Wetsuits at Meets?!

I have been the meet director for a number of Masters meets. If I had been the meet director for this particular meet, I would be very distressed to hear such a complaint the day AFTER the meet. USMS rules require a minimum of two officials at a meet: - The meet referee, who may double as a stroke/turn judge; and - The starter, who may double as a stroke/turn judge. And, of course, there should also be someone there in the capacity of "meet director." An issue such as this should have been brought to the attention of the meet referee. If he/she didn't act upon it, the issue should have been brought to the attention of the meet director. There's no good way now to verify what anyone was (or wasn't) wearing at the meet. As I said before, "a wetsuit was spotted." I wasn't the one who saw it. It was reported to me by a friend. So it was not my complaint to raise. It just seemed quite odd when I heard about it, so I thought I'd raise the issue and see if it was legal. I hadn't heard about the swim skins before.

do we have any volunteers to serve as female suit inspectors making sure suit fabric is appropriately thin This will be a tough job but I will volunteer for this assignment...:D

102.15.9—Swimmers are not permitted to wear or use any device or substance to help their speed, pace or buoyancy during a race. Goggles may be worn and rubdown oil applied if not considered excessive by the referee. Surely by this definition even a fastskin isn't permitted because I have heard a fastskin can reduce your time by at least half a second? Shouldn't the rules be more specific and actually mention wetsuits by name? Syd

This is crazy indeed. He shouldn't have even been let on the blocks, and then certainly DQ'd. I try to let most stupid stuff go at meets, but I wouldn't have let this go. I can say I've never even seen this.

The key here is "neoprene or other buoyant material" That's the language which sets them apart.

This is crazy indeed. He shouldn't have even been let on the blocks, and then certainly DQ'd. I try to let most stupid stuff go at meets, but I wouldn't have let this go. I can say I've never even seen this. It was a woman. If everyone wearing fastskins was DQ'd, 90% of the meet results would have to be thrown out.

IMO, There is no way you could be faster in a pool with a wetsuit.....no way. Certainly not breastroke. Turns would be slower in sprints and you would overheat in distance. What possible pool event would it be fore?

I was at an age-group several years ago in Colorado, where one of my teammates protested the water temp and donned a wetsuit for the finals of the 50 Free--he was DQ'd. A few weeks later he wore a female suit in the finals of the 50 Free and was again DQ'd--for "making a mockery of the meet." As we have difficulty getting enough officials, we could probably combine the person who checks the thinness of the swim suit material with a gender assignment specialist to make sure guys aren't trying to swim as chicks. The rule on minimal officials at meets is interesting as I think you are supposed to have an official for postal swims which is difficult especially for me as I have no friends...will someone be my friend?

I have been the meet director for a number of Masters meets. If I had been the meet director for this particular meet, I would be very distressed to hear such a complaint the day AFTER the meet. USMS rules require a minimum of two officials at a meet: - The meet referee, who may double as a stroke/turn judge; and - The starter, who may double as a stroke/turn judge. And, of course, there should also be someone there in the capacity of "meet director." An issue such as this should have been brought to the attention of the meet referee. If he/she didn't act upon it, the issue should have been brought to the attention of the meet director. There's no good way now to verify what anyone was (or wasn't) wearing at the meet.

Perhaps. I know that I should have been DQ'd in the 50 *** and wasn't. I cramped on the start and couldn't turn my right foot out. I felt like I was flutter kicking half the way. I felt so bad I wanted to turn myself in! One of the persons noticing the wetsuit was particularly interested because she is chasing the wetsuit wearer's records. I have no idea if she was wearing it for other events. I don't know the swimmer. I understand how you feel. I join you in your being :shakeshead: at wetsuit wearers. I feel :frustrated: when they are worn during each and every practice by others. No joke! I try and just race them regardless. It's he## It seems that once the habit is formed, these people cannot step away from their floatation device. Or it's :drown: Not sure if this will make you feel better or worse, but once it's off, they are typically 4 to 5 seconds slower per 100. Sounds to me like she should have not been allowed to wear one. DQ should have been called. On the occasion you can beat the offender, it's :bouncing: