USA Swimming Safety Notice

USA Swimming Safety Notice to Parents 

To avoid risk of serious injury, no swimmer who has not been properly trained should attempt to 

perform a racing start, from either a starting block or the side of the pool, into less than six feet 

of water.   

USA Swimming has implemented a racing start certification program where a swimmer’s coach 

documents his or her professional judgment that a swimmer has demonstrated sufficient skill to 

safely perform a racing start into four feet of water. 

Although somewhat unusual, swimmers do not always participate in swimming competitions 

under the supervision of a certified coach. It is the parent’s responsibility to make sure the 

swimmer does not attempt to perform a racing start in less than six feet of water if the swimmer 

has not been properly certified by the swimmer’s coach to do so.