COMPETITION RULES

The Management appointed by Swim League shall have jurisdiction over all matters not assigned by the rules to the referee, judges or other officials, and shall have the power to postpone events and give directions consistent with the rules adopted for conducting any match.

Judging/Referee

• At any match, Swim League shall appoint the following:

  • Event Referee

  • Chief Judge/Scorer

  • Starting Judge/Announcer

  • Additional Judge/Scorer

• Where Electronic Officiating Equipment is not available, such equipment must be replaced by a Chief Judge who will award 1st, 2nd and 3rd in individual events and Brace Relays and award 1st in all other Relay events.

• The event referee shall have full control and authority. They shall enforce all rules and decisions of Swim League and shall decide all questions relating to the actual conduct of the match or event.

• The event referee shall ensure that all necessary judges are in their respective posts for the conduct of the match. They may appoint substitutes for any who are absent, incapable of acting or found to be inefficient. They may also appoint additional judges or officials if considered necessary.

• At the commencement of each event, the starting judge/announcer shall announce onto pool deck all swimmers. Once the last swimmer has been called out there will be up to 45 seconds where each team coach may come onto the pool deck and talk to any of their own swimmers. There will then be a long whistle indicating that they should take their positions on the starting platform or for backstroke swimming and medley relays to immediately enter the water. A second long whistle shall bring the backstroke and medley relay swimmer immediately to the starting position. When the swimmers and judges are prepared for the start, the starting judge may get the race underway.

• The event referee, chief or starting judge shall disqualify any swimmer for any violation of the rules that they personally observe. The referee may also disqualify any swimmer for any violation reported to him by other authorised officials. All disqualifications are subject to the decision of the referee.

Starting

• The starting judge shall have full control of the swimmers from the time he announces them on to pool deck.

• The starting judge shall report a swimmer to the referee for delaying the start, for willfully disobeying an order or for any other misconduct taking place at the start, but only the event referee may disqualify a swimmer for such delay, willful disobedience or misconduct.

• The starting judge shall have the power to decide whether the start is fair. A disqualification for starting before the starting signal must be observed by the starting judge as an advantage or unfair play. If there is no advantage or unfair play confirmed by both starting judge and chief judge or event referee, then they will be allowed to restart the race.

• Any swimmer starting before the starting signal has been given, and seen as unfair play, shall be disqualified. If the starting signal sounds before the disqualification is declared and there is an advantage gained, the race shall continue and the swimmer or swimmers shall be disqualified upon completion of the race with a DQ board place above their lane.

• The start in individual Freestyle, Breaststroke, Butterfly, Individual Medley races shall be with a dive. On the long whistle from the referee, the swimmers shall step onto the starting platform and remain there. On the starter's command "take your marks", they shall immediately take up a starting position with at least one foot at the front of the starting platforms. The position of the hands is not relevant. When all swimmers are stationary, the starter shall give the starting signal.

• The start in Backstroke and Medley Relay races shall be from the water. At the referee's first long whistle, the swimmers shall immediately enter the water. At the referee's second long whistle the swimmers shall return without undue delay to the starting position. When all 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.

• In a Backstroke Relay, only the first swimmer has to start in the water. Each following swimmer will be allowed to dive from the blocks and by the first stroke on breaking water has to be placed on their back.

• On any start it shall be permissible for the swimmer to be completely submerged for a distance of not more than 15 m after the start and each turn. By that point, the head must have broken the surface. If a chief judge or starting judge deems that the swimmer has gone longer then that allocated distance, they shall be disqualified after the race has ended with the chief judge showing a DQ board above the swimmer’s lane.

Finishing

• After each individual event finishes, the chief judge shall concur with the additional judge to decide and award the placing of 1st, 2nd and 3rd to swimmers and 1st for Relays (other then brace relays). If both judges don't agree, then a re-race will occur. After the race, the chief judge/scorer shall adjust the scoreboard according to the results.

• Where electronic officiating equipment is used to judge the finish of a race,the chief judge must record the order of finish by the equipment after each race.

• If there is a disqualification after the race has ended, the chief judge will show a DQ board above the swimmer’s lane and points will be adjusted accordingly.

• If the Judge deems a race too close to call with the naked eye, or the electronic equipment registers a dead heat, the chief judge/scorer will show an RR board. There will then be an automatic re-race with the competitors involved. A dead heat can be swum as many times as needed until a result is decided. The points awarded will be that of the position they were tied for, no extra points will be awarded.

