Swimming
General information
Events
Boys 100 IM
Girls 100 IM
Boys 25m Freestyle
Girls 25m Freestyle
Boys 25 Breast Stroke
Girls 25 Breast Stroke
Boys 25m Back Stroke
Girls 25m Back Stroke
Boys 50m Freestyle
Girls 50m Freestyle
Boys 50m Breast Stroke
Girls 50m Breast Stroke
Boys 50m Back Stroke
Girls 50m Back Stroke
Boys 25m Butterfly
Girls 25m Butterfly
Boys 100m Freestyle
Girls 100m Freestyle
Boys 4 x 25m Freestyle Relay
Girls 4 x 25m Freestyle Relay
Boys 4 x 25m Medley Relay
Girls 4 X 25m Medley Relay
Boys 4 x 50m Freestyle Relay
Girls 4 X 50m Freestyle Relay
Procedures
The Start
Freestyle
Backstroke
Breaststroke
Butterfly
Medley Swimming
The Race
The Referees & Time Keepers
- Competitors may only enter a maximum of 3 individual events – there is no minimum amount. This is exclusive of the relay events, i.e. 3 events plus relays. For the fairness of competition it is very important that this is adhered to by all.
- All races will ideally take place in a 25m pool. Host school to inform participants of length of pool in advance, if only pool available is 50M.
- Use of starting blocks is at the discretion of the host school but must be advised to participating schools in advance of the tournament if blocks are to be used.
- Events will be announced ahead of the actual race. This is when competitors must make their way to the competitors marshaling area. Only one member of staff from each school will be allowed to take the swimmers to the swimmer marshaling area.
- Schools will be allocated areas for their competitors at the side of the pool. Each school needs to ensure that they have adequate supervision for their team.
- Lanes will be standardized so each school or two schools have the same lane each swim to make it easier to monitor the teams.
- DQ slips will be used. These will be made available to the team coach before the end of the swim meet.
Events
Boys 100 IM
Girls 100 IM
Boys 25m Freestyle
Girls 25m Freestyle
Boys 25 Breast Stroke
Girls 25 Breast Stroke
Boys 25m Back Stroke
Girls 25m Back Stroke
Boys 50m Freestyle
Girls 50m Freestyle
Boys 50m Breast Stroke
Girls 50m Breast Stroke
Boys 50m Back Stroke
Girls 50m Back Stroke
Boys 25m Butterfly
Girls 25m Butterfly
Boys 100m Freestyle
Girls 100m Freestyle
Boys 4 x 25m Freestyle Relay
Girls 4 x 25m Freestyle Relay
Boys 4 x 25m Medley Relay
Girls 4 X 25m Medley Relay
Boys 4 x 50m Freestyle Relay
Girls 4 X 50m Freestyle Relay
Procedures
The Start
- A series of 3 short sharp blasts on the whistle indicates a swimmer to stand up from the chair.
- 1 long blast of the whistle will be sounded for the swimmer to step forward and approach the starting area.
- On the starters command “take your marks”, they shall immediately take up a starting position with at least one foot at the front of the starting area.
- The position of the hands is not relevant. When all swimmers are stationary, the starter shall give the starting signaled by a final short blast of the whistle.
- A physical demonstration of the starting procedures is to take place at the start of the meet.
- The start in Freestyle, Breaststroke, Butterfly and Individual Medley races shall be with a dive. The start in Backstroke and Medley Relay shall be from the water.
- At the first long whistle, the swimmers shall immediately enter the water and without undue delay go to the starting position. When all the swimmers have assumed their starting positions, the starter shall give the command “take your marks”. When all swimmers are stationary, the starter shall give the starting signal.
- Starting signal will be appropriate to the timing system used at the host school.
- A swimmer will only be disqualified if they personally cause a false start twice.
- Reference should be made to FINA rules for further clarification. These can be found at www.fina.org
Freestyle
- Freestyle means that in an event so designated the swimmer may swim any style, except that in individual medley or medley relay events, freestyle means any stroke other than backstroke, breaststroke or butterfly.
- Some part of the swimmer must touch the wall upon completion of each length and at the finish.
- Some part of the swimmer must break the surface of the water throughout the race, except it is permissible for the swimmer to be completely submerged during the turn and for a distance of not more than 15 metres after the start and each turn. By that point, the head must have broken the surface.
Backstroke
- Prior to the starting signal the swimmers shall line up in the water facing the starting end, with both hands holding the side. The feet, including the toes can be above the surface but not on the poolside or on the gutter.
