Updates to the 2024 Swimming Canada Rule Book

Swimming Canada Rules & Forms

January 28, 2025

The lates January 28, 2025 Swimming Canada rule book is posted HERE

• Changes pertain to Swimwear at non-provincial level meets and Open Water rule changes

For all the latest rule book changes visit - https://www.swimming.ca/swimming-canada-rules/

November 8, 2024

The lates October 30, 2024 Swimming Canada rule book is posted HERE

Lastest Changes

DEFINITIONS

Addition of: TIMING SYSTEMS and TIMING SYSTEM SELECTION

PART I

7.1 …Athletes’ Swimwear shall be non-transparent, in good moral taste and suitable for the individual Aquatics…

13.1.2 (e) within 30 minutes following the conclusion of the respective Swimming or Open Water Swimming event, Water Polo match or Diving, High Diving or Artistic Swimming session from which the protest is being lodged.

If conditions causing a potential protest are noted prior to the event, a protest must be lodged before the respective match or session begins.

13.1.3 All protests shall be considered by the Referee. If the Referee rejects the protest, the Referee must state the reasons for her/his decision. The Team Leader may appeal the rejection to the Jury of Appeal within one (1) hour from the moment when the decision has been communicated. The decision taken by the Jury of Appeal shall be final. Removed( In Olympic Games and World Aquatics Championships, the Commission in each discipline shall consider the protest and give recommendations to the Jury of Appeal.)

13.1.4 If the protest is rejected by the Jury of Appeal, the deposit will be forfeited to the management body of the competition. If the protest is upheld, the deposit will be returned.

PART II

C1.2.1 For each session there should be a minimum of the following certified officials:

Chief Recorder (formerly Chief Finish Judge) - name change

C2.11.2 If the requirements of C2.18.1 are not met, a CJE cannot be used and the Chief Recorder shall be used to assign times to a swim.

The Chief Recorder (CR) shall:

C2.11.2.1 Use data from primary, secondary or tertiary timing systems to assign the official time.

C2.11.2.2  Use order of finish data from other judges/officials to the extent needed to determine the official time for each swimmer.

C2.11.2.3  Ensure that disqualifications and “no shows” are accurately reported in the results.

C3.5.2 (removed - Individual freestyle events of 800m or longer may be conducted with more than one swimmer per lane and must be so designated in the Meet Information Package.) Two (2) per lane swimming is not permitted in any competitions in Canada.

C3.6.2            Class Two Sanctioned Time Trial

Removed - iii. Individual freestyle events of 800m or longer may be conducted with more than one swimmer per lane;

PART III

1.3 and 1.5: rules regarding knockout sprints

5.15     No objects can be thrown from the feeding platform to the competitors, including sustenance. The competitors shall receive their feeding in biodegradable containers directly from their representative by a feeding pole or by hand.

5.18.1.1 Where a competitor/s has completed the race prior to abandonment, the final ranking will be as reported by the Chief Referee having regard to those competitor(s) who have already finished.

PART VIII

2.1       The Members shall register Masters Competitors in a special category for each of the five recognised sports (removed disciplines.)

C3.3.5.1           Two (2) per lane swimming is not permitted in any competitions in Canada.

C3.5.0 Canadian Records    … Swimmers must be affiliated with Swimming Canada through their PSO or a Swimming Canada Swim Club and must represent their Canadian club to be eligible for a Canadian Record…

APPENDIX A

SNC 2.1.2        Where a Swimming Canada National Competition offers Qualifying Benefits, should a swimmer meet the criteria to add an event as a qualifying benefit and has not posted a time within the qualification window, they must be entered as “NT”.

SNC 3.4.1      … and unexcused incomplete swims for (removed -preliminaries), timed finals, and finals…

August 17, 2024

Please note that Swimming Canada has a new website - many of the links below are broken....

The new link for the Swimming Canada Rules is https://www.swimming.ca/rules-and-forms/

March 19 update

• For those wishing to print the smaller version please know that Swimming Canada anticipates another updated Canadian rule book this fall.

March 7 update

• The digital version of the Canadian Rulebook (revised edition January 1, 2024) has been completed and uploaded on the Swimming Canada website
• A 4x6 printable version is also available

July 31 update

The digital version of the 2023 Canadian Rulebook has been completed and uploaded on the Swimming Canada website

• The completed WPS and OWS rules are included in the rulebook and are published separately on the website.
• The Masters Rules will be added in Appendix D when they are updated.
• Facility Rules have also been updated and are located on the website here.
• The smaller, printable version of rulebook will be available in August.

