United States Masters Swimming Allowing Techsuits in Short Course Yards Competition Through May 31

PHOENIX, Arizona, January 20. UNITED States Masters Swimming voted on Tuesday to allow full-body high-tech suits through June 1 for short course yards competitions, but has ruled that all races in short course meters and long course meters must conform to the new FINA regulations immediately.

The USMS Executive and Rules committees met to discuss how to implement the new FINA ruling that put Masters swimming worldwide under the same swimsuit guidelines as elite swimming, which restricts coverage and permits only textile materials. The new ruling follows the same guidelines as other swimming federations, except that Masters swimmers will be allowed to race in high-tech suits through the remainder of the short course yards season, which runs through May 31.

The United States is the only country in the world to officially recognize swims in short course yards. USMS will hold its annual short course yards championships May 20-23 in Atlanta.

FINA voted for the new swimsuit regulations at its Bureau meeting last weekend. FINA'S rule is retroactive to Jan. 1, 2010.

Below is the information regarding the new swimsuit rules from USMS (text in bold reflects rule changes):

Due to the change in Masters swimwear rules published by FINA January 16, 2010, and pursuant to Article 601.4.8, the USMS Rules Committee and the USMS Executive Committee have approved the following emergency changes to the USMS swimwear rules. These changes are effective immediately for short course meters and long course meters competition. The changes are effective June 1, 2010 for short course yards competition. Note that the new swimwear rules no longer allow modesty/privacy wear underneath the competition suit nor zippers or fasteners of any kind except for a waist tie on a brief or jammer. The new swimwear rules will not govern the One Hour Swim being conducted January 2010.

102.14 SWIMWEAR
102.14.1 Design—The swimsuits worn for competition shall be nontransparent and conform to the current concept of the appropriate. The referee shall have authority to bar offenders from competition until they comply with this rule.
102.14.2 Swimwear shall include only a swimsuit, cap and goggles (a nose clip and ear plugs are allowed). Arm bands or leg bands shall not be regarded as parts of the swimsuit and are not allowed.
102.14.3 In swimming competitions, the competitor must wear only one swimsuit in one or two pieces. All swimsuits shall be made from textile materials. Except for open water competitions, for men, the swimsuit shall not extend above the navel nor below the knees, and for women, shall not cover the neck, extend past the shoulder, nor extend below the knees.
102.14.4 Only swimsuits complying with FINA swimsuit specifications may be worn in any US Masters Swimming sanctioned or recognized competition.
102.14.5 Exemptions to the foregoing restrictions may be granted to a swimmer, on a case by case basis, by the Chair of the Rules Committee or designee. Exemptions will be granted only for conflicts due to the swimmer's verified religious beliefs or verified medical conditions.
A Procedures for applying for an exemption will be established by the Rules Committee and posted on the US Masters Swimming website.
B No exemption to these restrictions will be granted for a swimsuit that will give the swimmer a competitive advantage.
C The decision of the Rules Chair may be appealed only to the entire Rules Committee whose decision shall be final and binding on all parties.

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