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Please see the letter from USA Swimming below.
September 21, 2009
To: All members of USA Swimming
From: Bruce W. Stratton, Chair, USA Swimming Rules &
Regulations Committee
Subject: Important new rules regarding
swimsuits
The purpose of this letter is to inform you of important rule
changes relating to swimsuits worn in all USA Swimming sanctioned
and approved competition, or in any observed swim. These new rules,
which are effective October 1, 2009, significantly change the types
of swimsuits which may be worn in
competition.
In
July, 2009, FINA, the international governing body for the sport of
swimming, adopted new rules effective January 1, 2010, which
specify the design and construction of swimsuits which may be used
in competition.
USA Swimming, as the national governing body for the sport of
swimming in the United States, has a long standing policy of
following rules established by FINA. Accordingly, the USA Swimming
Rules & Regulations Committee changed USA Swimming’s
rules to conform to those of FINA. However, the USA Swimming House
of Delegates subsequently passed a motion making these new swimsuit
rules effective on October 1, 2009, three months earlier than the
FINA effective date.
The new swimsuit requirements are very specific and technical
in nature, but the most obvious restrictions/rules are as
follows:
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.
Material used for swimsuits can be only textile fabric which is
defined as materials consisting of natural and/or synthetic,
individual and non-consolidated yarns used to constitute a fabric
by weaving, knitting, and/or braiding;
and
3.
No zippers or other fastening devices are allowed except for a
waist tie on a brief or jammer.
Many of the swimsuits currently being used by swimmers will no
longer be allowable under the new rules and care should be taken
when purchasing a suit to ensure it does meet the new
requirements.
If
you have any questions regarding the application of these new
rules, please feel free to contact me
(bruce@strattoncpa.com).
Sincerely,
Bruce W. Stratton
Chair, USA Swimming Rules
& Regulations Committee
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