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Rule Differences - Original
Current Rule Differences -Updated 11/28/11
Pool Depth Comparison -updated 11/28/11

FINA | NCAA | NFHS | USA Swimming
YMCA | USMS | US Paralympics

FINA

FINA can change rules once every four years at the Technical Congress held in conjunction with the World Championships. An Extraordinary Congress can be called for if needed, but, in general, each four years any of the 180 FINA member countries can propose changes. The Technical Committee (18 people) reviews the suggestions, recommends FOR or AGAINST, or EDIT/CHANGE the proposals. These recommendations then go to the FINA Bureau (23 people). They recommend FOR or AGAINST and finally, the proposals go before a Congress for a final vote. Each country has one vote so the USA’s vote is no more or less important than, say, Senegal or Thailand.

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NCAA

Beginning in 2009 the NCAA has gone to a two-year rulebook, with the book being published on odd years (next book Summer 2011). While rule changes can be made on non-rulebook publishing years, they must be deemed absolutely necessary for the “good of the sport.” Any interested party that is part of collegiate swimming (coach, official or administrator) may submit potential rule changes for consideration to the NCAA Swimming & Diving Secretary Rules-Editor for inclusion on the Swimming & Diving rules survey that is circulated to Head Swimming Coaches, Diving Coaches, Athletic Administrators (AD’s and SWA’s) and Conference Commissioners to vote upon. Rule proposals are discussed at the annual CSCAA meetings with coaches allowed to offer input to members of the committee that may be in attendance for their consideration. The NCAA Swimming & Diving Committee has the final determination on any rulebook proposals at their annual summer meeting in July.
The NCAA continues to try and have their rulebook reflect the rules of other organizations (FINA, USA Swimming) wherever feasible and practical. The majority of the playing rules continue to be similar with the exception remaining commands prior to a race and the protocol regarding false starts. The NCAA coaching community continues to vote overwhelmingly against changing these rules and the committee has found no reason to go against a strong mandate from the collegiate coaching community.

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NFHS

The NFHS provides rules for the conduct of high school sports. Each state may conduct their competition after adopting these rules in whole, in part or under some other set of rules.

The NFHS editor contacts state association staff during the sport season to review issues and solicit agenda items. The NFHS editor then prepares a questionnaire and distributes to state association designated coaches, officials, and staff.  NFHS staff provides state association staff with progress report on questionnaire return from state. NFHS staff formally sends requests for suggested rules changes to state associations and rules committee members. NFHS editor determines the preliminary rules committee agenda with the rules committee chair and distributes it to the state associations and rules committee members. Rules committee members contact state rules interpreters in respective sections to discuss the agenda. State association staff contacts respective section rules committee members or NFHS editor to provide feedback on the agenda. NFHS editor prepares final agenda and mails to rules committee members and state associations. Rules committee meets and acts on agenda items. NFHS editor presents all proposed rules changes to the NFHS Rules Review Committee. NFHS Rules Review Committee submits rules changes with any comments or recommendations to the NFHS Board of Directors. NFHS Board of Directors has seven calendar days to evaluate changes. If there are no concerns expressed within the seven day period, the changes are approved. If a concern is raised by a board member, the NFHS Board of Directors shall schedule a meeting in person or by conference call to discuss the proposed changes. The NFHS Board of Directors shall take action to approve the proposed changes or send the issue back to the rules committee for additional consideration. Approved rules changes will become effective with the next school year, unless otherwise specifically stated. Approved rules changes shall be released to state association offices followed by a news release and/or posting on the NFHS website. NFHS editor begins work on rule publications.

Experimentation can be done in the NFHS system. A state association may write a proposal to try a new rule for a year. They provide an evaluation at the end of the year. Many rules have been adopted because of this method.

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USA Swimming

USA Swimming is required by its Bylaws to follow FINA technical rules. Any member of the House of Delegates can submit proposed changes by May 15. (Those proposals only need a 50% vote to pass.) Submissions after May 15 need a 90% to pass. The proposals go to the Rules Committee who meets in June and makes an initial recommendation of “approve”, “not approve” or “no recommendation”. The Committee meets again at the Convention, reviews their initial recommendations and then makes a final recommendation to the House of Delegates. All proposals go to the House of Delegates at convention for final action.

Except for changes to Part One of the Rule Book, which contain the technical rules, all changes are effective as of the January 1st following the convention. Any changes to Part One are effective on the May 15th following the convention. Any changes that are a result of changes from FINA are effective as of the FINA effective date..

There is no formal procedure for innovation. On occasion, an LSC (Local Swimming Committee) will experiment with a new rule. The entire LSC must adopt the change and report back after one year of experimentation.

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YMCA

The YMCA does not have its own rule book. They have used the NCAA rule book in the past. In September of 2005 the YMCA voted to adopt the technical rules of USA Swimming, effective September 2006.

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USMS

United States Masters Swimming follows USA Swimming and FINA rules with a few exceptions. Changes to the rules of competition are considered on a routine basis during even numbered years. (Regulations dealing with the administration of USMS are considered during odd numbered years.) Proposed changes to the rules must come from and be approved by either a Local Masters Swim Committee (LMSC) or a standing USMS committee. The Rules Committee may amend the proposals and then will recommend to the House of Delegates (HOD) that they be accepted or rejected. A proposal recommended for approval requires a favorable vote from the majority of the HOD while those recommended for rejection requires a vote to accept the proposed change from two-thirds of the HOD. In odd-numbered years, emergency proposals may be accepted by the rules committee which, if forwarded to the HOD, requires a 90% vote in favor of acceptance for the proposal to be accepted.

If USA Swimming or FINA adopts a change in their technical rules, USMS automatically follows these changes unless the HOD votes specifically to not do so.

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Page last updated: December 13, 2011