R-9

Location: Page 27-29

102.14 STARTER

Proposed by: Ron Van Pool, Program Operations Vice President

Purpose: To adopt FINA starting procedures for all levels of USA Swimming competition, with the "no recall" alternative to be used at Junior Championships and above. This will allow USA Swimming athletes to experience and become familiar with the dynamics of the starting procedures at international meets that they may attend

102.14 STARTER

.1 Preparation

A, B, C - (no change)

D Notifies swimmers of the distance and the event.

E D Optional Instructions

Stroke(s) to be used and the order of swimming them.

Number of pool lengths to be swum.

Event, stroke and distance.

Advise heat when a swimmer is attempting a time at an initial distance.

For backstroke starts, the command "Place your feet."

Notify relay swimmers that all but the last swimmer must leave the pool immediately upon completion of their leg.

.2 The Start

A The Starter, upon receiving clearance from the Referee (for all events except backstroke and medley relay) directs swimmers to step onto the starting block or platform and remain there. Refer to 101.3.1 for backstroke start requirements.

B After the Referee's whistle, the Starter instructs the swimmers and directs them to "take your mark," to which they must immediately respond by assuming a starting position with at least one foot at the front of the starting block or platform. Sufficient time should follow "take your mark" to enable swimmers to assume starting positions, but no swimmer shall be in motion immediately before the starting signal is given.

C At all USA Swimming Championship meets as defined in Article 206.1, the following starting procedures shall be used:

  1. At the commencement of each heat, the Referee shall signal to the swimmers by a short series of whistles to remove all clothing except for swimwear, followed by a long whistle indicating that they should take their positions on the starting platform and remain there. In backstroke and medley relay events, at the referee's first long whistle the swimmers shall immediately enter the water and at the second long whistle shall return without undue delay to the starting position (101.3.1).

  2. When the swimmers and officials are ready, the Referee shall signal with an out-stretched arm to the starter that the swimmers are under the Starter's control.

  3. On the Starter's command "take your mark", the swimmers shall immediately assume their starting position with at least one foot at the front of the block. When all swimmers are stationary, the starter shall give the starting signal.

.3 Warning Signal - (no change)

.4 False Starts

A (no change)

B All swimmers leaving their marks before the starting signal is given shall be charged with a false start. Except when the "no recall" procedure under paragraph H is used, a swimmer who has false started because of the action or movement of another competitor may be relieved of the responsibility for the false start and a false start may be charged only to the offender. (No further change)

C (no change)

D Except as stated in paragraph H, when the starting signal is given and one or more swimmers have obtained an unfair advantage, all swimmers shall be recalled at once by a second signal.

E & F (no change)

G. Any swimmer who is charged with committing or causing a false start shall be disqualified and shall not be permitted to swim the event. This rule shall not apply to USA Swimming international events or to the Trials for Pan American, Pan Pacific, World Championships or Olympic teams, where current FINA false start rules shall apply except that all false starts shall be recalled. Except as specified in paragraph H, if the false start is not recalled and the race is permitted to proceed, the swimmer shall not be disqualified.

H. For USA Swimming Championships or team selection trials the starting procedure shall be as follows:

Any swimmer starting before the starting signal has been given, shall be disqualified. If the starting signal sounds before the disqualification is declared, the race shall continue and the swimmer or swimmers shall be disqualified upon completion of the race. If the disqualification is declared before the starting signal, the signal shall not be given, but the remaining swimmers shall be called back, be reminded by the starter of the penalties, and start again.

The above procedure may be used at other meets provided the recall procedure is included in the Meet Information.

I. A swimmer shall not be disqualified for an illegal starting position at the start or charged with a false start if the race is permitted to proceed without recall. Enforcement of the correct starting position is the responsibility of the Starter who, with the concurrence of the referee, may impose the appropriate penalty for violation before the starting signal is given.