INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana, August 11. THE National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) announced today that effective immediately speedsuits are banned for high school competition. The move follows suit with FINA and the NCAA in similar actions in the past month.
Here is the complete ruling from the NFHS, which previously had intended on allowing double-suiting heading into this year:
Suits worn by swimmers shall be limited to the following requirements:
a. only one swimsuit shall be permitted in competition. (A swimmer with special needs may request customization through his/her school to the state association.)
b. the swimsuit shall be:
1. constructed of a woven/knit textile material;
2. permeable (100 percent to air and water);
3. made so as not to aid in buoyancy and shall not be altered to aid in buoyancy;
4. made with no zippers or other fastening system other than a waist tie for a brief or jammer and elastic material within the casing/ribbing in the terminal ends (straps, leg openings, and waist openings); and
5. constructed so that the style/shape of the suit for males shall not extend above the waist nor below the top of the kneecap and for females shall not extend beyond the shoulders nor below the top of the kneecap, nor cover the neck.
Penalty (For ART. 2): When an official discovers a competitor wearing an illegal swimsuit by the wearing of two suits or a suit which is of an illegal construction, the official shall:
1. when reporting prior to the start of the heat, notify the competitor to make legal the swimsuit before becoming eligible to compete. If the competitor cannot comply without delaying the start of the heat, the competitor is disqualified from that event and shall not be eligible for further competition until in a legal swimsuit;
2. when the competitor has stepped up on the starting platform but prior to the starting device being activated, direct the competitor to "Step down," disqualify the competitor from that event and he/she shall not be eligible for further competition until in a legal swimsuit;
3. when the starting device has been activated, disqualify the competitor at the completion of the heat; nullify the competitor's performance time and he/she shall not be eligible for further competition until in a legal swimsuit.
Rationale: Technical swimsuits were introduced to the world of swimming approximately two years ago. The advanced technology fundamentally altered the sport, and swimwear became more of a piece of equipment as opposed to a uniform. The rules of swimming have always prohibited the wearing or use of an item that would aid in the swimmer's speed or buoyancy. The technical suits have evolved with little or no regard for these basic rules. In order to preserve the integrity, tradition and heritage of the sport, as well as protect and enhance the interscholastic swimming program, the new requirements and restrictions on swimwear are necessary to promote the educational values of high school athletics by promoting fair play. The immediate implementation date will guarantee fairness in competition throughout the high school swimming seasons and allow the meet officials to fairly and consistently enforce the rule.
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August 11, 2009 What happen to January 1, 2010? Is USA swimming going to make an immediate ban, too? If so, a lot of people and distributors are going to eat a lot of money! No one can believe anything any governing bodies has to say….FINA, USA Swimming, NFHS…they're all a joke. Between now and December 31st, 2009 what meets will allow the use of the hi tech suits?
Submitted by: Susan B_1987
August 11, 2009 i think this is a good decision because if the suits are banned for NCAA recruiters want to see how well high school swimmers go in the suits that they can wear at college. hopefully that all governing bodies of club swimming stick to january 1, 2010 so we finally have some clarity on the issue. so to answer your question susan they are lehal for all club meets until december 31, usa swimming meets at the end of september so this may change then. Submitted by: aussieswim
August 11, 2009 To be fair NFHS either had to ban them immediately or wait until next fall because state swim seasons range from fall to spring and its not exactly fair to let a state like Florida, who swims in the fall to wear the suits but a state like California, who swims in the spring to not wear them. Submitted by: squiggles255
August 11, 2009 aussieswim, i don't completely understand. Club Meets and USA Swim meets are under the same sanction. Will the hi tech suits be allowed in the SC Nationals(Dec3-6) and / or SC Juniors(Dec10-13) or just in the local club meets?? Submitted by: Susan B_1987
August 11, 2009 I'm just interested on where the hi tech can be used prior to Dec. 31st...HS is all messed up with every state holding their championship meets nearly every month between September and next May. Submitted by: Susan B_1987
August 11, 2009 Susan,
squiggles is right that the NFHS had to act now or wait a whole year because of the timing of different seasons around the country. Currently the tech suits that were approved by FINA in July are "legal" to use in all USA meets except HS and NCAA until January 1. I would expect that will change after the September meeting of the USA Swimming House of Delegates. Legislation has been presented which would make the new suit rules effective October 1, 2009. You are correct that many folks are going to "eat a lot of money". I think the saying goes "youse pays your money and youse take your chances."
