Rules Corner

RULES CORNER #10 by Kathy Casey, USMS Rules Chair May 11, 2008 QUESTIONS and CLARIFICATIONS 1. Wrist Watches: Question: If I wear a wrist watch during the 1650, will I be disqualified? Answer: No, if you do not use it as a pacing device. Yes, if you use it as a pacing device (102.15.9). 2. 15-Meter Rule: Question: Three of the stroke rules specify that a swimmer's head must break the surface within 15 meters of the start and after turns. Does the head have to break the surface 15 meters from the wall or can the head break the surface when the swimmer’s feet have traveled 15 meters from the wall? Answer: The head has to break the surface at or before the 15-meter mark. If the head breaks the surface when the feet pass the 15-meter mark, that is a DQ. The head must break the surface of the water not more than 15 meters (16.4 yards) after the start and each turn (101.3.2, 101.4.2, and 101.5.2). 3. Breaststroke Turn: Question: If I touch the wall in the middle of a stroke cycle (after the arm pull), am I disqualified for not completing the stroke cycle with a kick? Answer: No. Throughout the race the stroke cycle must be one arm stroke and one leg kick in that order (101.2.2). The breaststroke turn rule (101.2.4) refers to the last complete or incomplete cycle preceding the touch, so a swimmer can touch the wall after an arm pull (an incomplete cycle). 4. Backstroke Start: Question: Can I place my toes above the surface of the water for the backstroke start? Answer: Yes, however bending the toes over the lip of the gutter before or after the start is prohibited (101.1.2B). The phrase “the toes shall be placed under the surface of the water” was deleted beginning with the 2006 rule book. FINA changed that rule, USA Swimming adopted it, and then USMS also adopted it. However, it is difficult to place the toes above the surface of the water without bending the toes over the lip of the gutter before or after the start if the touch pad does not extend .3 meter above the water surface as required by FINA rule FR 2.4.3. If you have a touch pad that extends .3 meter above the surface of the water, it is easy to place the toes above the surface of the water because there is no gutter to bend the toes over. 5. USMS Policy on FINA-Approved Suits: Question: Are the new suits like the Speedo LZR legal in Masters swim meets? Answer: Yes, if they have been approved by FINA. It has been the practice of both USMS and USA Swimming to follow FINA’s approvals and rejections of new swimwear (high-end competitive suits of new design and materials such as the Speedo LZR, TYR Tracer Light and Tracer Rise, the Blueseventy Pointzero3, and the Xterra Velocity 0.02 all of which have been approved by FINA). The USMS Rules Committee has established the following policy, “FINA approval or rejection of new swimwear will be accepted by USMS.” This approval is in effect for competitions held in pool, postal, and open water events. Proposed Rule Changes: This is a “Rules Year”. Proposed amendments can be passed by a majority vote of the House of Delegates if the amendments are recommended by the Rules Committee. Information about submitting proposed amendments to Part 1: Swimming Rules and the Glossary can be found in Article 601, pages 93 – 96 of the 2008 USMS Rule Book. More detailed information, including examples and a template for your use, can be found in the LMSC Handbook, “Convention” section, pages 2 – 6, at www.usms.org/admin/lmschb/. LMSCs wishing to submit proposals must do so in writing (email, fax, or mail) by July 10 to Kathy Casey, rules@usms.org, or (253)589-8321 (fax), or 11114 – 111th St. SW, Tacoma, WA, 98498.

RULES CORNER #10 by Kathy Casey, USMS Rules Chair May 11, 2008 QUESTIONS and CLARIFICATIONS 1. Wrist Watches: Question: If I wear a wrist watch during the 1650, will I be disqualified? Answer: No, if you do not use it as a pacing device. Yes, if you use it as a pacing device (102.15.9). 2. 15-Meter Rule: Question: Three of the stroke rules specify that a swimmer's head must break the surface within 15 meters of the start and after turns. Does the head have to break the surface 15 meters from the wall or can the head break the surface when the swimmer’s feet have traveled 15 meters from the wall? Answer: The head has to break the surface at or before the 15-meter mark. If the head breaks the surface when the feet pass the 15-meter mark, that is a DQ. The head must break the surface of the water not more than 15 meters (16.4 yards) after the start and each turn (101.3.2, 101.4.2, and 101.5.2). 3. Breaststroke Turn: Question: If I touch the wall in the middle of a stroke cycle (after the arm pull), am I disqualified for not completing the stroke cycle with a kick? Answer: No. Throughout the race the stroke cycle must be one arm stroke and one leg kick in that order (101.2.2). The breaststroke turn rule (101.2.4) refers to the last complete or incomplete cycle preceding the touch, so a swimmer can touch the wall after an arm pull (an incomplete cycle). 4. Backstroke Start: Question: Can I place my toes above the surface of the water for the backstroke start? Answer: Yes, however bending the toes over the lip of the gutter before or after the start is prohibited (101.1.2B). The phrase “the toes shall be placed under the surface of the water” was deleted beginning with the 2006 rule book. FINA changed that rule, USA Swimming adopted it, and then USMS also adopted it. However, it is difficult to place the toes above the surface of the water without bending the toes over the lip of the gutter before or after the start if the touch pad does not extend .3 meter above the water surface as required by FINA rule FR 2.4.3. If you have a touch pad that extends .3 meter above the surface of the water, it is easy to place the toes above the surface of the water because there is no gutter to bend the toes over. 5. USMS Policy on FINA-Approved Suits: Question: Are the new suits like the Speedo LZR legal in Masters swim meets? Answer: Yes, if they have been approved by FINA. It has been the practice of both USMS and USA Swimming to follow FINA’s approvals and rejections of new swimwear (high-end competitive suits of new design and materials such as the Speedo LZR, TYR Tracer Light and Tracer Rise, the Blueseventy Pointzero3, and the Xterra Velocity 0.02 all of which have been approved by FINA). The USMS Rules Committee has established the following policy, “FINA approval or rejection of new swimwear will be accepted by USMS.” This approval is in effect for competitions held in pool, postal, and open water events. Proposed Rule Changes: This is a “Rules Year”. Proposed amendments can be passed by a majority vote of the House of Delegates if the amendments are recommended by the Rules Committee. Information about submitting proposed amendments to Part 1: Swimming Rules and the Glossary can be found in Article 601, pages 93 – 96 of the 2008 USMS Rule Book. More detailed information, including examples and a template for your use, can be found in the LMSC Handbook, “Convention” section, pages 2 – 6, at www.usms.org/admin/lmschb/. LMSCs wishing to submit proposals must do so in writing (email, fax, or mail) by July 10 to Kathy Casey, rules@usms.org, or (253)589-8321 (fax), or 11114 – 111th St. SW, Tacoma, WA, 98498.