Comparing The USA Swimming Rules And Regulations

Swimming Rules and Regulations

USA swimming rules and regulations, FINA swimming rules and regulations and Olympic Swimming rules and regulations are all governing body’s when it comes to the sport of swimming. Trying to decipher the different affiliations, the varying rules and regulations can be just like swimming upstream. Once you think you understand the rules and the differences from each affiliation, they make wholesale changes. I have been swimming recreationally since I was very young and have also swam competitively for several years. I still struggle with different rules and which ones are the same and which are different or have recently changed. The following paragraphs will describe the following; rules and regulations,

The other organizations also have statements warning swimmers about prescription and non-prescription drugs. All three groups have lists posted of specific drugs that may not be taken. The lists are very long and inclusive and are quite similar. All three groups also have extensive education programs to educate the swimmers about the negative side effects of the performance enhancing drugs. Were the groups varied on their doping control is what they have in their handbooks, verses referring to other sources for information. The list of banned substances is larger for both the Olympics organization and the FINA rules mostly due to the scope of their organizations. They both have reference to other lists as well as the ones they have in their rule books. USA swimming does not have references to outside lists, but have a pretty comprehensive list within their rules

Although the number of groups has decreased over the years. Two large organizations that use to be affiliated with swimming that no longer do so are AAU and USSSA. With less groups, the rules have been become more uniform. There are still some differences but work on unifying the rules has improved the sport for the better. When the fan watches swim meets today they see more uniform rules which make the sport more pleasurable for the casual fan. Even though there are still many specific rules that apply to swimming and the varied strokes, there is now more uniformity. With three different organizations, the list of events offered through their sanctioned meets also can vary. USA Swimming rules and sanctioned meets have more events because of age differences. With FINA and Olympic meets they have the same list of events in all their sponsored meets. USA Swimming includes the following events, all in meters, in their sanctioned meets: 50, 100, 200, 400/500 freestyle; 100, 200 backstrokes; 100, 200 breaststrokes; 100, 200 butterflies; 200, 400 IM; 400 medley