DQ Rules
CSRA Swim League / Swimming Rules
adopted – 3/17/12, modified – 3/24/15)
These rules are not all-inclusive and do not address every conceivable situation. The meet referee has full authority to decide any conflicts not specifically covered. He will do so in the spirit of fairness and sportsmanship using the underlying principles common to USA Swimming (USAS) and the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS).
Breaststroke – Situations/Rulings
Situation 1 – During the recovery phase of the breaststroke, a swimmer thrusts his arms forward and upward, forcing the arms and elbows completely above the surface of the water.
Ruling 1 – Illegal. The hands may recover under, on, or over the water provided the elbows remain in contact with the water and a butterfly recovery is not used.
Situation 2 – On the reach for the wall, a breaststroker touches with both hands simultaneously but not on the same plane, and the shoulders are not horizontal (a) at the turn, or (b) at the finish.
Ruling 2 – Both are legal.
Situation 3 – A breaststroker makes two kicks without an intervening arm pull after ducking the head at the finish.
Ruling 3 – Illegal stroke cycle.
Situation 4 – A breaststroker’s head goes beneath the surface of the water as he is completing a stroke cycle during the race.
Ruling 4 – Legal provided his head had broken the surface of the water at some time during that stroke cycle.
Situation 5 – During the start of the breaststroke event, a swimmer’s head breaks the surface of the water after the hands have turned inward at their widest part of the second arm pull but prior to the arms beginning the recovery part of the second arm pull. The swimmer is disqualified.
Ruling 5 – Correct procedure. The head must break the surface of the water before the hands turn inward at the widest part of the second arm stroke at the start and after each turn.
Situation 6 – A breaststroker is disqualified for pulling his hands past the hipline as he swims down the pool even though his head breaks the surface of the water on each stroke cycle.
Ruling 6 – Correct procedure. Pulling the hands past the hipline is only permitted on the first arm stroke following the start or turn.
Situation 7 – At the finish of the race, a breaststroker completes his final stroke cycle (one arm pull/one kick) and takes an additional arm pull prior to touching the wall.
Ruling 7 – Legal. A stroke cycle is defined as one arm pull followed by one kick. An incomplete stroke cycle is permitted into the turn and finish.
Situation 8 – A competitor in the breaststroke on the turn initiates (a) a dolphin kick followed by a breaststroke kick, (b) two dolphin kicks.
Ruling 8 – (a) Legal, (b) Illegal. The swimmer may execute a single dolphin kick followed by a breaststroke kick.
Situation 9 – A swimmer in the breaststroke has stopped approximately 5 yards from the wall prior to the turn and rested. The swimmer has permitted his body to become vertical. The swimmer is not in the process of initiating a turn.
Ruling 9 – The swimmer is disqualified for a violation of body position.
Butterfly – Situations/Rulings
Situation 1 – A butterfly swimmer inadvertently (a) drags one arm in the water and fails to make a simultaneous arm recovery, (b) catches one arm under a lane line and fails to make a simultaneous arm recovery.
Ruling 1 – In both (a) and (b) the stroke is illegal, and the swimmer should be disqualified.
Situation 2 – A butterfly swimmer (a) drops one shoulder into the turn, (b) drops one shoulder into the finish, or (c) kicks partially on the side after the turn.
Ruling 2 – (a) and (b) Legal. (c) Legal provided the swimmer regains the proper body position prior to the first pull.
Situation 3 – A butterfly swimmer dives in and kicks the first length under water.
Ruling 3 – Illegal. A swimmer may be completely submerged for a distance of not more than 15 meters after the start and each turn. By that point, some part of the head must have broken the surface of the water.
Situation 4 – A swimmer in the butterfly has stopped approximately 5 yards from the wall prior to the turn and rested. The swimmer has permitted his body to become vertical. The swimmer is not in the process of initiating a turn.
Ruling 4 – The swimmer is disqualified for a violation of body position.
Backstroke – Situations/Rulings
Situation 1 – As the head of a backstroker passes under the flags (at the 20 yard/meter mark), he rotates past the vertical toward the stomach, then glides and kicks into the wall with arm extended.
Ruling 1 – Legal. Kicking and gliding are permitted throughout the turn and the touch provided no more than one arm pull occurs.
