I've heard it's legal. Any strategies that work? How do you know that the person you're behind is helping you or holding you back?
Parents
Former Member
On the legality of drafting:
I was always under the assumption that drafting in USMS open water events was forbidden, however a search of the USMS rulebook does not explicity address drafting outside of a pool, other than being forbidden to draft behind an escort craft.
The only reference is in the Disqualifications:
303.8.8—Draft off another swimmer in long distance pool events.
FINA rules only mentions that "pacing of a swimmer by another person entering the water is not permitted"
(www.fina.org/openwaterrules.html).
On the legality of drafting:
I was always under the assumption that drafting in USMS open water events was forbidden, however a search of the USMS rulebook does not explicity address drafting outside of a pool, other than being forbidden to draft behind an escort craft.
The only reference is in the Disqualifications:
303.8.8—Draft off another swimmer in long distance pool events.
FINA rules only mentions that "pacing of a swimmer by another person entering the water is not permitted"
(www.fina.org/openwaterrules.html).
