in US swim competitions are found in Article 101, Section 4 of the USA Swimming Rulebook.

Breaststroke

Key points:

• After starts and turns, swimmers may completely extend one arm to the back of the legs while underwater.
• One butterfly kick is allowed during the first arm movement, then a breaststroke kick.
• While racing, swimmers remain on their breasts from the start, and after each turn.
• The order of movement is one arm stroke, then one leg kick.
• Hands are pushed forward together from the breast, and brought back on or underwater not past the hip.
• Elbows are usually underwater.
• The head and leg position: head must break the water during each complete cycle before the hands turn inward. Legs must move simultaneously and on the same horizontal plane.
• Fee must be turned outward during the propulsion portion of the kick. See details.
• While turning and finishing, both hands must touch the wall simultaneously. The head may be underwater before the touch, provided it breaks the water during the last cycle.

Rules for swimming the breaststroke in US competitions are contained in the USA Swimming Rulebook, Article 101, Section 2.

Butterfly

Key points:

• From the first arm stroke and after turns the body remains on the breast. Swimmer is allowed to kick under water but not roll onto back.
• Both arms are brought forward and backward while legs move up and down simultaneously throughout the race; no breaststroke kicking allowed.
• While turning, both hands must touch the wall simultaneously.
• Swimmer can be underwater 15 meters after starts and turns, but must remain on the surface until the next turn or finish.

USA Swimming rules and regulations for the butterfly are in the USA Swimming Rulebook, Article 101, Section 3.

Medley Swimming

Key points:

• The order for individual medley swimming is: butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke, and freestyle.
• Each stroke must cover one-quarter of the distance.
• Medley relays are done in the order of: backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly, and freestyle.

USA Swimming rules and regulations for the individual medley are contained in the USA Swimming Rulebook; Article 101, Section 6.

The Race

Key points:

• Individual races are separated by gender.
• Sole swimmers must swim the whole course.
• Swimmers must remain in their own lane.
• Swimmers must contact the end of the pool or course at turns
• Turns must be made from the wall.
• Freestyle swimmers may stand on the bottom but not walk.
• Swimmers may not pull on the lane rope.
• Swimmers may not obstruct other contestants.
• Swimmers may not wear suits or devices that aid buoyancy, speed, or endurance.
• Use of special tape must be approved.
• Swimmers may not enter the water where a race that he or she isn't in, is being held.
• Relay teams: four swimmers comprise a team. See rules for details.
• Fouls: see rules.
• No pace-making is allowed.

Timing

This portion covers the use of timing devices. Main points include:

• Automatic Officiating Equipment (AOE) such as timing devices must be used by appointed officials.
• AOE times must be recorded to 1/100 of a second.
• Timing devices stopped by an official are counted as watches. Three approved timekeepers will be used. See rules for the use manual timing devices.

Timing regulations for US swim competitions are contained in Article 102, Section 24 of the USA Swimming Rulebook.

World Records

International swim records for various events and their styles and distances are to be recognized and categorized. See FINA rules and regulations for complete rules.

For USA Swimming rulings about records, see page 60, Article 104, Sections 1 & 2 of the USA Swimming Rulebook.

Automatic Officiating Procedure

This section covers the use of AOE used during international competitions.

Key points discussed:

• AOE takes precedence over timekeepers.
• What to do if AOE fails to record times and places.
• What to do if no AOE is available.
• Recording official times and places.

For use of AOE during US swim competitions, see pg. 58, Article 103, Section 19 of the USA Swimming Rulebook.

Age Group Rules

"Federations may adopt their own age group rules, using FINA technical rules." (FINA Swim Rules and Regulations)

Open Swim Rules

The following contains summaries of rules for international open swim competitions. For official rules and details, see open water swimming rules at FINA Swim Rules and Regulations.

Rules address the following:

• Definitions
• Officials and their Duties
• The Start
• The Venue
• The Race
• The Finish

Definitions

FINA defines open water swimming as: "any competition that takes places in rivers, lakes, oceans, or water channels, except for 10 km events." (OWS 1 Definitions - Rules and Regulations; FINA Swim Rules and Regulations)

Key points:

• Marathon swimming is any 10 km event taking place in open swim competitions.
• Participants must be 14 years of age or older.

Officials

They include referees, judges, timekeepers, safety/medical/course officers, clerk of course, starter, announcer, and recorder.

Officer duties of each are detailed in OWS 3, "Duties of Officials" at FINA Swim Rules and Regulations.