Read the latest update from Swimming Canada HERE

A reminder that World Aquatics Regulations can be found HERE

Swim Ontario message

There are several documents that will require extensive review of the new numbering system. These will be updated in the coming weeks in preparation for the 2023-24 season.

Many of the updates below have incorrect numbering.

June 20 update

UPCOMING UPDATE TO CANADIAN SWIMWEAR RULES

(excerpt from Spring National Official Bulletin)

Swimming Canada is committed to supporting a culture of equity, diversity and inclusion in the delivery of its programs. In order to ensure the competition environment is an inclusive environment, the following is expected from all participants regarding swimwear:

• All swimmers are permitted to race with the swimwear of their choosing at all levels of competition except Swimming Canada national competitions. Note: individual provinces may have their own restrictions on swimwear so please contact your PSO for this information.
• Swimmers are not required to provide a reason for their choice of swimwear if the fabric of the swimwear is a permeable open mesh textile and would not reasonably be seen to create a technical advantage in terms of speed, buoyancy, or endurance.
• Coaches, swimmers, or parents are not required to notify the referee, meet manager or any other official regarding a swimmer’s choice of swimwear.

Referee briefings: Officials and volunteers (timers, turn judges or marshalling, etc.) will ask swimmers for their name to confirm they are in the correct event/heat/lane. It is not the role of the officials and volunteers to question a swimmer about their swimwear. The next release of the Canadian Rulebook will contain the following updated swimwear rules:

• C15.1.1 A swimmer shall wear only one swimsuit at a Swimming Canada national competition, and shall observe all World Aquatics regulations related to swimwear as stated in the World Aquatics By-Laws and Competition Regulations.
• C15.1.2 In all other sanctioned age group swimming events, swimwear is exempt from compliance with the II.15 Swimwear and Wearables rules if the fabric of the swimwear is a permeable open mesh textile and would not reasonably be seen to create a technical advantage. Such swimwear includes a) a swimsuit that covers more of the body, or b) the use of a separate garment worn over or under a regular swimsuit.

Swim Ontario message regarding swimwear

We ask Competition Coordinators, Session Referees and Meet Managers to begin to apply this new rule for upcoming meets. In particular, session referees are to update their general briefings to officials and volunteers.

The requirement to ask for exemption for swimwear is now removed. You may update your meet packages as follows until we have official statements from Swimming Canada for meet packages. Note that the link to the old GR5 rule is disabled.

COMPETITION RULES:

All current Swimming Canada rules will be followed.

All swimmers participating in provincially sanctioned meets with the exception of National meets, are exempt from the World Aquatics regulations related to swimwear provided the fabric of the swimwear is a permeable open mesh textile and would not reasonably be seen to create a technical advantage. Such swimwear includes a) a swimsuit that covers more of the body, or b) the use of a separate garment worn over or under a regular swimsuit.

March 8 update

Some additional rule changes have been published by World Aquatics and received by Aquatics Canada on March 3.

Officials can find all the details regarding the rule updates in the Swimming Canada Official Bulletin - March 2023 update.

Of note are two changes to the Backstroke SW 6.3 and Swimwear and Wearables changed from SW 10.9 to SW 15.2. Both have now added new wording. Swimming Canada will be updating their rules based on these changes.

• SW 6.3 Some part of the swimmer must break the surface of the water throughout the race, except that once some part of the head of the swimmer has passed the 5 metres mark immediately prior to reaching for the finish, the swimmer may be completely submerged. It is also permissible for the swimmer to be completely submerged during the turn, and for a distance of not more than 15 metres after the start and each turn. By that point the head must have broken the surface.

Swim Ontario will be updating the DQ Wording Reference Card based on the above information.

• SW 15.2 (previously SW10.9) No swimmer shall be permitted to use or wear any device or swimsuit that may aid his/her speed, buoyancy or endurance during a competition (such as webbed gloves, flippers, fins, power bands, or adhesive substances, etc.). The use of technology and automated data collection devices is permissible for the sole purpose of collecting data. Automated devices shall not be utilised to transmit data, sounds, or signals to the swimmer and may not be used to aid their speed. Goggles may be worn. As a consequence of injury, it is permissible to tape not more than one or two fingers or toes. Any other kind of tape on the body is not permitted unless approved by World Aquatics.

Swim Ontario would like to remind everyone that Swimming Canada added a CSW rule to the above, permitting taping at all sanctioned age-group events and that Referees and competition coordinators who observe abuses of this CSW rule or disqualify an athlete under SW15.2 MUST submit a written report to Swim Ontario (offiicals@swimontario.com) for further investigation and follow up with Swimming Canada. Consequently, the preferred approach at this time is to observe and report.

