Rules Corner

RULES CORNER #6 by Kathy Casey, USMS Rules Chair April 27, 2007 Nationals Short Course Nationals will be in Federal Way, May 17-20, and Long Course Nationals will be in The Woodlands, August 10-13. Following are questions regarding national meets: Question 1. When did I have to swim the qualifying times for nationals? Answer: In the past two years (p. 32, 104.5.3C, 2007 USMS Rule Book). Question 2. Where in the rule book are the rules governing relays at nationals? Answer: In the order that they appear in the 2007 USMS Rule Book: p. 31, 104.5.3B and p. 33, 104.5.4B(3) and (6) and 104.5.4C(2). Additionally, other general rules regarding relays can be found on: pp. 4 – 5, 101.7; p. 6, 102.3.2; pp. 7 – 8, 102.9; p. 19, 103.10.5; p. 24, 103.13.1B, C, and D; p. 25, 103.13.3; p. 37, 105.1.4; p. 38, 105.2.2A, C, D, and E and 105.3.7A, C, D, and E; and p. 39, 105.4.2. Clarification and questions: 1. Late request for a split time: After I got home from the meet, I discovered that my 100 split time on the 200 fly was a record/Top 10 time. Can I still request that split for official purposes? Answer: No. Splits must be requested in writing to the meet referee by the end of the meet for freestyle, butterfly, and breaststroke. All backstroke splits and relay leadoff splits must be requested by the swimmer in writing (to the referee) prior to the swim (page 24, 103.13.1B and and page 38, 105.2.2B and C and 105.3.7B and C). 2. Relay disqualification: If my relay gets DQed, can my leadoff split still count for an official time? Answer: No. All swimmers must complete the relay without being disqualified in order for the relay leadoff split to count as an official time (p. 24, 103.13.1C and p. 38, 105.2.2D and 105.3.7D). 3. Relay leadoff split request: Why do I have to request a relay leadoff split in writing to the referee before I swim the relay? Answer: The officials have to watch to make sure that the second swimmer does not start in the water, risking interference with the timing pad (p. 24, 103.13.1D and p. 38, 105.2.2E and 105.3.7E). 4. Other strokes during freestyle: If I swim the 200 IM during the 200 free, can I set a record in the IM? Answer: No. All strokes swum during the freestyle events count only as freestyle times (p. 24, 103.13.2). For any questions about rules contact Kathy Casey, USMS Rules Chair, rules@usms.org.

RULES CORNER #6 by Kathy Casey, USMS Rules Chair April 27, 2007 Nationals Short Course Nationals will be in Federal Way, May 17-20, and Long Course Nationals will be in The Woodlands, August 10-13. Following are questions regarding national meets: Question 1. When did I have to swim the qualifying times for nationals? Answer: In the past two years (p. 32, 104.5.3C, 2007 USMS Rule Book). Question 2. Where in the rule book are the rules governing relays at nationals? Answer: In the order that they appear in the 2007 USMS Rule Book: p. 31, 104.5.3B and p. 33, 104.5.4B(3) and (6) and 104.5.4C(2). Additionally, other general rules regarding relays can be found on: pp. 4 – 5, 101.7; p. 6, 102.3.2; pp. 7 – 8, 102.9; p. 19, 103.10.5; p. 24, 103.13.1B, C, and D; p. 25, 103.13.3; p. 37, 105.1.4; p. 38, 105.2.2A, C, D, and E and 105.3.7A, C, D, and E; and p. 39, 105.4.2. Clarification and questions: 1. Late request for a split time: After I got home from the meet, I discovered that my 100 split time on the 200 fly was a record/Top 10 time. Can I still request that split for official purposes? Answer: No. Splits must be requested in writing to the meet referee by the end of the meet for freestyle, butterfly, and breaststroke. All backstroke splits and relay leadoff splits must be requested by the swimmer in writing (to the referee) prior to the swim (page 24, 103.13.1B and and page 38, 105.2.2B and C and 105.3.7B and C). 2. Relay disqualification: If my relay gets DQed, can my leadoff split still count for an official time? Answer: No. All swimmers must complete the relay without being disqualified in order for the relay leadoff split to count as an official time (p. 24, 103.13.1C and p. 38, 105.2.2D and 105.3.7D). 3. Relay leadoff split request: Why do I have to request a relay leadoff split in writing to the referee before I swim the relay? Answer: The officials have to watch to make sure that the second swimmer does not start in the water, risking interference with the timing pad (p. 24, 103.13.1D and p. 38, 105.2.2E and 105.3.7E). 4. Other strokes during freestyle: If I swim the 200 IM during the 200 free, can I set a record in the IM? Answer: No. All strokes swum during the freestyle events count only as freestyle times (p. 24, 103.13.2). For any questions about rules contact Kathy Casey, USMS Rules Chair, rules@usms.org.