Scoring

• Points will be awarded for relays and individual races. The 4 x 50 relays will be worth 4 points for the winning team and no points awarded for the second team. The individual events and brace relays will follow a scoring system, whereby 1st is worth 3 points, 2nd is worth 2 points, 3rd is worth 1 point and no points for all other positions. A single Power Play will be given to both teams, which they can only use in an individual event. In doing so, all three placings are worth double points for that team only (e.g. 1st is worth 6 points, 2nd is worth 4 points, 3rd is worth 2 points). If there is a re-race, then the points are worth the same amount as the position they are re-racing for, no extra points will be awarded.

• The event referee is responsible for checking results from chief judge/scorer or from result placings in each event received from the chief judge/scorer.

• If scores are tied at the end of the match, a Shoot-out will occur with three females and three males in the Seniors and six swimmers in the Juniors being selected in order before the shoot-out begins. The choice of stroke will then be decided by random draw, with the first team that gets two wins consecutively awarded the win. If it comes down to the 3rd female and male swimmer, or 5th and 6th Juniors swimmer, they will compete together as a brace relay with the winning team awarded the overall victory.

Turns

• The chief judge shall inspect all turns. If any infringement occurs, it shall be deemed a disqualification which will be indicated to the swimmer, event referee, and scorer with a DQ board above their lane.

Strokes

• Freestyle:

  • Means any style 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 shall be permissible for the swimmer to be completely submerged during the turn and for a distance of not more than 15 m after the start and at each turn. By that point, the head must have broken the surface.

  • The swimmer must stay in his/her lane of water throughout the race.

• Backstroke:

  • Prior to the starting signal, the swimmers shall line up in the water facing the starting end, with at least one hand holding the starting grips or edge of the pool. Standing in or on the gutter or bending the toes over the lip of the gutter or edge is prohibited. When using a backstroke ledge at the start, the toes of both feet must be in contact with the end wall. 

  • At the signal for starting and after turning the swimmer shall push off and swim upon his back throughout the race except when executing a turn. The normal position on the back can include a roll movement of the body up to, but not including 90 degrees from horizontal. The position of the head is not relevant. 

  • Some part of the swimmer must break the surface of the water throughout the race. It is permissible for the swimmer to be completely sub-merged during the turn, and for a distance of not more than 15 m after the start and each turn. By that point the head must have broken the surface.

  • When executing the turn there must be a touch of the wall with some part of the swimmer’s body in his/her respective lane. During the turn, the shoulders may be turned over the vertical to the breast after which an immediate continuous single arm pull or immediate continuous simultaneous double arm pull may be used to initiate the turn. The swimmer must have returned to the position on the back by the first stroke on breaking water. 

  • Upon the finish of the race the swimmer must touch the wall while on the back in his/her respective lane.

• Breaststroke:

  • After the start and after each turn, the swimmer may take one arm stroke completely back to the legs during which the swimmer may be submerged. At any time prior to the first Breaststroke kick after the start and after each turn, a single butterfly kick is permitted.

  • From the beginning of the first arm stroke after the start and after each turn, the body shall be on the breast. It is not permitted to roll onto the back at any time except at the turn after the touch of the wall where it is permissible to turn in any manner as long as the body is on the breast when leaving the wall. From the start and throughout the race, the stroke cycle must be one arm stroke and one leg kick in that order. All movements of the arms shall be simultaneous and on the same horizontal plane without alternating movement.

  • The hands shall be pushed forward together from the breast on, under, or over the water. The elbows shall be under water except for the final stroke before the turn, during the turn and 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 each turn.

  • During each complete cycle, some part of the swimmer’s head must break the surface of the water. The head must break the surface of the water before the hands turn inward at the widest part of the second stroke. All movements of the legs shall be simultaneous and on the same horizontal plane without alternating movement.

  • The feet must be turned outwards during the propulsive part of the kick. Alternating movements or downward butterfly kicks are not permitted except a single one off the start and turns. Breaking the surface of the water with the feet is allowed unless followed by a downward butterfly kick. 

  • At each turn and at the finish of the race, the touch shall be made with both hands separated and simultaneously at, above, or below the water level. At the last stroke before the turn and at the finish, an arm stroke not followed by a leg kick is permitted. 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.

• Butterfly:

  • From the beginning of the first arm stroke after the start and each turn, the body shall be kept on the breast. Under-water kicking on the side is allowed. It is not permitted to roll onto the back at any time, except at the turn after the touch of the wall, where it is permissible to turn in any manner as long as the body is on the breast when leaving the wall.

  • Both arms shall be brought forward simultaneously over the water and brought backward simultaneously under the water through-out the race.

  • All up and down movements of the legs must be simultaneous. The legs or the feet need not be on the same level, but they shall not alternate in relation to each other. A breaststroke kicking movement is not permitted.

  • At each turn and at the finish of the race, the touch shall be made with both hands separated and simultaneously, at, above or below the water surface.