The suits might make nice Halloween costumes Submitted by: coachmark
August 12, 2009 It's great to finally see the "rationale" for the ban articulated. As far as I know, this is the first time the logic behind the rule change has been explained. I wish USA Swimming and FINA would do the same thing.
What bothers me most about these rulings is that there has been no real discussion or debate, only erratic knee-jerk reactions and a lot of hyperbole.
Hopefully, this is the beginning of a true debate of the issues. Swimming needs to get this right or it will be plagued for years to come. The rules must be based on a sound and consistent philosophy, not emotions and disinformation. Submitted by: fluidg
August 12, 2009 I disagree about the lack of debate. This issue ahs been at the forefront of meetings of the various NGB's and Coaches' Associations for more than 18 months. It is vital for concerned and interested coaches, athletes and others to become involved in the governance side of the sport where the decisions are made. Submitted by: coachmark
August 12, 2009 coachmark,
Many of the coaches I've talked to are afraid to speak up, fearing that they or their swimmers will be punished. Swimmers don't have a voice in the process either. I totally agree that it is vital for all concerned to have access to the governance process. From my perspective, it is opaque and still operating from a paternal history. Submitted by: fluidg
August 12, 2009 So glad to see the NFHS taking this stance as at the high school level the have/have not gap is even wider compared to the year round swimmers. We're done with high school, moving on to college this year, but our high school championship results last year had some fairly skewed results due to the suits. Not only that, the smell of hot, damp rubber permeated the pool deck smelling like a tire shop! Used to be the smell of chlorine that permeated hair and skin....
FYI...Watched some of the Junior Nat'l video of finals on Swim Network.com and the Jaked suit looks to be on about 40 of finalists. Kudos to Chloe Sutton for racing in a tank suit. Submitted by: chapter13
August 12, 2009 I believe there should be some recourse for compensation to those left with an unused hi tech suit. We've got one and due an injury, wasn't able to use it this summer. Following all the news releases through May, June and July from FINA, it looked like we'd get some use out of it before the January 1, 2010 deadline. I agreed with the NCAA & NFHS ruling for the season that goes into next Spring. But if USA Swimming comes back in their September meeting to ban the suits prior to January 1, 2010 it would be in conflict with the FINA ruling plus it'll leave alot of individuals and business to eat a lot of money. I know some local distributor is looking at bankruptcy. Right or wrong rather it be at home or in the business community, when a rule is made you stick by it. Submitted by: Susan B_1987
August 12, 2009 Correct me on the chronically rulings. FINA ruled at the end of May and banned the "polyurethane suits". FINA ruled at the end of June to allow the "polyurethane suits". End of July, USA Swimming pushed FINA Bureau and ruled for fabric, knee to shoulders for women and knee to hips for the men. FINA Executive Committee confirmed the ruling and January 1, 2010. Now, USA Swimming is going to change the January 1 ruling as well? Next, we'll see a class action lawsuit from the suit manufactures due to FINA and USA Swimming inability to stick by a rule. Try and use the same concept with you children....you can't go....oh, you can go....no, you can't go to the movies...hell by then the kids will think their parents (FINA & USA Swimming) are crazy.
Submitted by: Susan B_1987
August 12, 2009 I think you're confusing a few different issues here.
FINA created a suits list for 2009 in May and manufacturers were given the opportunity to challenge it. In June, FINA expanded the rules list based on additional scientific research and suit modifications. At this point, no rules had been created for 2010 onwards, only through the remainder of 2009.
In Rome in July, all 168 FINA federations voted for the return to fabric with coverage limitations from January 1, 2010 (including USA Swimming). FINA Bureau then confirmed the wishes of its members.
At this point USA Swimming (which is completely free to deviate from FINA rules for domestic competitions) has not changed the rules on suits as they currently exist. However, the FINA rulebook allows USA Swimming the right to deviate from the FINA rules which is why bringing the suit change forward is being considered at convention.
As to a class action lawsuit, I would doubt it. USA Swimming and FINA can change their rules at any time. Neither USA Swimming nor FINA told the manufacturers to make poly suits. That was their call and their risk. Submitted by:
August 12, 2009 whooo hooo - good call! Now my questions are - is there a knee skin that is legal - such as the old aqua blade as there is no "sealant" or scales etc. on it, and what about compression? Can suits provide compression?
