Safety Rules for Olympic Swimming

Watching an Olympic swim competition on television doesn't show the behind the scenes activity that is going on at the venue. While it appears that the meet is only about the eight swimmers, the officials and spectators at the pool, there is much more going on at the same time. The safety of the swimmers, officials and spectators is paramount at a meet and there are safety rules in place to ensure that everyone is able to complete their tasks and compete.

  1. Venue policies and pool access

    • Each venue has its own safety policies.

      For Olympic competition the designated venue has its own safety rules in place prior to the meet. The facility will issue a statement regarding safety rules that must be followed by all participants. These rules generally concern how many people are in the pool at one time, how many people are on deck, who is allowed to be on deck, and what the emergency action plan is as well. Access to the pool deck is very limited during a swimming competition. Only officials and swimmers who are swimming at that time are allowed on the pool deck. The less people out on deck, the better. During Olympic competition pool access is so restricted that each person must have identification of some sort to be allowed out on deck..

    Coaches, spectators and officials

    • Coaches may have limited access to the pool deck, but often, must produce proof of compliance as far as CPR/AED certification, First Aid Training and Coaches Safety certification. Coaches are generally not allowed to coach athletes from the deck during a competition, but must be off the deck and into a designated area.
      Spectators are never allowed on deck, and are restricted to watching the swim meet from the stands.
      Officials are on deck, and must be careful during the meet. The floor is wet and slippery, there are obstacles such as starting blocks, cords and wires on the ground, loud distracting noises. Officials need to be very aware of their surroundings during a meet to remain safe and able to do their assignments.

    Lifeguards

    • Lifeguard is on duty

      They are not noticeable, but lifeguards will be on duty during an Olympic swimming competition. While the swimmers are highly trained and competent in the water, a medical emergency can still occur with a swimmer or official. Professional lifeguards are especially important for diving competitions as the diving area is one of the more dangerous areas on the pool deck. Having lifeguards on duty during swimming competitions is generallly a requirement of the venue.

    Safety Announcements

    • The meet managers should have many safety announcements during the meet. General announcements such as asking everyone to be safe are always appropriate. Announcing how and where warm ups will be held, where the athletic trainers are located, and to be cautious on deck, and around the television cameras are advisable as well.
      The meet management should also conduct a walk through prior to the meet to ensure that the entire facility is up to safety standards.