Rules Corner

RULES CORNER #4 by Kathy Casey, USMS Rules Chair October 28, 2006 Major Changes to “Part 1: Swimming Rules” as Passed at Convention: 1. Three new meet schedules for national championship meets were approved. 2. At national championship meets, competitors of the same gender may be required to swim two-to-a-lane in freestyle events over 200 meters if only one course is available and the meet day is projected to last longer than 12 hours. 3. At national championship meets, the two timers per lane will each use a backup button and at least one timer will use a stop watch (instead of each using a stop watch and at least one using a backup button). 4. For national championship meets, an 18-year-old may register for USMS membership at the championship venue but must have entered the meet by the entry deadline and must be 18 at least by the day prior to the beginning of competition. (A 17-year-old can enter the meet by the entry deadline and can then register for USMS membership upon turning 18. The swimmer must be 18 by the day before the meet starts and that is the last day an 18-year-old can register for USMS and still compete at the national championship meet.) Regarding disqualifications for wearing a watch during competition: USA Swimming has issued the following interpretation regarding watches, “Watches are not necessarily pacing devices and each case must be decided on its own merits.” For any questions about rules contact Kathy Casey, USMS Rules Chair, rules@usms.org.

RULES CORNER #4 by Kathy Casey, USMS Rules Chair October 28, 2006 Major Changes to “Part 1: Swimming Rules” as Passed at Convention: 1. Three new meet schedules for national championship meets were approved. 2. At national championship meets, competitors of the same gender may be required to swim two-to-a-lane in freestyle events over 200 meters if only one course is available and the meet day is projected to last longer than 12 hours. 3. At national championship meets, the two timers per lane will each use a backup button and at least one timer will use a stop watch (instead of each using a stop watch and at least one using a backup button). 4. For national championship meets, an 18-year-old may register for USMS membership at the championship venue but must have entered the meet by the entry deadline and must be 18 at least by the day prior to the beginning of competition. (A 17-year-old can enter the meet by the entry deadline and can then register for USMS membership upon turning 18. The swimmer must be 18 by the day before the meet starts and that is the last day an 18-year-old can register for USMS and still compete at the national championship meet.) Regarding disqualifications for wearing a watch during competition: USA Swimming has issued the following interpretation regarding watches, “Watches are not necessarily pacing devices and each case must be decided on its own merits.” For any questions about rules contact Kathy Casey, USMS Rules Chair, rules@usms.org.