February 23 update

Swim Ontario and the SOOC have received many questions following the Feb 14 update to CSW10.9.1 rule change.

Please see below the interpretation and application

Interpretation and application of SW10.9/CSW 10.9.1

Swimming Canada added CSW 10.9.1 as part of the 2023-2025 rule book updates and states:

• CSW 10.9.1 In all sanctioned age group swimming events, taping is permitted. Approval may be required for taping at championship events, and the process for this approval shall be stated in the meet information package

The rule should be interpreted within the full context of SW 10.9

• SW 10.9 No swimmer shall be permitted to use or wear any device or swimsuit that may aid his/her speed, buoyancy or endurance during a competition (such as webbed gloves, flippers, fins, power bands, or adhesive substances, etc.). The use of technology and automated data collection devices is permissible for the sole purpose of collecting data. Automated devices shall not be utilised to transmit data, sounds, or signals to the swimmer and may not be used to aid their speed. Goggles may be worn. Any kind of tape on the body is not permitted unless approved by World Aquatics Sport Medicine Committee.

Interpretation

The World Aquatics SW10.9 rule is not meant to address athlete safety but denying any potential performance enhancement by assistive devices including taping. CSW10.9.1 is an augmentative rule for Canadian age-group swimming.

Swimming Canada has determined, through its advisors, that taping provides little, if any, performance enhancement for age-group swimming but it does support the safety and well-being of athletes.

The permission granted by CSW10.9.1 does not override the principles within SW10.9. Specifically, the use of tape to form a paddle by binding multiple digits would still constitute a violation of SW10.9. For further clarity, supportive buddy taping (two digits taped together) is acceptable under CSW 10.9.1.

Abuses of CSW 10.9.1 / Disqualifications under SW10.9

Referees and competition coordinators who observe abuses of CSW10.9.1 or disqualify an athlete under SW10.9 MUST submit a written report to Swim Ontario (offiicals@swimontario.com) for further investigation and follow up with Swimming Canada. For greater certainty, Swim Ontario has methods to deal with abuses of CSW 10.9.1.

Consequently, the preferred approach at this time is to observe and report.

February 14 update

On February 13, Swimming Canada updated their PART II: Swimming Rules section to amend, in part, their rules on taping at competitions.

The CSW rule changes are as follows

• CSW 10.9.1 In all sanctioned age group swimming events, taping is permitted. Approval may be required for taping at championship events, and the process for this approval shall be stated in the meet information package.
• CSW 10.9.2 At a Swimming Canada national competition, a committee shall be created to review and approve taping requests.

Until further notice, all age group swimming events, including all upcoming Swim Ontario provincial events, regional championships, etc will allow for taping.

Please disregard any previous versions of the CSW rules pertaining to SW 10.9.

• We ask that Competition Coordinators ensure the session referees are briefed on this new rule for their general briefings.
• We ask that Meet Managers amend their meet packages accordingly and send them to nicole@swimontario.com for approval.

Swim Ontario (PS or Provincial Section) will review in detail all rule changes as it pertains to the province and will inform this group of any amendments as per

• CGR 1.1.1.2 All meets shall be conducted under FINA rules and regulations supplemented only by Swimming Canada or PS approved and published rules and regulations.
• CGR 1.1.1.3 Provincial Sections shall sanction all meets and time trials held within their jurisdiction. The PS may make special rules and regulations for age group and senior events.

Lastly, the Winter 2023 National Official Bulletin is posted on the Swimming Canada HERE which references this rule update as well as other topics.

February 1 update

Correction to DQ Wording Reference Card

The reference card was updated with a change to backtroke start as well as cleaned up. Our apologies, the version published January 24 was a working copy. The link remains the same.

• Swim Ontario Infraction reference Card (DQ Wording)

Swimming Canada posted a new PART II: Swimming Rules section of the 2018 Rule Book on January 20, 2023 to reflect changes made in the new World Aquatics Rules. Along with the new PART II section is an executive summary of the rules changes.

PART II: SWIMMING RULES 2023-2025

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF RULE CHANGES 20/01/2023 (note that the CSW rules pertaining to SW rule have changed)

We are working on updating our reference card for infractions. The Disqualification Form (January 2023) on the Swimming Canada Competition Forms has also been updated.

Please note: The World Aquatics Rules and this new PART II: Swimming Canada Rules is not available in book format.