If you are a competitive swimmer or a swimmer participating in competitions for the first time, there are some things you should keep in mind. Other than swimming fast, you have to swim according to the rules.

Swimming is a strict sport and you have to abide by the rules, or face disqualification. Unlike other sports, swimming does not have a warning system in place. Once you make a foul move, you are disqualified from the race. 

Not following the rules and regulations during competitive swimming meets can be devastating, especially when you have worked very hard for a competition.

So, here are some things you should look out for when you swim professionally. Make sure you do not make these mistakes while swimming your race, as they can completely change the outcome of your competition. 

Below are all of the ways you can become disqualified while swimming.

Dive for swimming strokes

Unless otherwise the stroke is mentioned, the rule applies to all strokes, freeestyle, backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly.

Remember the start, Flip and finish matter a lot in a swim contest and most of the disqualifications of swimmers happen at these points.

Pull backwards

These points only apply to butterfly and freestyle starts. 

When you dive, you must not pull back before launching yourself into the water. Most swimmers have the tendency to pull themselves back before launching into the water. However, this was very recently outlawed by FINA. It was allowed before, but no longer. Now, you must keep still as the time-keeper says “take your mark”

Early start

The most common mistake swimmers make is an early start. You will never become disqualified for a late start, but an early start will have you immediately removed. Do not mess up your race before it even begins. A common mistake swimmers make is to leave the block as the time-keeper says “go.” This is not allowed. You can only leave the block after the timekeeper says GO

Underwater kick

After you enter the water, many swimmers like to do underwater. This is good, because underwater is very fast and can give you a good head start. However, you cannot do underwater for more than 10m. If you do an underwater butterfly kick for any longer than 10m, you will be disqualified immediately. 

For your breaststroke start, you have the same dive, but different underwater. You must complete only one butterfly kick. If you do any more than one butterfly kick you will be disqualified.

Most importantly, you must ensure that you break out before the 10m mark. Although there is no way to know if you have completed 10m, practice with your coach to know where the marking is. 

Leg position for dive

Start with one leg in front and one leg back. Although starting with both legs in front would not get you disqualified, some competitions require you to start this way. It is also better for the dive, so make sure you stay on the safe side. 

Arm pull underwater

For the underwater, you must complete the FINA regulated long arm pull. You can watch the video of the breaststroke long-arm pull here.

Backstroke Dive

For the backstroke dive, you have to start from the inside of the water. There is no other acceptable start. You must start with both legs on the wall, and both hands holding the starting block.

For backstroke swimming underwater, you can only do underwater back-dolphin kick. You are not allowed to do any other dolphin kick. You must begin with an underwater back-dolphin kick. Do not flip onto your stomach or you will be disqualified. 

Again, you can only break out at 10m. 

Flip turns

Flip turns vary a lot depending on the stroke. You must be careful of how you touch the wall with your hands and your legs.

Freestyle flip turn

While doing the freestyle flip turn, you have to do the actual flip turn. You cannot touch and turn, this is not allowed in regulated competitions.

During the flip turn, you cannot touch the wall with your hand. The only part that can touch the wall is your feet. Both your feet have to land on the wall, and you must push off with both feet on the wall at the same time.

Again, you can only do 10m of underwater dolphin kick once you push off the wall. 

Breaststroke flip turn

For the breaststroke flip turn, you have to touch the wall with both hands and push off with both legs. Touching with both hands is the most important. Once you touch you have to push off horizontally, with your side parallel to the water.

Do not turn onto your stomach during the push-off. Only once you begin the long-arm pull can you shift to your stomach. You can do the long arm pull for only 10m, and you are allowed only one butterfly kick during this push-off. 

Butterfly flip turn

For the butterfly flip turn, you have to touch the wall with both hands and push off with both legs. Make sure you touch with both hands. Like in breaststroke, you have to push off on your side, rather than on your stomach. You must begin dolphin kick for 10m only, rolling onto your stomach during the kick. 

Backstroke flip turn

For the backstroke flip turn, you must first flip onto your stomach before flipping. When you turn onto your stomach, you are allowed only one freestyle arm action before flipping. When you flip, you must only touch the wall with both feet at the same time. Push off on your back and begin underwater dolphin kick for 10m. 

IM flip turns

For the IM flip turns, the turns are very different. However, a general rule of thumb is to touch the wall and turn. This is the only time you can touch and turn, and it is during the stroke changes in between laps in the IM. 

Finish

Freestyle Finish

For the freestyle finish, finish with only one hand. You are allowed to do a single butterfly kick to get you closer to the wall, but only one. 

Breaststroke and butterfly finish

For the breaststroke and butterfly finish, you must finish with both hands on the wall. This is very very important. 

Backstroke Finish

For the backstroke finish, you must finish on your back, with one hand touching the wall. Do not turn onto your stomach at all. You are allowed to do one back-dolphin kick like in freestyle to get you closer to the wall. 

For all the finishes, make sure you do not grab the ledge. You can only touch the wall. Do not reach up and grab onto the ledge, because you will be disqualified and your time will not be taken. Always touch the wall before touching the ledge, especially if you are swimming with a touchpad. 

General advice

Do not swim another stroke during the race. I have made this mistake many times, where I have forgotten what stroke I was swimming for the race, and started doing a different stroke.

Do not touch the bottom of the pool or stop. If you touch the bottom of the pool, it is counted as a stop, and you will be disqualified. If you do have to stop for some reason, make sure your feet do not touch the bottom of the pool. 

Do not touch another swimmer, even by mistake. Stay in your lane and do not stray to the edges of the lane where you might hit another swimmer. 

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