There's been a reference already to this, but USA Swimming's Rules & Regulations Committee issued its long awaited interpretation of the FINA suit list.
Since this is a modification to USA Swimming Article 102, the rule change is so amended in USMS rules effective immediately, unless it is painfully rejected or modified (USMS 601.4.7B). That being said, they may choose to state the rest of this differently or interpret it differently, plus the minor issue of how you enforce this.
On May 19, 2009, FINA issued a list of swimsuits approved for competition. The approved list, which was effective immediately and is attached, includes 202 swimsuits. The Rules and Regulations Committee, under the provisions of Article 511.1, has the authority to alter or amend any provision of Part One of our rules to conform to the rules of FINA. Accordingly, effective immediately, Article 102.9 is amended as follows:
102.9.1A: Only swimwear approved by FINA, as reflected on its published list of approved swimwear, may be worn in any USA Swimming sanctioned or approved competition.
(Existing subsections A, B, and C of Article 102.9.1 shall be redesignated as subsections B, C and D, respectively.)
Since the FINA approved list only addressed new model swimsuits submitted by swimsuit manufacturers, swimmers will, until otherwise directed by FINA, also be able to wear traditional swimsuits not on the FINA approved list as long as the swimsuit meets the following criteria:
1. For female swimmers, the swimsuit shall not cover the neck, extend past the shoulders or past the pelvis, and
2. For male swimmers, the swimsuit shall not extend above the navel or below the knees.
In addition to the 202 approved swimsuits on the attached FINA list, there were an additional 136 swimsuits that could be resubmitted to FINA for reconsideration and possible approval. The expected decision date for such approval is June 19, 2009. At such time as FINA publishes any list of additional swimsuits approved for competition, those additional swimsuits will also be approved for USA Swimming sanctioned or approved competitions.
(remainder snipped because it applies to World Championship Trials only)
So it looks like you can wear your 15 year old The Finals suit in the relative safety that it complies with the rules.
Patrick King
Yes, I thought all suits introduced before September 2007 were automatically approved. Can someone clarify this?
Obviously I can't speak in any sort of official capacity, and hopefully we'll get an official comment from USMS soon, but I've read through the USAS and USMS rule books on suits and if you read the new USAS ruling word for word only suits that are either explicitly on the list or conform to these rules:
1. For female swimmers, the swimsuit shall not cover the neck, extend past the shoulders or past the pelvis, and
2. For male swimmers, the swimsuit shall not extend above the navel or below the knees.
are allowed. Therefore you can make the argument that older suits not on the list are no longer allowed.
I too remember a grandfather clause being talked about before the FINA list came out but I can't find any official mention of that anywhere at FINA, USAS, or USMS. The fact that USAS called out the fact that the list only includes newer model suits and added the clause allowing older "traditional" suits means to me that older suits which are not on the list and fall outside of the "traditional suit" rules are no longer allowed. Like the Tyr Fusion II and Speedo FSII legs.
Whatever. Honestly I don't really care if I need to buy a new suit or not, mine were getting pretty old anyway, but the whole thing is really a poorly-handled mess that does not really instill confidence in FINA. I do feel that USAS and USMS are doing everything they can to react to FINA's mess and I'm sure it will be sorted out eventually. I still want to know how they're going to enforce it though. Except for some high-profile cases, like b70 being illegal, I can't imagine the refs checking everyone's suits at meets against some master list of model numbers. If it's left up to self-policing and tattling that's not going to be pretty.
Yes, I thought all suits introduced before September 2007 were automatically approved. Can someone clarify this?
Obviously I can't speak in any sort of official capacity, and hopefully we'll get an official comment from USMS soon, but I've read through the USAS and USMS rule books on suits and if you read the new USAS ruling word for word only suits that are either explicitly on the list or conform to these rules:
1. For female swimmers, the swimsuit shall not cover the neck, extend past the shoulders or past the pelvis, and
2. For male swimmers, the swimsuit shall not extend above the navel or below the knees.
are allowed. Therefore you can make the argument that older suits not on the list are no longer allowed.
I too remember a grandfather clause being talked about before the FINA list came out but I can't find any official mention of that anywhere at FINA, USAS, or USMS. The fact that USAS called out the fact that the list only includes newer model suits and added the clause allowing older "traditional" suits means to me that older suits which are not on the list and fall outside of the "traditional suit" rules are no longer allowed. Like the Tyr Fusion II and Speedo FSII legs.
Whatever. Honestly I don't really care if I need to buy a new suit or not, mine were getting pretty old anyway, but the whole thing is really a poorly-handled mess that does not really instill confidence in FINA. I do feel that USAS and USMS are doing everything they can to react to FINA's mess and I'm sure it will be sorted out eventually. I still want to know how they're going to enforce it though. Except for some high-profile cases, like b70 being illegal, I can't imagine the refs checking everyone's suits at meets against some master list of model numbers. If it's left up to self-policing and tattling that's not going to be pretty.
