CFB Kingston Sharks Swim Club

The Rules

The technical rules of swimming are designed to provide fair and equitable conditions of competition and to promote uniformity in the sport. Each swimming stroke has specific rules designed to ensure that no swimmer gains an unfair competitive advantage over another swimmer. The technical rules for each stroke may be found in the Swimming/Natation Canada Rule Book.

Trained officials observe the swimmers during each event to ensure compliance with these technical rules. If a swimmer commits an infraction of the rules, the result is a disqualification from that event, with no official time for the race, and no opportunity to receive an award/score for the team.

Disqualifications may also result from actions such as not getting to the starting blocks on time, false starting, walking on or pushing off the bottom of the pool, pulling on the lane lines, or unsportsmanlike conduct.

Some rule violations per stroke:

Freestyle – walking on the bottom; pulling on the lane rope; not touching the wall on a turn; or not completing the prescribed distance.

Backstroke – turning past the vertical onto the stomach and gliding or kicking into the wall on the turn (the roll to the stomach must be a part of a continuous turning action); pushing off the wall on the stomach after a turn; not remaining on the back throughout the race; turning on the stomach before the finish.

Breaststroke – an illegal kick such as flutter, dolphin, or scissor kick; alternating movements of the arms; taking two arm strokes or two leg kicks while the head is under water; touching with only one hand at the turns or finish.

Butterfly – alternating movements of the arms or legs; pushing the arms forward under instead of over the water surface; a breaststroke kick; touching with only one hand at the turns or finish.

The Officials

Officials are present at all competitions to implement the technical rules of swimming and to ensure that the competition is fair and equitable. Officials attend clinics, pass written tests, and work meets before being certified. All parents are encouraged to get involved with some form of officiating. If you are interested, contact your club’s officials’ chairperson.

Timekeepers – operate timing devices (stopwatches or automatic timing equipment) and record the official time for each swimmer in their lane.

Turn Inspectors – observe from each end of the pool and ensure that the turns and finishes comply with the rules applicable to each stroke.

Stroke Judges – observe from both sides of the pool, walking abreast of the swimmers, to ensure that the rules relating to each stroke are being followed.

Relay Take-off Judges – stand beside the starting blocks to observe the relay exchanges, ensuring that the feet of the departing swimmer have not lost contact with the block before the incoming swimmer touches the end of the pool.

The Clerk of Course – arranges the swimmers into their proper heats and lanes.

The Starter – assumes control of the swimmers from the Referee, directs them to take their mark, and sees that no swimmer is in motion prior to giving the start signal.

The Referee – has overall authority and control of the competition, ensuring that all the rules are followed; assigns and instructs all official; and decides all questions relating to the conduct of the meet.

Violations of the rules are reported to the Referee, and the rules require that every reasonable effort be made to notify the swimmers or their coaches of the reasons for any disqualifications.

If your child is disqualified (DQ’d), in an event, be supportive rather than critical. For newer swimmers, a disqualification should be treated as a learning experience, not as punishment. A disqualification alerts the swimmer and coach to what portions of the swimmer’s stroke need to be corrected. It should be considered in the same light as an incorrect answer in school work: it points out areas which need further practice.

The disqualification is necessary to keep the competition fair and equitable for all other competitors. A supportive attitude on the part of the official, the coach, and the parent, can also keep it a positive experience for the disqualified swimmer.