2012-13 Swimming Rules Book
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2012-13 NFHS SWIMMING & DIVING AND WATER POLO ® RULES BOOK ROBERT B. GARDNER, Publisher Becky Oakes, Editor NFHS Publications To maintain the sound traditions of this sport, encourage sportsmanship and minimize the inherent risk of injury, the National Federation of State High School Associations writes playing rules for varsity competition among student-athletes of high school age. High school coaches, officials and administrators who have knowledge and experience regarding this particular sport and age group volunteer their time to serve on the rules committee. Member associations of the NFHS independently make decisions regarding compliance with or modification of these playing rules for the student-athletes in their respective states. NFHS rules are used by education-based and non-education-based organizations serving children of varying skill levels who are of high school age and younger. In order to make NFHS rules skill-level and age-level appropriate, the rules may be modified by any orga- nization that chooses to use them. Except as may be specifically noted in this rules book, the NFHS makes no recommendation about the nature or extent of the modifications that may be appropriate for children who are younger or less skilled than high school varsity athletes. Every individual using these rules is responsible for prudent judgment with respect to each contest, athlete and facility, and each athlete is responsible for exercising caution and good sportsmanship. These rules should be interpreted and applied so as to make reasonable accommodations for disabled athletes, coaches and officials. © 2012, This rules book has been copyrighted by the National Federation of State High School Associations with the United States Copyright Office. No one may republish any material contained herein without the prior written consent of the NFHS. Republication of all or any portion of this rules book on the Internet is expressly prohibited. Published by the NATIONAL FEDERATION OF STATE HIGH SCHOOL ASSOCIATIONS, PO Box 690, Indianapolis, Indiana 46206; Phone: 317-972-6900, Fax: 317.822.5700, www.nfhs.org. Cover photos courtesy of Paynter Pics, Arizona Interscholastic Association. 2012-13 Swimming and Diving Rules Changes 3-3-2 Clarifies the penalties for a swimmer or diver wearing illegal attire such as an illegal cap and separates these penalties from the penalty for ille- gal construction of a swimming suit. 3-3-4 Tape is permitted to treat a documented medical condition providing the meet referee is presented with signed documentation from an appropriate health-care professional prior to the start of competition. 8-2-1f The initiation of the turning action in the backstroke may be initiated by an upward or downward, underwater movement of the head. 8-2-2c On the start or turn, the initiation of the arm stroke shall be accom- plished by a discernible horizontal separation of the hands. 9-2-2 The order of divers in a championship meet is determined by the meet director using a seeding method based on scores or by lot. With no action from the meet director, the default method for determining the order of diving in a championship meet is by lot. 2012-13 Major Editorial Changes 3-3-3c Changed the Note regarding the wearing of a suit with the FINA mark to a part of the rule. 9-5-2 Additional steps, hops, leaps and/or jumps may occur during the diver’s initial steps and before the culminating hurdle in the forward approach. App.B Suggested protocol for electronic relay judging equipment specifies when the relay takeoff judge’s observation shall be considered to con- firm a disqualification. 2012-13 Editorial Changes 3-3-3a, 3-5-3, 4-1-4, 9-4 2012-13 Points of Emphasis 1. Shaving on site and sports hygiene 2. Suits with FINA barcode 3. Relay team attire may be adjusted to become legal New interpretations in situation play rulings and situations brought up to date with the new rules are marked with an asterisk (*). Accommodation for special-needs students may be addressed through rules and policies promulgated by a variety of organizations. Four such organizations are: Special Olympics Disabled Sports USA U.S. Paralympics 1325 G Street N.W. 451 Hungerford Drive 25 North Tejon Washington, DC 20005 Suite 100 Lower Level 110 www.specialolympics.org Rockville, MD 20850 Colorado Springs, CO 80903 www.dsusa.org www.usparalympics.org USA Swimming 1 Olympic Plaza, Colorado Springs, CO 80909 | www.usaswimming.org 2012-13 NFHS SWIMMING AND DIVING RULES COMMITTEE Diane Hicks-Hughes Michael Slagle Robert B. Gardner Peter J. Foley Becky Oakes Chair - 2014 Coaches — 2013 Publisher Officials — 2012 Editor Lansing, NY Plymouth, WI NFHS Framingham, MA NFHS Scott Morrison Merle Gunderson Section 1 - 2015 Section 