S&T: Module 2
Technical Rules

Introduction

Your main objective as an official is to know and understand the rules for swimming. Your main resource for this is the USA Swimming Rulebook. At any time, you can go to the USA Swimming website and download the current book and review rule additions and changes. Your objective is to learn how to use it! 

Take a moment to download the Rulebook if you don’t have a paper copy available. Use it to follow along in this lesson and beyond as well - to dive into the rules.

Major Legislation and Rule Changes

The very first page of the rulebook highlights any rule changes effective since the last version was published. This is important to review every year as rules change and definitions update as the sport moves forward. Your officials briefings before meets will also cover any new or updated rule changes or guidance for how to interpret a specific rule.

Official Glossary

The next important section of the rulebook contains the official glossary. While all of the definitions are relevant to officials, there are a few to highlight for you, as a Stroke and Turn Judge. Click through the slides to learn more.

The USA Swimming Rules and Regulations have nine (9) parts:

1. Technical Rules

2. Administrative Regulations of Competition

3. Rights, Privileges, Code of Conduct

4. Hearings and Appeals

5. Matters of the House of Delegates

6. Local Swimming Committees, Zones, and Regions

7. Open Water Swimming

8. U.S. Masters Technical Rules Differences

9. Corporate Bylaws of USA Swimming

10. The first section, Technical Rules, breaks down the rules into articles. 

Article 101, Individual Strokes and Relays, has all the rules you need to officiate the actual strokes and relays. We will go into more detail about these rules in the next parts of this module.

Article 102, Conduct and Officiating of All Swimming Competition, covers events, general rules, seeding, lane assignments, swim-offs and order of heats, among other things. It also details the responsibilities of each official, such as this excerpt for the Stroke and Turn Judge:

Article 102.13

Stroke Judge- Shall operate on both sides of the pool, preferably walking slightly behind the swimmers during all strokes except freestyle, during which events they may leave poolside, at the Referee’s discretion; shall ensure that the rules relating to the style of swimming designated for the event are being observed; and shall report any violations to the Referee on signed slips detailing the event, the heat number, the lane number and the infraction.

Turn Judge- Shall operate on both ends of the pool; shall ensure that after the start and when turning or finishing, the swimmer complies with the rules applicable to the stroke used; and shall report any violations to the Referee on signed slips detailing the event, the heat number, lane number, and infraction observed.

Jurisdiction of Stroke and Turn Judges- Before the competition begins, the Referee shall determine the respective areas of stroke and turn responsibility and jurisdiction, which may include joint, concurrent, and coordinated responsibility and jurisdiction. The Referee shall ensure that all swimmers shall have fair, equitable, and uniform conditions of judging.

Other important rules in Article 102 include disqualifications and seeding. 

Article 103 details the Facilities Standards. Article 104 is the Rules for Swimming Records.

Article 105 details Guidelines for Officiating Swimmers with a Disability in USA Swimming Meets. This last one may also be important information as it defines and explains modifications and accommodations a swimmer may be given during the start, in their stroke, turn, finish, and during a relay.

As we said at the beginning of this lesson, your challenge will be to learn how to use the Rulebook. Let’s take a moment and get familiar. We know you haven’t learned the rules yet. But the key is to learn where to find them.

Either download the current USA Swimming Rulebook, or grab your paper copy if you have one. Then answer the following questions. You will find the answers within the rule referenced in each question.

1. Use Rule 101.2 - The hands in the breaststroke should be pushed forward together from the breast:

   1. • On the water

      • Under the water

      • Over the water

      • Any of the above

2. Use Rule 101.3 - The kick in butterfly: 

   1. • Must have both feet on the same level

      • Can have feet alternate

      • Must be simultaneous

      • Can us the breaststroke movement

3. Use Rule 101.4 - During the turn in backstroke, the swimmer:

   1. • Can use a single or simultaneous double arm pull

      • Must stay on their back

      • Must do a fron turn flip

      • Can leave the wall in any position

4. Use Rule 101.5 - Which of the following items are NOT listed as part of the rules for freestyle?

   1. • A forward start

      • Scissor kick

      • A touch at the turn

      • A touch at the finish

As you move forward into the technical rules for each stroke, there is a LOT of information ahead.

Keep your list of terms and items needing clarification. These could be concepts that need further review before you take your certification assessment. Or they could be items you want to discuss in your on-deck training time. It is vital to ask questions and keep learning in your time as an official - both before and after certification.

The rest of this module contains the critical information you need as a Stroke and Turn Judge. The important thing, as always, is to keep the swimmers at the forefront.

Your job is to maintain the fairness of the competition, and to help swimmers develop their skills and move forward in the sport.

As you dive in, take your time and review as much as you need before moving forward to the next section. Don't forget to take breaks, too. This is not a race to the finish!

Click Next to start The Breaststroke Lesson