Rule Changes
NFHSA Rule Changes and Points of Emphasis for 2020-2021
- Rule Changes
- Comments on the Rules
- Points of Emphasis
- Rule Interpretations
- Virtual Meets Guidelines (NISCA and NFHS):
NFHSA Rule Changes and Points of Emphasis for 2019-2020
NFHSA Rule Changes and Points of Emphasis for 2018-2019
NFHSA Rule Changes and Points of Emphasis for 2017-2018
NFHSA Rule Changes for 2016-2017
- 1-5-2, 3-6-1d: Deck changing has been defined as changing into or out of a swimsuit when wearing just one suit in an area other than a permanent or temporary locker room, bathroom, changing room or other space designated for changing purposes.
Incidents of deck changing will result in the assessment of an unsporting behavior penalty.
Rationale: High school athletes should not be changing into or out of swimsuits except in designated changing areas.
- 6-4-1b: The protocol for determining an official time when a touch pad malfunctions on a lane was changed. Backup buttons and/or watch times, as outlined in the protocol, will now determine the official time.
Rationale: Research indicates that the current practice of calculating the average difference between the automatic and backup timing systems, and adjusting the backup time in the malfunctioning lane(s) does not improve the accuracy of the final time. Utilizing backup times without adjustment results in a final time that is just as accurate and avoids an exercise which is both time-consuming and difficult to perform during a meet.
- 8-2-4c: The final leg of the individual medley and the medley relay requires the swimmer to be at or past vertical toward the breast before any stroke, kick or propulsive motion.
Rationale: This language clarifies the required body position during the final leg of the individual medley and the medley relay.
- 9-4 Table: The Flying Back 1 SS (212) and the Flying Reverse 1 SS (312) have been removed from the NFHS Diving Table, while new dive (5142) has been added.
Rationale: The added dive is an intermediate step to performing more difficult dives listed on the diving table.
- 9-5-5: The balk has been more clearly defined and should be called when a diver assumes the starting position and he/she makes an obvious attempt to start the approach or press, and stops the continuous execution of the dive prior to the water entry.
Rationale: This rule change adds clarity and consistency to the balk call, requiring a diver to actually commence, then stop the dive.
- 9-7-5q: When using the forward approach, a dive is failed if, in the diving referee’s opinion, the diver performs an additional bounce(s) on the end of the board after the culminating hurdle.
Rationale: The forward approach shall begin with not less than three steps and finish with a hurdle, defined as a jump off one foot to a landing on both feet at the end of the board. The diver should not be permitted to do an additional bounce prior to the take-off.
- 2016-17 Swimming and Diving Points of Emphasis
- The backstroke ledge is not allowed in high school competition.
- Tie back suits are considered illegal equipment given the use of a fastening system
- Photographers should be limited to areas adjacent to the starting area.
NFHSA Rule Changes for 2015-2016
- 3-3-5, 6: The prohibition of wearing jewelry has been removed from the rules for swimming and diving competition. As in previous years, the wearing of a medical alert with the alert visible continues and is encouraged for the purposes of risk minimization.
Rationale: The prohibition of jewelry is not necessary in swimming and diving. The wearing of jewelry ordinarily presents little risk of injury to either the competitor or opponents. Elimination of the rule allows officials to focus on meet administration directly related to competition. Coaches continue to have the obligation to see that competitors are properly equipped.
- 4-1-7: Requires swimming and diving officials dress in the same uniform attire as approved by the state association and no longer considers white as the default uniform.
Rationale: Due to the many variations in the officials uniform, it is more practical that the state association determine the appropriate swimming and diving uniform for officials.
- 4-3-1a, b: The starter may designate another individual to sound a device for the lead swimmer during the 500-yard/400-meter freestyle when the lead swimmer has two lengths plus 5 yards remaining in the race.
