Swimming

Competitive swimming is raced over set distances in freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly, plus individual medley and relays. Each stroke has strict technical rules governing the arm and leg action, the turn and the finish, so disqualification for technique is as common as losing on the clock.

group

PLAYERS

Individual, relays of 4

schedule

DURATION

20 seconds to 15 minutes per race

stadium

PLAYING AREA

50 m long course or 25 m short course pool, 8–10 lanes

scoreboard

SCORING

Fastest time; heats, semi-finals and finals

HOW IT IS PLAYED

Core Rules

The start

All races except backstroke start from the blocks on the command 'Take your marks' and the starting signal. Backstroke and medley relay start in the water with hands on the grips. One false start disqualifies.

Freestyle

Any stroke may be used. The swimmer must surface within 15 m of the start and each turn, must touch the wall at every turn, and must finish by touching the wall with any part of the body.

Backstroke

The swimmer stays on the back throughout except during the turn, where a single continuous arm pull may be used to initiate a rotation onto the front. The finish must be made on the back.

Breaststroke

Arms and legs must move simultaneously and in the same horizontal plane. Part of the head must break the surface every cycle, and one downward butterfly kick is allowed after the start and each turn.

Butterfly

Both arms must recover forward over the water simultaneously, and the legs must kick together in a dolphin action. Alternating leg movement or a breaststroke kick is illegal.

Turns and touches

Breaststroke and butterfly require a simultaneous two-hand touch at every turn and at the finish. Freestyle and backstroke may be turned with any part of the body touching the wall.

Individual medley

The order is butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke and freestyle. In the freestyle leg the swimmer may not use any of the other three strokes.

Relay take-overs

The outgoing swimmer's feet must remain in contact with the block until the incoming swimmer touches the wall. Departing early disqualifies the whole team.

Lane discipline

Swimmers must remain in their own lane throughout. Interfering with another swimmer, or standing on the pool bottom in any race other than to push off, brings disqualification.

WATCH OUT

Fouls & Penalties

errorFalse start on the block or in the water.
errorIllegal stroke technique — scissor kick in breaststroke, alternating arms in butterfly, or leaving the back in backstroke.
errorOne-hand touch where a simultaneous two-hand touch is required.
errorSurfacing beyond the 15 m mark after a start or turn.
errorEarly relay take-over, or walking on the pool floor.

WHO DECIDES

Match Officials

sportsReferee — has overall authority and confirms every disqualification.
sportsStarter — controls the start and rules on false starts.
sportsStroke and turn judges — patrol each side of the pool checking technique.
sportsChief timekeeper and place judges — back up the electronic timing pads.

GOVERNED BY WORLD AQUATICS · SFI

Play Swimming On A Real Arena

Book a floodlit, pro-standard venue and put the rulebook to work.

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