COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado, September 24. AFTER announcing that Oct. 1 would be the effective date for a speedsuit ban during the USAS Convention recently, USA Swimming has been fielding plenty of phone calls and e-mails about the specifics of the ban.
In an effort to reach the widest possible audience to clear up any confusion, USA Swimming requested that Swimming World run the following information:
USA Swimming's Clarification of New Swimsuit Rules
We have heard your concerns and confusion over the Amendments to Rule 102.9, regarding allowable swimsuits at USA Swimming competitions. While the October 1 effective date allows us to both avoid interrupting our short course season and protects the integrity of our competitions in the summer of 2010, the abbreviated timetable has also created some challenges.
Specifically, many of our members have expressed confusion over the definition of a "textile" suit. While it would be impossible to provide a complete list of all allowable suits, we have re-worked the language below in an effort to help provide some clarity during this interim period. Please note that we expect FINA will release a comprehensive list of allowable suits in the coming months. When that list becomes available, USA Swimming will immediately make the information available.
We appreciate your patience during this interim period.
Until such time as FINA releases their list of approved suits, the following criteria should be used to determine if a suit is legal for competition:
1.Swimsuits for men may not extend above the navel or below the knee and for women may not cover the neck or extend past the shoulders or below the knee;
2.No zippers or other fastening devices are allowed except for a waist tie on a brief or jammer; and
3.Suits must be of textile material and must not be made of any rubberized type of material such as polyurethane or neoprene.
If the suit meets the above three criteria, it should be assumed to be an approved suit during this interim period. USA Swimming understands and appreciates the difficulties surrounding this issue and we are trying to do everything we can to expedite the FINA list being published. Coaches, officials and swimmers are urged to use common sense in this matter.
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September 24, 2009 So we know what suits we can wear for USA Swimming. How about high school swimming? In South Carolina, we only have nine days until independent school State Meet! Submitted by: David Rieder
September 24, 2009 By the way, this DOES confirm that FS-II is currently legal for all USA Swim competitions. (Again, not high school!) Submitted by: David Rieder
September 24, 2009 What the decision means for me is that I have double the expense. USA Swimming got this wrong plain and simple. The Short Course Open is in December so the argument about splitting the season is bogus in my eyes.
I now have to buy a new FSII or FS Pro (assuming it is legal) for December for the Open and then a new suit of some form for sectionals/LSC championships in February/March since SPEEDO and others will have something new to sell after January 1. I am kind of shocked that USA Swimming is relying on FINA to release a list of suits before the end of the year. To me that would be a major surprise.
I and most families I know are not rich enough to buy a new 'tech' suit every 'big' meet. My kids wear their 'tech' suits beyond what the manufacturer states because we can't afford to do otherwise. We bought LZR's in July for LSC championships and Zones in July, and the Open in December. I know families that bought LZR's and Blue 70's in July expecting to be able to wear them at more than one meet. Turns out that one meet they did get to wear them was an expensive meet since they can't wear them at the next 'big' meet in December. Submitted by: Joe
September 24, 2009 After doing a little online shopping, here is my general rule of thumb:
If a suit is marked on a significant discount, it is probably banned.
Example A: fs-pro legs [banned] are half-price, but fs-pro jammers [legal] are full price. Example B: tracer titan [illegal i think?] is $160 off, but tracer light jammer Submitted by: lightbulb12
September 24, 2009 Does FASTSKIN PRO have any polyurethane or neoprene?
It would be easy if they would make a simple list since USA Swimming does know what these suits are made of. Just make it Simple! Submitted by: blue.water
September 25, 2009 The parents should tell the coaches and USA Swimming to "stick it where the sun doesn't shine". Make rules and expect the parents and swimmers to know exactly what is in the swimsuits?? Suit list won't be out until the end of the year?? The new approve suits won't be readily available?? What bunch of idiots we have. Follow the FINA timeline would prevent a lot of problems. The suits our high school team order may fail the thickness test according to what "Rocket Science" posted. Submitted by: RedBone
September 25, 2009 I didn't see any report on this website about the Europeans (LEN) staying with the January 1, 2010 cut off date. USA Swimming is a joke? Use "common sense" on selecting a suit between now and January 1,2010 or when the FINA list comes out...we got meets coming next weekend and State meets right after that! "Stupid is as Stupid does"!! Submitted by: RedBone
September 25, 2009 Why would speedo try to sell illegal suits at a discount price isnt that really unethical, but I see that they are doing that and why would anyone want to buy them? As for what suits are legal USA swimming needs to make out a list by name and brand, this has really got out of hand. No one is taking responsibility and the buck is getting passed around now we cant even find the buck. Submitted by: askme10
September 25, 2009 I still don't understand the rules. You say that FS 2 is legal? What about the rubber bumps on the chest? Those are not textile. The original rules also mentioned flat and smooth, no denticles. What about the denticles on the FS 2 and the stripes on the aquablade? Submitted by: aquarius
September 29, 2009 USA Swimming came out with the "LIST". However, it sound like a bunch of "BS" since it states:
Reference List for Allowable Swimsuits Under USA Swimming Rule 102.9 (9/29/2009)
Please note, none of these suits should be considered "FINA approved" until FINA issues its list of 2010 suits.Once FINA publishes its list, some of the suits below may no longer be acceptable.
Ok, we go out and buy some more suits and in December or whenever, FINA publishes a list and we're out more money!!
Why can't USA Swimming just say the list is good till January 1, 2010? The list isn't worth "crap" without a date!
http://www.usaswimming.org/usasweb/ViewNewsArticle.aspx?TabId=3 Submitted by: blue.water
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