Pull-buoys, kick boards, fins, and hand paddles are not allowed in the competition pool or warm-up pool. This statement is always included in the “Warm-up Procedures” under the “Meet Information” of all Nationals (and is enforced in many of the local meets).
I have looked in the USMS Rule Book and was not able to find a rule(s) that bans any of the above mentioned items from warm-up at meets. Rule 102.4 covers Warm-up/Warm-down procedures (Availability and Procedure) and Rule 104.5 covers the warm-up schedule (under Conduct of the Championship Meet), but neither specifically rule bans the use of pull-buoys, kick boards, fins, and hand paddles. The rule book index offers no further help (“Safety” offers no help).
If there is a rule banning these, where is it?
Steve
While there is not any reference in the rule book which deals with the use of these devices, the LMSC hand book (used by LMSC officials Sanction Chair, etc.) has a section called “Suggestions for warm-ups for local meets”. This includes the following suggestion:
“5. No hand paddles shall be allowed. Kickboards and pull buoys are permitted.”
It is my understanding that we implemented this as a safety precaution for the swimmers in the pool. As for kickboards and pull buoys, the suggestion for local meets is to allow these devices, however, this is discretionary and the meet director may choose (or be dictated by the facility) to allow or prohibit these. At larger meets (zone, national, world) it has been determined that it is a safety concern to have a large number of kickboards, paddles, pull buoys on the deck around the starting and turn walls. I hope that we can all agree that 300+ kickboards/pull Buoys (one third of the people at a 1,000 person event) could create a clutter, which could increase the potential of an accident.
And back to the point of a rule, in the Rule Book – Article 202 states: “The conduct of a sanctioned event shall be in strict compliance with applicable USMS swimming rules and administrative regulations.” Administrative regulations include those published by the National office, the zone, the LMSC and the Meet Host (on the Entry Form and at the venue). So the short answer is that these devices are prohibited by Administrative Regulation and not by Rule.
Steve
While there is not any reference in the rule book which deals with the use of these devices, the LMSC hand book (used by LMSC officials Sanction Chair, etc.) has a section called “Suggestions for warm-ups for local meets”. This includes the following suggestion:
“5. No hand paddles shall be allowed. Kickboards and pull buoys are permitted.”
It is my understanding that we implemented this as a safety precaution for the swimmers in the pool. As for kickboards and pull buoys, the suggestion for local meets is to allow these devices, however, this is discretionary and the meet director may choose (or be dictated by the facility) to allow or prohibit these. At larger meets (zone, national, world) it has been determined that it is a safety concern to have a large number of kickboards, paddles, pull buoys on the deck around the starting and turn walls. I hope that we can all agree that 300+ kickboards/pull Buoys (one third of the people at a 1,000 person event) could create a clutter, which could increase the potential of an accident.
And back to the point of a rule, in the Rule Book – Article 202 states: “The conduct of a sanctioned event shall be in strict compliance with applicable USMS swimming rules and administrative regulations.” Administrative regulations include those published by the National office, the zone, the LMSC and the Meet Host (on the Entry Form and at the venue). So the short answer is that these devices are prohibited by Administrative Regulation and not by Rule.