I refused to let my swimmers buy the hi-tech suits for state competition last year. Probably would have helped us time wise in the short run - my mantra - learn to swim right and do it the inexpensive way! They are now glad I did.
Submitted by: coachnjharms
August 12, 2009 I have an FS-II jammer, and I am planning on using it in my high school state meet in Oct. I don't see why it wouldn't be legal (it hardly helps in a fast pool), but some of the comments you guys are making makes it sound like I can't use it. Anyone know? Submitted by: SwimDER94
August 12, 2009 Lets say USA Swimming bans the hi tech suits on Oct. 1......What will the USA Jr. National Team wear when they go to swim in the FINA World Cup Meets in Stckholm and Berlin in mid November? If they wear the suits they're pushing the world to swim in, the Europeans will kick their butts all over the pool because they will still be in their hi tech suits till January 1st. Or, will USA Swimming be hypocritics? Submitted by: Susan B_1987
August 12, 2009 pre 2008 suits should still be legal n the jammer format. Aquablade, FSII, FS pro. but I am not the final authority. As too what suits the US will wear in International competition this fall - I believe that would be the call of the National Team General manager/Head Caoch and the individual athletes unless they were directed otherwise by the Olympic Submitted by: coachmark
August 12, 2009 Coming on Coach Mark, USA Swimming is going to ban the suits on Oct 1 but will leave it up to the General Manager / Head Coach and athletes to determine what they swim in. If USA Swimming bans the suits prior to January 1, 2010 our USA swimmers should swim in the low tech suits at the FINA World Cup Meets this Fall. What is good for one is good for all...So what if the American swimmers get their butts kicked. Submitted by: Susan B_1987
August 13, 2009 FSII and FS Pro are not water permeable - try it. One of our bigger swim stores did just that on a newscast - the only suit that did not repel and pool water was the aquablade. So how does one find out if the suit is legal? Submitted by: coachnjharms
August 13, 2009 Susan,
I am guessing the Junior Team will NOT wear the soon to be banned suits in their competitions. The USA, Great Britain and the European nations competing in the Duel in the Pool in December have already agreed not to use the suits.
Coach Harms I am not sure the "textile" has to be water permeable. FINA will publish a list of legal suits in October. I believe the NCAA and NFHS are working on compiling a list right now. Submitted by: coachmark
August 17, 2009 For FINA competition (and by extension USA Swimming competition) all suits are to be tested starting September 1st. FINA will publish a list of approved suits at some point in late September, probably October. Anyone telling you that their model of pre-2008 tech suit is OK to use until then is being less than knowledgeable or truthful. Good luck knowing what to use when USA Swimming kicks in the new rules on October 1st. Even more luck to you as you look for the "best suit" to use by December 1st. Availability will still be an issue.
And yes, tech suits did exist before 2008, see the notes above from coaches giddy to gain access to the old ones ASAP to give their swimmers an advantage over their competitors. Submitted by: cgkkpk
August 17, 2009 As for NCAA and NFHS, their new rules state that the materials used must be "100% permeable to air and water." How on earth do you reach that goal?
Based on the comments I have heard from college coaches, the NCAA rules will be "more strict that FINA" We also know that the NFHS follows the NCAA rules, so they will likely use the same list that the NCAA provides.
Nothing in those two sentiments should lead anyone to believe that a specific model of suit, be it 3 years or 13 year old technology, will be legal for use in either level of competition. Submitted by: cgkkpk
August 23, 2009 That is great! Now we get to buy 2 swimsuits, one for high school / college and another for USA Swimming / Fina. Why not just follow Fina and help reduce the swimsuit cost. With the swimsuit manufactures producing several different suits for each set of rules, the production surely is going to increase and the cost will be passed on to the swimmers. Its sounds like "Dumb and Dumber"! I guess we can't expect a lot from a bunch of idiots.
If one wants 100 permeability, that means being naked for most parts.
Submitted by: Susan B_1987
August 26, 2009 coachnjharms
Do you have a link to the TV newscast that did the suit demonstration? I think a number of state high school athletic bodies should see that. Submitted by: prhjd
Reaction Time responses do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions
of Swimming World Magazine or SwimmingWorldMagazine.com.
Reaction Time is provided as a service to our readers.
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