Rules for Swimming From the National Association of High School Sports

As with any sport, high school swimming works best for the competitors when clear rules and guidelines are set forth. The rules are designed to maintain safety, balance and fairness within the realm of competition. In swimming, like many sports, technology, equipment and apparel design are frequently changing the parameters of competition for participants. The rules set by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS), the national governing body for high school sports, strive to maintain fairness.

  1. One-Piece Swimsuit Rule

    • This rule, listed as 3-3-1 in the NFHS swimming rule book, was revised as of 2009 to mandate that one-piece swimsuits be worn in competition. Two-piece swimsuits are no longer allowed. The rule does not prohibit swimmers from wearing multiple one-piece swimsuits throughout the duration of a competition.

    Backstroke Start

    • Backstroke swimmers as of 2009 are allowed to place their feet on the wall without having to keep their feet under water, as long as their feet and toes are not above the edge or gutter of the pool. Backstroke swimmers previously had to keep their feet completely submerged until the start of the race. According to the NFHS, this change will help make the start of the race more consistent and reduce the risk of injury to swimmers.

    Rule Prohibiting Use of Pistol with Live Ammunition

    • This rule, known as 4-3-1b, prohibits the use of live ammunition in a starting pistol for a race, as it is inappropriate to use such a device at an educational event since firearms are not allowed on school grounds.

    High-Tech Swimsuits Banned

    • All high-tech swimsuits are banned from competitive high school swimming as of 2009. These suits, made of state of the art materials and proven to enhance performance, were deemed to create a disparity in competition because not all students could afford the high cost. The NFHS made the change because the suits "had fundamentally altered the sport and become more similar to equipment, rather than a uniform."