Rationale: During the 500-yard/400-meter freestyle event, the starter may have multiple tasks occurring at the same time. The starter may designate another individual to sound a device for the lead swimmer during the 500-yard/400-meter freestyle with two lengths plus 5 yards remaining to swim in the race.
- 9-6-1: The judging panel in diving may or may not include the diving referee.
Rationale: Clarifies the diving referee may be one of the judges on the panel or a separate official.
NFHSA Rule Changes for 2014-2015
- 2-7-3: Prohibits the use of a pistol/starter’s pistol as the sounding device in interscholastic swimming.
- 8-2-1e: Specifies in the backstroke event, the swimmer shall remain on or above the water surface on the finish and cannot submerge. Effective with the 2014-15 season, any part of a swimmer’s body must be on or above the water at the finish of the backstroke event. Previously, a swimmer in the backstroke could submerge on the turn and/or finish.
- 9-2-1: Divers shall be permitted at least two practice approaches, with or without water entry, immediately prior to the start of diving competition.
- 9-2-2: In championship meets, as determined by the meet director, he/she has the option in the event of diving to seed the finalists based on their semifinal score (lowest to highest) or keep the same dive order as preliminaries and semifinals.
- 9-7-2: the diving scoring scale was updated:
- Excellent- 10
- Very good- 8.5-9.5
- Good- 7-8
- Satisfactory- 5-6.5
- Deficient- 2.5-4.5
- Unsatisfactory- 0.5-2
- Failed- 0
NFHSA Rule Changes for 2011-2012
- 9-4. Diving Table: Changes the degree of difficulty for twisting dives 5126D (2.8); 5136D (3.1); 5227D (3.2). Rationale: It is appropriate for high school diving to change the degree of difficulty for these twisting dives to remain current with the technical aspects of scoring for diving.
- 9‐5‐2. A diver's forward approach may contain steps, hops, leaps and/or jumps between the initial three steps and culminating hurdle. Rationale: Supports the advancement of high school diving, and reflects the current trends in the variations of the forward approach and the athleticism of today's high school divers.
Rule Changes for 2010
Rule Changes for 2006
- 1. No dolphin kick in Breaststroke.
FINA has approved a change to the Breaststroke, allowing a dolphin kick after the start and each turn. This change is not approved for our league this year, and all coaches and swimmers are reminded that Breaststroke rules are the same as in previous years, with a dolphin kick after the start or a turn resulting in the swimmer's disqualification.
- 2. Missing an event in dual meets
A swimmer missing his/her event during a dual meet is disqualified for this event, but not for the rest of the meet.
- 3. Jewelry
Swimmers are reminded that wearing any jewelry during a race will result in disqualification. Unlike previous years, referees will notify swimmers on the blocks if they notice such jewelry (but can still disqualify a swimmer after the race even if they don't notice the jewelry before the race).
- 4. Diving announcers required
Diving scores must be announced during the diving event.
- 5. Failed dives
Two failed dives by a diver will result in the disqualification of this diver.
Rule changes for the 2006 New England Championships
- 1. No changes after the Wednesday 2pm deadline
No changes will be allowed to the heat sheet after the Wednesday 2 pm deadline, unless an appeal is formally made to the meet committee. "Deck pleas" will not be considered. Scratches on the morning of the meet will continue to be allowed.
- 2. "Fly-over" starts in preliminaries
In an effort to speed up the preliminaries session of the New England Championships, swimmers finishing their heat will be asked to stay in the water, while the next heat starts over them. This rule will not apply to the last heat of each event.
Rule Changes for 2005
- 1. Backstroke to Breaststroke turn in IM
The modified rules for the individual medley (equal lengths of butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke, and a fourth stroke other than the three previously swum - usually freestyle) require that each stroke portion is completed in the same manner as it would be if the race was concluded at that point.
In other words, at the end of the butterfly and breaststroke segments, you must touch the wall with both hands simultaneously while still on your chest.
Backstroke requires that you touch the wall with one hand while still on your back.