Team Swimsuit Rules and Regulations

The following are general swimsuit rules for team swim suits worn during official swim competitions in the US. As rules vary from one organization to another, please check with your local high school, college, or organization for official rules pertaining to your swim team.

High School Team Swimsuit Rules

Jewelry

• May not be worn during warm-ups or competition.

Numbers, Logos and Symbols

• FINA logos are not considered advertising and are legal on swim team suits.
• School logo or name may not exceed 9 square inches, but officials should exercise "reasonable judgment" when applying the rule.

During a competition, swimmers may not wear more than one swimsuit, a suit that does not meet shape and style requirements, or made with zippers or a fastening system other than a waist tie for briefs or jammers.

Fabric

• Swim team suit worn during a competition must be made of a textile fabric only.
• Fabric must be completely permeable to air and water, except for the school logo or name.
• *High-tech suits are prohibited.

*Introduced to the sport of swimming in recent years, high tech swimsuits are basically suits whose construction or material fundamentally aids a swimmer's speed or buoyancy.

College Team Swimsuit Rules

The following unofficial rules are borrowed from the NCAA Swimming and Diving Rules, under Rule 3.

• Suits must conform to standards of "propriety" (modesty and decency).
• The suit must be made of a woven (textile) material.
• Suits must be one hundred percent permeable to air and water.
• Material must be buoyant.
• Swimsuit material must be no less than .8 mm thick.
• Neither the suit's material nor its construction may "provide external stimulation or influence of any form" (for details, see Rule 3).
• The suit while used must follow the body shape.
• The design may not trap air.
• Men's suits may not extend above the waist or below the knees. Women's suits may not extend beyond the shoulders, below the knees or cover the neck.
• No zippers or fasteners.
• The suit must not exceed two layers, together which may not be thicker than 1 mm.
• Elastic is allowed is certain areas (shoulder straps, waist opening, and leg openings).
• All suits must be constructed the same way.
• Use of water resistant sprays and tape to modify the material is prohibited.
• One institutional logo not exceeding 9 square inches is allowed on a suit.
• Only one single manufacturer or distributor's logo at a competition is allowed on the outside of apparel, regardless of how visible, and is not to exceed 2-1/4 square inches.

US Team Swimsuit Rules

The following unofficial rules are borrowed from the USA Swimming Rulebook, Article 102.8, and 701.4.

• Swimsuit, goggles and cap constitutes swimwear.
• Arm and leg bands are not allowed.
• In competitions, suit must be one or two-piece, except for age group competitions (205.10.1).
• Suits must be made from textile materials.
• Men: suit may not extend above the naval or below the knees.
• Women: suit may not cover the neck, go past the shoulder, or extend below the knee.
• Only FINA-approved suits may be worn in USA Swimming competitions.
• Swimsuits must be non-transparent and appropriate.
• Swimmers may not wear or use anything that aids buoyancy, speed, pace, or endurance.
• Oil is okay.
• No tape, unless approved.
• Symbols and Insignias: swimmers may wear symbol or name of their organization they represent, with exceptions (see 102.8.2).

Advertising

• FINA and USA Swimming logos are not considered advertisements.
• swimwear bearing manufacturers' logos is permitted with limitations (see 102.8.3 for details).
• Body advertising such as temporary tattoos is not allowed.
• Political, drug, tobacco, alcohol, or other inappropriate advertising is not allowed.

US Open Water Swimsuit Rules

• The use of wet suits in non-championship events may be used with approval, and must have its own classification.
• Wet suits, floatation devices, or anything used to maintain body heat other than body grease are not allowed in championship events.
• Suits must comply with FINA open water swimsuit specifications.
• Swimsuits must not cover the neck, go past the shoulder, or below the ankle.

International Team Swimsuit Rules

The following unofficial rules are borrowed from *FINA Swim Rules and Regulations, General Rules, Section 5, and Swimming Rules, Section 10.8, and Open Water Rules, OWS 6.9 and 6.10.

*FINA, or Federation Internationale de Natation, is the international governing body for water competitions.

• Swimwear must be in "good moral taste".
• Swimwear must not bear offensive symbols.
• No transparent swimsuits.
• Swimwear must be FINA-approved.
• Competitors must not wear or use anything on their bodies that enhance their speed, endurance, or buoyancy. Tape must be approved by the FINA Sport Medicine Committee.
• All swimsuits worn in international swim competitions must be FINA-approved.
• In open water competition, swimmers may not wear or use anything that aids buoyancy, speed, or endurance. Only suit, goggles, swim caps (2) nose clip and ear plugs may be worn.
• Swimmers may use a non-excessive amount of grease as approved by the referee.