BPE 222

by GROUP 5
Competitive
Swimming

PRESENTATION
Rules for Competitive Swimming
The Roles and Responsibilities of Officials

01/29
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RULES FOR
COMPETITI
VE
SWIMMING
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Basic Rules of Competitive Swimming

Starts
False Starts

Disqualifications
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Starts
• Referee signals start with short
whistles
• Swimmers remove excess clothing,
leaving legal swimwear
• Referee gives a long whistle for
swimmers to assume starting
positions (platform, deck, or water)
• Referee signals starter with
outstretched hand
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Starts
• Starter takes control, instructs
swimmers to "take their marks"
• Forward-start positions:
o Swimmers on platform or deck:
one foot must be at the front
o Swimmers in water: one hand
must continuously contact
platform or wall
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Starts
• Starter gives signal, race begins
• If a swimmer delays, starter
commands "stand up"
• Swimmers can disengage until told
to take their marks again.
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False Starts
• False starts usually result in a
swimmer's disqualification. The
following are instances of false starts:
o A swimmer starts the race before the
signal.
o A swimmer declares to the referee that
they will not race.
o Starting upon hearing "stand up" does
not result in disqualification. The
swimmer can still legally compete in
this situation.
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Disqualifications

• Committing a false start

• Behaving in an unsportsmanlike or
unsafe way
• Grabbing or physically hindering
another swimmer
• Entering a pool before another race
has been completed
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Disqualifications

• Dipping your goggles in the pool

before a race
• Finishing the race in a different lane
than you started
• Grabbing lane dividers
• Standing on the bottom of the pool,
except during freestyle races
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Rules for Freestyle

• No pushing off the pool
bottom in freestyle.
Freestyle races begin with a
• Maintain body breakage of
forward-facing dive from a
water surface during the race.
starting block or the side of a
• Heads must break surface
pool. The only rules freestyle
within 15 meters after a turn.
swimmers must account for are
• Touch the far wall with any
the following:
body part.
• Finish by touching the wall
with one hand.
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Rules for Breaststroke
The breaststroke begins with a
forward start. Swimmers will
swim with their bodies on their
breasts for the duration of the
race, except during turns after a
wall touch. Then, they can
make any type of turn they
want. The breaststroke is
reminiscent of a frog
swimming through the water
and consists of the following:
• Stroke: Keep horizontal arm
movements, pushing hands
forward without going past hip
line. Head must break water for
each stroke.
• Kick: Single butterfly kick at start
and after turns, otherwise both
legs kick simultaneously on the
same horizontal plane with
outward-turning feet.
• Finish: Simultaneous touch with
both hands under or above the
water.
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Rules for Backstroke
• Start in the water with backs
turned to swimming
direction.
• Hands grip the edge for
launch; remain on backs
throughout the race.
• Backstroke rules are lenient,
akin to an "upside-down
freestyle."
• Use alternating strokes and kicks,
ensuring body part breaks water
surface.
• Stay on the back to avoid
disqualification.
• Turns may allow vertical shoulder
movement, but resume back
position post-turn.
• Finish by touching the wall while
still on the back.
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Rules for Relay

• Medley Relay:
• Relays: o Each swimmer follows proper
o Four swimmers compete as form for their section.
o Begins in backstroke position.
a team.
o Order: backstroke,
• Freestyle Relay:
breaststroke, butterfly,
o Swimmers can swim
freestyle.
however they choose. • Launch Rule:
o Begins with a forward- o Swimmers wait to launch until
facing dive. their teammate touches the
wall.
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Scoring System for Events

6 Schools
• A Events:
o 1st 18pts, 2nd 17pts, 3rd 16pts, 4th 15 pts, 5th 14pts,
6th 13pts
• B Events:
o 1st 12pts, 2nd 11pts, 3rd 10pts, 4th 9pts, 5th 8pts, 6th
7pts
• C Events:
o 1st 6pts, 2nd 5pts, 3rd 4pts, 4th 3 pts, 5th 2pts; 6th 1pt
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Finishes

• Butterfly and Breaststroke finishes must be with both hands

touching at the same time and level.
• Backstroke finishes must be on the back and can be with
one hand
• Freestyle finishes (depending on the chosen stroke) tend to
be one handed and on the swimmer front
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ROLES AND
RESPONSIBILIT
IES OF
OFFICIALS
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JUDGE LEVEL 1
TIMEKEEPER
• Record swimmer's race time
using a stopwatch.
• Note the time on heat sheets.
• If AOE is used, press secondary
'back-up' button after the race.
• For manual times, Chief
Timekeeper collects time sheets
for each event.
CHIEF TIMEKEEPER
• Ensure timekeepers fulfill their
roles.
• In manual meets (non-electronic),
collect time sheets from
timekeepers after each event.
• Calculate finishing times based on
the order of finish, in agreement
with the referee.
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JUDGE LEVEL 1
INSPECTOR OF TURNS
• Responsible for observing
swimmers' turns and finishes.
• Cannot disqualify; only report
infringements to Referee or
Chief Inspector of Turns.
• Disqualification authority lies
solely with the Referee.
• Give the swimmer the benefit of
doubt if uncertain about an
infringement.
• Knowledge of turn and finish
rules for each stroke is essential,
with mentoring provided during
meets with experienced officials.
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JUDGE LEVEL 1
CHIEF INSPECTOR OF TURNS
• Serves as a link between
Inspector of Turns (J1) and the
Referee.
• Receives reports from the
timekeeper.
• Transfers reports to the Referee
for decision-making.
RELAY TAKE-OFF JUDGE
• Monitors the relay take-over:
when the incoming swimmer
touches and the next dives in.
• Reports any infringements
observed to the Chief Inspector of
Turns/Referee.
• Receives training on the rules
governing this aspect of the race.
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JUDGE LEVEL 2
JUDGES OF STROKE
• Ensure compliance with stroke
rules.
• Similar to J1, they do not
disqualify swimmers.
• Report observed infringements
to the Referee for
disqualification.
FINISH JUDGE
• Records lane order of finishing
swimmers.
• Provides this information to the
Referee.
• Crucial role, especially in meets
with electronic systems, as they
can sometimes fail.
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JUDGE LEVEL 2
STARTER
• Ensures a fair start for all
swimmers.
• Involves a workshop session and
practical training with an
experienced official.
• Concludes with a final assessed
practical session.
REFEREE
• Highest Qualification in British
Swimming
• Involves theory sessions, an exam,
and assessed practical sessions.
• Overall control of all meet aspects.
• Responsible for health and safety and
ensuring fair competition.
• Judges report observed infringements
to the Referee.
• Decides whether reported
infringements will be accepted.
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THANK
YOU!