USA Swimming open swim rules include conducting and officiating of the races, standards, records, and national championships. For details and official rules, see current USA Swimming Rulebook, Part 7.

The Start

Key points:

• Starts are made from fixed, assigned spots in the water.
• Men and women start together if the number of swimmers allows. Events are otherwise treated separately. If too many swimmers start at once, men's and women's events start separately, in which case men go first.
• Start line and signals must be clearly defined, visible and audible.
• Swimmers jumping the signal are given a warning or are disqualified.
• Escort crafts must be in position and clear of swimmers.

USA Swimming Rulebook key points regarding starts:

• Events are started from a set place in the water, on the beach, or from a platform.
• Start must be clearly identified, meet water depth requirements, and be obstruction-free.
• Starting signals and commands must be audible and visible.
• Men's events start before women's when it's necessary to stagger.
• Unfairly advantaged swimmers will be disqualified.
• Safety crafts must be in place before the start.
• Prior to starting, swimmers and escort officials must be marked.

The Venue

Key points:

• International open water events must be done on a FINA-approved course.
• Water can be fresh or salt and have only minor currents.
• Water quality must be approved by a local health and safety authority.
• Water must be at least 1.40 meters deep, and be at least 16 degrees C.
• Turns and changes in course must be clearly marked, at which crafts or platforms must contain turn judges.
• Finishes must be clearly defined and marked.

Venue standards for open water competitions in the US are found in Article 702 of the USA Swimming Rulebook. This section describes the course, water temperature and quality, the starting standards, turns and changes in course, the finish, and feeding stations.

The Race

Key points:

• All open water events are freestyle.
• Swimmers are not allowed to pace with, or slip stream their escort craft.
• Disqualifications and procedures (see ruling OWS 6.3).
• Escort craft must stay clear of swimmers and maintain a legal position.
• Swimmer can stand on the bottom but not push off, walk, or run.
• Swimmers cannot use objects or their escort craft to help them.
• Medical emergencies supersede official rules.
• Swimmers cannot wear or use anything on their bodies that give them unfair advantage.
• No pacing by another person in the water.
• Coaching from an escort craft or feeding post is okay, but no whistles.
• Time limits for events (see rules).

USA Swimming Rulebook key points:

• Use of wet suits in non-championship events must be approved by LSCs; if approved, wet suit wearers will be classified and scored separately.
• Nothing may be worn or used on the body that may unfairly advantage a swimmer, with exception. See Article 701, Section 4.
• Only FINA-approved swimsuits may be worn.
• Team and individual events are done concurrently.
• Open water events are freestyle.
• Safety crafts must remain at swimmers' sides, but be out of their way.
• Each craft must contain a judge and someone operating the craft.
• Coaches may be on board, but no whistles are allowed.
• See Rulebook for official time limits on all open water events.
• See Article 701 of the USA Swimming Rulebook for disqualification procedures.

The course:

• Must be measured as accurately as possible.
• Must contain only minor currents, and may be fresh or salt.
• Water must be at least 1.4 meters deep except for beach starts and finishes.
• Must contain properly marked buoys.

Turns and changes:

• Markings and turn platforms must be clearly identified and anchored, and contain judges.

Water temperature and quality:

• Water temperature cannot be lower than 60.8 degrees F. (16 degrees C.)
• Water cannot be higher than 85 degrees F. (29.45 degrees C.) and when added to air temperature cannot be less than 118 degrees F. or more than 177.4 degrees F.
• Water quality must meet official safety standards.

The Finish

Key points:

• Must be clearly marked and have safety crafts in position.
• Equipment must be fixed and vertical.
• Finishes must be timed and recorded.
• Use of AOE: see rules.
• Racers must finish with microchip responders or they are disqualified.
• The duties of finish judges and timekeepers: see rules.
• Position of the escort craft: see rules.
• Swimmers are not to be touched unless they ask for help.
• Swimmers are to be inspected by medics after finishing.

USA Swimming Rulebook key points:

• On-shore finishes are permitted when applicable.
• Finishes are to be filmed and recorded.
• The finish must be clearly marked. Only escort crafts may enter or cross.
• Finish equipment must be secure.
• Rules dealing with records and national championships are in Articles 703 and 704.

In Conclusion

The aim of this information was to provide a basic overview of some of the more commonly used rules and regulations established by FINA, and used and modified by USA Swimming. They're neither complete nor official, but hopefully they gave you a general idea if you want to organize an event in your locale. For a look at the official governing rules, see the two links provided above, or consult your local swim organization.