Rules Corner

RULES CORNER #8 by Kathy Casey, USMS Rules Chair November, 2007 Major Changes or clarifications affecting swimming rules as passed at Convention (rule changes are effective January 1, 2008): 1. For breaststroke kick, the body must be on the *** from the time the feet leave the wall, “downward” and “while wholly submerged” have been deleted from the single butterfly (dolphin) kick part of the rule, and the single butterfly (dolphin) kick must be during or at the end of the first arm pull. (101.2.2 and .3, page 2) 2. Relevant rules for recognition will be listed in 202.2.1E (page 54) and include the following: Article 101 (Starts, Strokes, and Relays) or Article 108 (Swimmers with a Disability); Article 103.12.3 (Timing Resolution); Articles 103.13.1, 103.13.2, 103.13.3, 103.13.4, and 103.13.6 (Official Time); Articles 105.1, 105.2.1, 105.2.2A, 105.3.2, 105.3.7A, and 105.3.10 (Records and Top 10 Times); and Articles 107.2.1, 107.2.3A, 107.3, 107.11.1, 107.11.2, and 107.13 (Minimum Standards for Facilities). Contact Kathy Casey (rules@usm.org) for a detailed explanation. 3. At recognized events, relay leadoff split times that conform to 103.13.1 and 105.2.2A will be recognized for events listed in 102.5 (USMS membership is not required for the other members of the relay team, and the relay event itself need not conform to 102.5). This will be included in 202.2.1E, relevant rules. 4. Times from nonconforming events will not count for USMS records and Top 10 times (202.1.1F, pages 53-54) except for initial distances and relay leadoff split times for distances that are also events defined in 102.5 (page 7). For example the leadoff split time for a 50 fly from a 200 butterfly relay (a nonconforming event that has been announced in the meet information and entry form) could count as an official time, but the time from the 200 butterfly relay does not count for an official time since that is not an event listed in 102.5. For an individual event, the 200 initial distance of an 800 breaststroke event could count as an official time, but the 800 breaststroke time does not count for an official time. How does your LMSC or meet hosts do at running meets according to the rules? 1. Is the primary timing system a fully automatic timing system, 3 semiautomatic buttons per lane, or 3 watches per lane in order to meet national and world record requirements? 2. Are 50-meter split times at long course meets recorded by fully automatic timing? (Remember, 50-meter split times recorded by 3 watches count only for World records.) 3. Is the referee a certified official? 4. Are timers assigned to every lane? 5. Are the pools measured and certified for proper length? Question: If the primary timing system is two semiautomatic buttons but two watches were added for a particular swim, can that swim count for a national or world record with two semiautomatic button times and two watch times? Answer: No. National and world records require 3 buttons or 3 watches if fully automatic timing is not the primary timing system (103.13.3, page 25). Exceptions to this occur only when there is a primary timing system malfunction (fully automatic or semiautomatic), and the rules include clear procedures for adjusting times due to such malfunctions (103.12.4C, D, E, and F, pages 22-24). For any questions about rules contact Kathy Casey, USMS Rules Chair, rules@usms.org.

RULES CORNER #8 by Kathy Casey, USMS Rules Chair November, 2007 Major Changes or clarifications affecting swimming rules as passed at Convention (rule changes are effective January 1, 2008): 1. For breaststroke kick, the body must be on the *** from the time the feet leave the wall, “downward” and “while wholly submerged” have been deleted from the single butterfly (dolphin) kick part of the rule, and the single butterfly (dolphin) kick must be during or at the end of the first arm pull. (101.2.2 and .3, page 2) 2. Relevant rules for recognition will be listed in 202.2.1E (page 54) and include the following: Article 101 (Starts, Strokes, and Relays) or Article 108 (Swimmers with a Disability); Article 103.12.3 (Timing Resolution); Articles 103.13.1, 103.13.2, 103.13.3, 103.13.4, and 103.13.6 (Official Time); Articles 105.1, 105.2.1, 105.2.2A, 105.3.2, 105.3.7A, and 105.3.10 (Records and Top 10 Times); and Articles 107.2.1, 107.2.3A, 107.3, 107.11.1, 107.11.2, and 107.13 (Minimum Standards for Facilities). Contact Kathy Casey (rules@usm.org) for a detailed explanation. 3. At recognized events, relay leadoff split times that conform to 103.13.1 and 105.2.2A will be recognized for events listed in 102.5 (USMS membership is not required for the other members of the relay team, and the relay event itself need not conform to 102.5). This will be included in 202.2.1E, relevant rules. 4. Times from nonconforming events will not count for USMS records and Top 10 times (202.1.1F, pages 53-54) except for initial distances and relay leadoff split times for distances that are also events defined in 102.5 (page 7). For example the leadoff split time for a 50 fly from a 200 butterfly relay (a nonconforming event that has been announced in the meet information and entry form) could count as an official time, but the time from the 200 butterfly relay does not count for an official time since that is not an event listed in 102.5. For an individual event, the 200 initial distance of an 800 breaststroke event could count as an official time, but the 800 breaststroke time does not count for an official time. How does your LMSC or meet hosts do at running meets according to the rules? 1. Is the primary timing system a fully automatic timing system, 3 semiautomatic buttons per lane, or 3 watches per lane in order to meet national and world record requirements? 2. Are 50-meter split times at long course meets recorded by fully automatic timing? (Remember, 50-meter split times recorded by 3 watches count only for World records.) 3. Is the referee a certified official? 4. Are timers assigned to every lane? 5. Are the pools measured and certified for proper length? Question: If the primary timing system is two semiautomatic buttons but two watches were added for a particular swim, can that swim count for a national or world record with two semiautomatic button times and two watch times? Answer: No. National and world records require 3 buttons or 3 watches if fully automatic timing is not the primary timing system (103.13.3, page 25). Exceptions to this occur only when there is a primary timing system malfunction (fully automatic or semiautomatic), and the rules include clear procedures for adjusting times due to such malfunctions (103.12.4C, D, E, and F, pages 22-24). For any questions about rules contact Kathy Casey, USMS Rules Chair, rules@usms.org.