Rules Corner

RULES CORNER #5 by Kathy Casey, USMS Rules Chair January 25, 2007 The 2007 USMS Rule Book is now available for you reading pleasure. Order yours from the USMS National Office, P.O. Box 185, Londonderry, NH 03053-0185 ($9 per book). Mini rule books are also available ($3 each). The rule book is also available for viewing, downloading, or purchase at www.usms.org. All rule numbers below reference the 2007 USMS Rule Book. Question: “If I swim the 50 free and just miss the record, can I ask to reswim it later in the meet in another attempt to break the record?” Answer: No. Except for postponement (102.13.3, pages 12-13) there are no provisions for reswimming a race. A swimmer would have an opportunity to swim the 50 free again by swimming the leadoff leg of a relay. Record attempts can also be made during initial distances of longer events (105.3.7, page 38) as can official times for Top 10 (105.2.2, page 38) and official times for all purposes (103.13.1, .2, and .3, pages 24-25). Required Officials at a Meet: The minimum number of officials required at a meet is: one referee, one starter, two stroke and turn judges, and two timers per lane if automatic timing is not being used (one timer per lane if automatic timing is used). (103.1, page 15) One official may serve two positions as follows: The referee may also serve as a stroke and turn judge but not as a starter. The starter may also serve as a stroke and turn judge but not as a referee (103.1.1, page 15). The referee at each meet shall be certified: as a referee, a starter, or a stroke and turn judge. If, among the officiating crew on deck, there is only one official who is certified, that official must be the referee (103.2, page 15). Note that national championship meet requirements are more stringent and require more officials who are certified (104.5.10, page 36). Pool Measurement: Your times will not count for Top 10, Records, or any official purpose unless the pool has been measured and it’s long enough (103.13.4, page 25 and 105.1.5, .6, and .7, page 37). If a pool with a moveable bulkhead already has a pool length certification for all lanes on file with USMS or USA Swimming, then measurement of the two outside lanes and a middle lane must be confirmed at the end of each session of the meet (105.1.7C, page 37). For any questions about rules contact Kathy Casey, USMS Rules Chair, rules@usms.org.

RULES CORNER #5 by Kathy Casey, USMS Rules Chair January 25, 2007 The 2007 USMS Rule Book is now available for you reading pleasure. Order yours from the USMS National Office, P.O. Box 185, Londonderry, NH 03053-0185 ($9 per book). Mini rule books are also available ($3 each). The rule book is also available for viewing, downloading, or purchase at www.usms.org. All rule numbers below reference the 2007 USMS Rule Book. Question: “If I swim the 50 free and just miss the record, can I ask to reswim it later in the meet in another attempt to break the record?” Answer: No. Except for postponement (102.13.3, pages 12-13) there are no provisions for reswimming a race. A swimmer would have an opportunity to swim the 50 free again by swimming the leadoff leg of a relay. Record attempts can also be made during initial distances of longer events (105.3.7, page 38) as can official times for Top 10 (105.2.2, page 38) and official times for all purposes (103.13.1, .2, and .3, pages 24-25). Required Officials at a Meet: The minimum number of officials required at a meet is: one referee, one starter, two stroke and turn judges, and two timers per lane if automatic timing is not being used (one timer per lane if automatic timing is used). (103.1, page 15) One official may serve two positions as follows: The referee may also serve as a stroke and turn judge but not as a starter. The starter may also serve as a stroke and turn judge but not as a referee (103.1.1, page 15). The referee at each meet shall be certified: as a referee, a starter, or a stroke and turn judge. If, among the officiating crew on deck, there is only one official who is certified, that official must be the referee (103.2, page 15). Note that national championship meet requirements are more stringent and require more officials who are certified (104.5.10, page 36). Pool Measurement: Your times will not count for Top 10, Records, or any official purpose unless the pool has been measured and it’s long enough (103.13.4, page 25 and 105.1.5, .6, and .7, page 37). If a pool with a moveable bulkhead already has a pool length certification for all lanes on file with USMS or USA Swimming, then measurement of the two outside lanes and a middle lane must be confirmed at the end of each session of the meet (105.1.7C, page 37). For any questions about rules contact Kathy Casey, USMS Rules Chair, rules@usms.org.