Situation 2 – A swimmer in the backstroke event (a) uses the elementary backstroke, (b) touches the wall with both hands simultaneously, (c) uses the butterfly kick.
Ruling 2 – All are legal.
Situation 3 – A swimmer does a legal backstroke turn but does not use a flip turn. The swimmer is on his back before his feet leave the wall. The opposing coach insists the swimmer be disqualified for failing to do a legal turn.
Ruling 3 – The swimmer should not be disqualified. The backstroke turn does not require the use of a flip turn.
Situation 4 – At the start of the backstroke event, a swimmer is completely submerged and only the swimmer’s chin breaks the surface of the water by the 15 meter mark.
Ruling 4 – Legal. After the start and each turn, the swimmer may remain completely submerged for a distance of not more than 15 meters. By that point some part of the swimmer’s head must have broken the surface of the water. The chin is part of the head.
Situation 5 – A swimmer in the backstroke has stopped approximately 5 yards from the wall prior to the turn and rested. The swimmer has permitted his body to become vertical. The swimmer is not in the process of initiating a turn.
Ruling 5 – The swimmer is disqualified for a violation of body position.
Freestyle – Situations/Rulings
Situation 1 – A swimmer misses the wall during the turn of a freestyle event. Upon realizing that the wall was missed, the swimmer sculls back to the wall, touches the wall, and continues the swim.
Ruling 1 – Legal. There is no specific body position in freestyle. Since the turn requires some part of the swimmer’s body to contact the wall, the swimmer can scull back and touch if it is missed on a turn.
Situation 2 – A contestant in a freestyle event does a flip turn and kicks the final length under water.
Ruling 2 – Illegal. A swimmer may be completely submerged for a distance of not more than 15 meters after the start and each turn. By that point, some part of the swimmer’s head must have broken the surface of the water.
Situation 3 – A contestant swims backstroke during a freestyle event but does not abide by the backstroke turn rule.
Ruling 3 – Legal. The turn rule in freestyle allows a swimmer to turn in any manner provided he touches the wall.
Situation 4 – A swimmer in a freestyle event has stopped approximately 5 yards from the wall prior to the turn and rested. The swimmer has permitted his body to become vertical. The swimmer is not in the process of initiating a turn.
Ruling 4 – Legal. There is no body position requirement in freestyle.
Individual Medley – Situations/Rulings
Situation 1 – In the individual medley event, a swimmer rotates to his stomach while finishing the backstroke leg. An official disqualifies the swimmer for the position of the body during the finish of the leg.
Ruling 1 – Correct procedure. The transition from one stroke to another in the individual medley event is a finish of one stroke and a start of the next. The correct finish and start rules for each stroke must be followed.
Situation 2 – A swimmer in the individual medley event swims the final quarter of the race using (a) elementary backstroke, (b) butterfly with a breaststroke kick, (c) breaststroke with a flutter kick.
Ruling 2 – (a) Illegal. Any stroke swum on the back is considered to be backstroke. (b) and (c) Legal. These variations are not legal forms of breaststroke or butterfly, such strokes would not be considered repetitions of breaststroke and butterfly.
Relays – Situations/Rulings
Situation 1 – (a) A team enters a swimmer to swim both the leadoff and anchor leg of a relay. (b) A team enters a swimmer as the leadoff swimmer on one relay team and as the anchor swimmer on another relay team in the same event.
Ruling 1 – Both (a) and (b) are illegal. A competitor may only be entered once in an event.
Situation 2 – For deck starts in relay events, all four swimmers must be stationary and have at least one foot at the front edge of the deck.
Ruling 2 – Incorrect procedure. The second, third, and fourth swimmers must assume a position with at least one foot at the front edge of the deck, but the remainder of the body may be in motion prior to the finish of the incoming swimmer.
Situation 3 – During a relay using in-water starts, the second swimmer stands on the bottom of the pool. Just before the incoming swimmer completes his leg, he places both feet on the wall and begins to push off but does not lose contact with the wall until after the incoming swimmer has touched the end wall.
Ruling 3 – Legal.
Situation 4 – The third swimmer on a relay team completes his leg but continues to swim.
Ruling 4 – The relay team is disqualified.