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?
Hello,
I think that a good point was hit here...DIVING into the pool during warmups, other than a designated lane. Several times during meet warmups, I nearly got hit when someone wasn't looking and nearly dove on top of me.
I suggest taking this one step further and extending it to practices. Again, several times people don't look, and can nearly go right on top of someone else. This is especially true in long course, when we have fewer lanes. I know it may be cold out, or someone may want to get right in, but feet first is the safest way to enter the pool.
Tim Murphy
We need to suggest that swimmers slide in feet first instead of jump in like a cannonball which is just as dangerous as diving. There have been times when I was swimming into the wall (I only breathe on the left), a swimmer jumped in a hu causing a huge tidal wave and I got a mouthful of water. This is just a matter of be considerate of others in the pool.
I for one do not look forward to being decapitated by another swimmer, in an already crowded warm-up lane, because he or she determined that wearing paddles during warm-up would make them swim faster in the meet.
