World Aquatics released its newest competition regulations update, the first since the world governing body was renamed (formerly FINA).
Most of the 417-page report on the World Aquatics site is the formality of renewing current rules and guidelines. But there were three differences.
The first has to do with the age of junior swimmers.
14.1 World Aquatics Junior Swimming Championships Age groups shall be between 14-18 years, as of 31st December in the year of competition, for both Boys and Girls.
This changes the previous age guideline for competition. For example, at the 2019 World Junior Championships, Hungary’s Vivien Jackl was a finalist at age 13 in the 1500 meters and 200 butterfly.
Under the new rules, she would not be eligible to compete.
The new rules are most likely in place to not put too much stress on the bodies of young swimmers, but it makes for a tough break for the handful fast enough to make world juniors.
The second updated guideline of note is involving injuries and medical tape used to assist an injury. It is part of the rules on aided devices. “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.”
The full rule is here:
15.2 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.
The third rule is an explanation of how and when swimmers must break the surface of the water.
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.
Read the full competition regulations here.
You missed the most important one: new backstroke rules finish. 6.3
Now a swimmer can complete submerged on the last 5 meters.
Replace:
“passed the 5 metres mark immediately prior to reaching for the finish,”
with:
*reached 5 meters from the wall,*
The resemerging at the 5 m Mark prior to the Finish means that they only have to be above the surface of the water for 5 m which is basically one stroke. I would have much rather them address the backstroke turns where a delay initiating the turn and a non-continuous turn after the pole is to no advantage of the swimmer performing it. But swimming backstroke for 20 m in a 25 M Pool is definitely an advantage. And for that person that is responsible for writing down the order of a finish for eight Lanes of submerged backstrokers is going to be somewhat difficult.
It is worth noting that rule 6.3 relates to backstroke swimming only.