- At the signal for starting and after the turning the swimmer shall push off and swim on his back throughout the race except when executing a turn. A normal position on the back can include a roll movement of the body up to and including 90 degrees from the horizontal. The position of the head is not relevant.
- Some part of the swimmer must break the surface of the water throughout the race, except it shall be permissible for the swimmer to be completely submerged during the turn and for a distance of not more than 15 metres after the start and each turn. By that point the head must have broken the surface.
- During the turn the shoulders may be turned over the vertical to the breast after which a continuous single arm pull or a continuous simultaneous double arm pull may be used to initiate the turn.
- Once the body has left the position on the back, there will be no kick or arm pull that is independent of the continuous turning action. The swimmer must have returned to a position on the back upon leaving the wall. When executing the turn there must be a touch of the wall with some part of the swimmer’s body.
- Upon the finish the swimmer must touch the wall on the back.
- Backstroke flags are placed 5 m from each end wall of the pool.
Breaststroke
- From the beginning of the first arm stroke after the turn, the body shall be kept on the breast. It is not permitted to roll onto the back at any time.
- All movements of the arms and legs shall be simultaneous and in the same horizontal plane without alternating movements.
- The hands shall be pushed forward together from the breast on, under, or over the water. The elbows shall be under the water except for the final stroke at the finish. The hands shall be brought back on or under the surface of the water. The hands shall not be brought back beyond the hip line, except during the first stroke after the start and turn.
- The feet must be turned outwards during the propulsive part of the kick. A scissors, flutter or downward kick is not permitted. Breaking the surface of the water with the feet is allowed unless followed by a downward dolphin kick.
- At each turn and at the finish of the race, the touch shall be made with BOTH hands simultaneously at, above, or below the water level. Swimmers will be disqualified for a one handed touch on the turn or at the end of the race. The head may be submerged after the last arm pull prior to the touch, provided it breaks the surface of the water at some point during the last complete or incomplete cycle preceding the touch.
- During each complete cycle of one arm stroke and one leg kick, in that order, some part of the head must break the surface of the water, except after the start and after each turn the swimmer may take one arm stroke completely back to the legs and one leg kick while totally submerged. The head must break the surface of the water before the hands turn inward at the widest part of the second stroke. A single downward dolphin kick followed by a breaststroke kick is permitted while wholly submerged. Following which, all movements of the legs shall be simultaneous and on the same horizontal plane without alternating movements.
Butterfly
- From the beginning of the first arm stroke the start and after each turn, the body shall be kept on the breast and both shoulders shall be in line with the normal water surface. Under water kicking on the side is allowed. It is not permitted to roll onto the back at any time.
- Both arms must be brought forward together over water and brought backward simultaneously.
- All movements of the feet must be executed in a simultaneous manner.
- Simultaneous up and down movements of the legs and feet in the vertical plane are permitted. The legs and feet need not be the same level, but no alternating movements are permitted.
- At each turn and at the finish of the race, the touch shall be made with BOTH hands simultaneously, at, above or below the water surface.
- At the start and at turn, a swimmer is permitted one or more leg kicks and one arm pull under the water, which must bring him to the surface. It shall be permissible for a swimmer to be completely submerged for a distance of not more than 15 metres after the start and after each turn. By that point the head must have broken the surface. The swimmer must remain on the surface until the next turn or finish.
Medley Swimming
- In the individual medley events, the swimmer covers the four swimming styles in the following order: Butterfly, Backstroke, Breaststroke and Freestyle.
- In the medley relay events, swimmers will cover the four swimming styles in the following order: Backstroke, Breaststroke, Butterfly and Freestyle.
- Each section must be finished in accordance with the rule, which applies to the style concerned.
The Race
- A swimmer must finish the race in the same lane in which he started.
- In all events, a swimmer when turning shall make physical contact with the end of the pool or course. The turn must be made from the wall and it is not permissible to take a stride or step from the bottom of the pool.
- Standing on the bottom during a race shall not disqualify a swimmer, but they shall not walk.
- Pulling on the lane rope is not permitted.
- Obstructing another swimmer by swimming across a lane or otherwise interfering shall disqualify the offender.
- Any swimmer having finished his race and the last swimmer in the relay team must stay in the water until instructed to leave the water. In the 1st, 2nd and 3rd leg of the relay events swimmers must leave the pool as soon as possible without obstructing any other swimmers who have not yet finished the race.
The Referees & Time Keepers
- The referee’s decision concerning inconsistencies between placing, times and the stroke judge’s decisions shall be final. Ideally three timekeepers will time each lane. The middle time will be counted. If only two timekeepers per lane are used, then the average time will be used.