8 - 2013 Auburn, ME Great Falls, MT Kenneth Gipe Sergio Lopez Ron McGraw Greg Selbo Amy Cassell Danny Miller Section 2 - 2014 Section 3 - 2013 Section 4 - 2012 Section 5 - 2014 Section 6 - 2015 Section 7 - 2012 Port Clinton, OH Jacksonville, FL Bloomington, IL Fargo, ND Oklahoma City, OK Orem, UT GUIDELINES FOR MEET WARM-UP It is recommended that state associations adopt warm-up procedures similar to the example provided below: Prior to any contestants entering the water to begin warm-ups, there shall be a meeting that includes head coaches and captains from each team and officials (if available). The criteria to be reviewed should include, but is not limited to: warm-up procedure, pool environment, water depth at both ends, jewelry and uniform rules, starting platforms, lane selection, emergency procedures, con- ference rule differences, lifeguard responsibilities and other pertinent issues. In addition, the following guidelines are recommended for warm-up procedures at all meets: 1. A designated supervisor whose sole responsibility is to observe the warm- up procedures shall be on duty prior to any contestants entering the pool/diving well and throughout the entire warm-up period. 2. Swimmers shall enter the water feet first except for starts which are limit- ed to specified lanes. 3. Specify Lanes 2 and 5 (six-lane pool) or Lanes 2 and 7 (eight-lane pool) as one-way sprint lanes with racing starts permitted at the starting end of the pool. 4. Place a cone marker or similar sign on the starting platforms in lanes not specified as one-way sprint lanes. 5. Specify center lanes for circle swimming (two lengths of the pool beginning at the starting end of the pool). 6. Specify the outside lanes as pace lanes (swimmers swim one or two lengths from an in-water push-off position from the starting end of the pool). 7. May specify lanes for relay practice during the last 15 minutes of the warm- up. 8. Coaches should stand at the starting end of the pool and verbally start swimmers for sprint or pace work. 9. Swimmers should not be allowed on a starting platform when a backstro- ker is executing a start in the same sprint lane. 10.Swimmers shall not swim in the area where the diving warm-up is occur- ring. 11.Pool shall be closed during the coaches’ meeting. 12.Jewelry shall not be worn during warm-ups. Meet management or their designee(s) may remove a swimmer, coach and/or team from the deck for violations of these recommendations. In facilities that have warm-up and/or warm-down areas, management shall provide supervi- sion of the area(s) at all times. TABLE OF CONTENTS SWIMMING AND DIVING Page Guidelines for Meet Warm-up..............................................................................5 Rule 1 – Definitions .............................................................................................7 Rule 2 – Pool, Lane and Equipment Specifications .............................................9 Rule 3 – Team Personnel...................................................................................14 Rule 4 – Officials and Their Duties ....................................................................30 Rule 5 – Meet Management...............................................................................37 Rule 6 – Timing and Judging.............................................................................42 Rule 7 – Scoring................................................................................................46 Rule 8 – Swimming Events................................................................................48 Rule 9 – Diving Competition..............................................................................59 Meter/Yard Conversion Factors..........................................................................75 State Association Adoptions ..............................................................................76 Points of Emphasis............................................................................................76 Comments on the Rules ....................................................................................76 Appendix A – Protocols for Verbal and Whistle Commands..............................79 No-Recall Starting Protocol ...............................................................................79 Appendix B – Suggested Protocols for Electronic Relay Judging Equipment....80 Appendix C – Guidelines for Judging Diving......................................................81 Dive Silhouettes .................................................................................................82 National High School Swimming Records .........................................................84 Swimming and Diving Rules Index....................................................................85