  • At the start and at turns, a swimmer is permitted one or more leg kicks and one arm pull under the water, which must bring him/her to the surface. It shall be permissible for a swimmer to be completely submerged for a distance of not more than 15 m 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:

  • In individual medley events, the swimmer covers the four swimming strokes in the following order: Butterfly, Backstroke, Breaststroke and Freestyle. Each of the strokes must cover one quarter (1/4) of the distance.

  • In medley relay events, swimmers will cover the four swimming strokes in the following order: Backstroke, Breaststroke, Butterfly and Freestyle. Each section must be finished in accordance with the rule that applies to the stroke concerned.

• Combinations:

  • In individual races, it can be a combination of any four swimming strokes: Butterfly, Backstroke, Breaststroke, Freestyle, with the distance being evenly split between the 2 ( 1/2 one stoke, 1/2 the other stroke).

  • Brace Relays can be made up of Butterfly, Backstroke, Breaststroke, Freestyle or any combination of two strokes. Medley or Individual Medley are not permitted in Brace Relays.

  • Any combination Individual or Relay will be swum in the order that is written down. 

  • A combination of two strokes in a Brace Relay means one swimmer will complete a whole distance of that stroke, while the following swimmer will complete the full distance of the other stroke.

  • All strokes are judge based off the individual stoke rulings.

  • A dive start from the blocks will occur when Butterfly, Breaststroke or Freestyle is the beginning stroke.

  • A start from in the water will occur when Backstroke is the beginning stroke.

  • Any combination of Freestyle and Backstroke means when executing the turn there must be a touch of the wall with some part of the swimmer’s body in his/her respective lane. During the turn, the shoulders may be turned over the vertical to the breast after which an immediate continuous single arm pull or immediate continuous simultaneous double arm pull may be used to initiate the turn. It shall be permissible for a swimmer to be completely submerged for a distance of not more than 15 m 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.

  • If the second half happens to be Backstroke, the swimmer must have returned to the position on their back by the first stroke on breaking the water.

  • Any Butterfly or Breaststroke combination at each turn and at the finish of the race, the touch shall be made with both hands separated and simultaneously, at, above or below the water surface.

  • At the start of any Breaststroke or after any turn into Breaststroke, the swimmer may take one arm stroke completely back to the legs during which the swimmer must be submerged on their breast. At any time prior to the first Breaststroke kick after the start and after each turn, a single Butterfly kick is permitted.

  • Each section must be finished in accordance with the rule which applies to the stroke concerned.

Racing

• Racing can be conducted in any pool distance, as long as the pool is deemed to be an even measurement across all lanes.

• Teams will be split into different sides of the pool, with both sides given the same amount of lane space to race in.

• Each swimmer will have to compete in a minimum of three events and only allowed a maximum of five events. If an individual athlete races above their allocated number of races, points will not be gained for their team in those events.

• Any swimmer must cover the whole distance of the allocated event to gain points for their team.

• The swimmer must remain and finish the race in the same lane in which he/she started.

• At the end of each race the pool shall be cleared before the next race starts.

• Standing on the bottom during Freestyle events or during the Freestyle portion of medley events shall not disqualify a swimmer, but he/she shall not walk.

• Pulling on the lane rope is not allowed.

• Obstructing another swimmer by swimming across another lane, or otherwise interfering, shall disqualify the offender. Should the foul be intentional, the event referee has the right to disqualify the swimmer for the rest of the match. 

• Obstructing or interfering a starter/judge/referee from doing their job will incur a warning followed by a penalty of points or disqualification from the event.

• No swimmer shall be permitted to use or wear any device or swimsuit that may aid his/her speed, buoyancy or endurance during a competition (such as webbed gloves, flippers, fins, power bands, or adhesive substances).

• Each team member must be in team gear (shirts, caps, swimmers if available).

• Any swimsuit material (except wet suit) is allowed.

• In the Open division, each Mixed Relay must consist of at least two female swimmers.

• The 4 x 50 m relay will have both a male team made up of four male swims and a female team made up of four female swims.

• The 2 x 50 m and 2 x 25 m Brace Relays can have up to three teams race.

• In the Junior division, each individual race or relay can have male or females competing at the same time.

• If a team decides to use an individual swimmer more than once in a relay as multiple legs of that relay it is allowed, but each leg raced will count as an individual swim.

• In relay events, the team of a swimmer whose feet lose touch with the starting platform before the preceding team-mate touches the wall shall be disqualified. 

• Any swimmer having finished his/her race, or his/her distance in a relay event, must leave the pool as soon as possible without obstructing any other swimmer who has not yet finished his race. Otherwise the swimmer committing the fault, or his relay team, shall be disqualified.

How points are awarded