IHSAA Swimming and Diving
NFHS Rule 3-3-2
New ART. 2…Suits worn by swimmers shall be limited to the following requirements:
a. only one swimsuit shall be permitted in competition. (A swimmer with special needs may request customization through his/her school to the state association.)
b. the swimsuit shall be:
1. constructed of a woven/knit textile material;
2. permeable (100 percent to air and water);
3. made so as not to aid in buoyancy and shall not be altered to aid in buoyancy;
4. made with no zippers or other fastening system other than a waist tie for a brief or jammer and elastic material within the casing/ribbing in the terminal ends (straps, leg openings, and waist openings); and
5. constructed so that the style/shape of the suit for males shall not extend above the waist nor below the top of the kneecap and for females shall not extend beyond the shoulders nor below the top of the kneecap, nor cover the neck.
Penalty (For ART. 2): When an official discovers a competitor wearing an illegal swimsuit by the wearing of two suits or a suit which is of an illegal construction, the official shall:
1. when reporting prior to the start of the heat, notify the competitor to make legal the swimsuit before becoming eligible to compete. If the competitor cannot comply without delaying the start of the heat, the competitor is disqualified from that event and shall not be eligible for further competition until in a legal swimsuit.
2. when the competitor has stepped up on the starting platform but prior to the starting device being activated, direct the competitor to “Step down,” disqualify the competitor from that event and he/she shall not be eligible for further competition until in a legal swimsuit;
3. when the starting device has been activated, disqualify the competitor at the completion of the heat; nullify the competitor’s performance time and he/she shall not be eligible for further competition until in a legal swimsuit.
IHSAA Rule Application
The recently issued revisions to Rule 3-3-2 regarding swimsuits which may be worn during high school contests are intended to provide fair and equitable competition. Although the new rule includes some requirements that are of a technical nature (i.e., textile material, permeability, buoyancy), the focus of the rule should be on the requirement that only one swimsuit be worn during competition and that the suit adhere to the style and shape indicated in the rule. Suits that appear to violate the technical requirements of the swimsuit should be noted and reported to the IHSAA for further consideration. Officials should use reasonable and good judgment in application of the rule. It is not intended that the officials become suit inspectors nor should they be expected to verify the legality of each competitor’s swimsuit. The referee should ask each coach during the pre-meet conference to confirm that all their competitors will compete in legal swimsuits. During the warm-ups, the officials should also advise any competitors observed to be wearing an illegal swimsuit or multiple suits that the suit(s) shall not be permitted during competition. During each race, the officials should watch for competitors wearing more than one swimsuit or in a swimsuit of illegal style or shape. When observed during the competition, the appropriate penalty as defined in the rule should be applied.
SITUATION: Following completion of the first heat of the 200 IM, with all swimmers out of the pool and the next heat waiting to be called to the starting platform, the coach of Team A approaches the referee to complain that a swimmer from Team B was wearing two suits during his/her participation in the first heat of the 200 IM. No official had observed the swimmer being in two suits. The referee lets the meet continue with no violation by the swimmer from Team B as no official observed a violation. RULING: Correct procedure.
SITUATION: As the competitors are reporting to the start of the heat/race, the referee/starter notices the competitor in lane 5 has on a drag suit over a legal swimsuit. The referee/starter informs the competitor only one suit may be worn in competition and if the drag suit can be removed without delay of the start, the competitor may swim. RULING: Correct procedure. (3-3-2 Penalty 1)
SITUATION: The swimmers have been called to and are on the starting platforms. The referee/start notices the competitor in lane 5 is wearing two suits. The starter directs the field to stand up and step off the starting platform. The starter then advises the swimmer in lane 5 that he/she is disqualified for wearing two suits in competition and shall not swim the event. The swimmer may swim in later events for which he/she is eligible when wearing a legal suit. RULING: Correct procedure. COMMENT: Following the completion of the heat/race, the coach from the disqualified swimmer’s school should be called to the table and notified of the reason for the disqualification. Only one legal, one piece suit shall be worn in competition. (3-3-2 Penalty 2)
SITUATION: The first heat of the 500-yard freestyle is a) completed and as the swimmers are exiting the pool, b) is not yet completed with the last swimmer touching the end wall, and the referee clearly notices a second set of straps extending beyond those of the swimmer’s legal suit in lane 3. The referee calls the coach of swimmer in lane 3 to the table and verifies the wearing of the second suit and whether or not there is a letter of approved customization from the state association. With no letter, the coach is instructed in a) that the swimmer is not eligible for further competition until in a legal suit and in b) the swimmer is disqualified from that event and is not eligible for further competition until in a legal suit. RULING: Correct procedures. COMMENT: Should a situation arise regarding the wearing of a second suit other than the obvious drag/trainers suit, the official should contact a member of the school’s coaching staff to verify the wearing of the second item and if there is a letter of authorization before the referee disqualifies the swimmer. (3-3-2 Penalty 3)