4 Hour Rule
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July 19, 2014 |
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September 14, 2013
To: General Chairs Age
Group Chairs
USA Swimming Officials
Senior Chairs
Board of Directors, USA Swimming
Technical Planning Chairs
Sanction Chairs
Coaches
From: Daniel W. McAllen III, Chair, Rules &
Regulations Committee
Re: Interpretation of USA
Swimming Article 205.3.1F (4 hour rule)
Rule 205.3.1F, commonly referred to as the four hour rule, was
adopted by the USA Swimming House of Delegates in 1989 to ensure
that swimming would be competitive with other youth sports, namely
baseball and soccer, insofar as time commitment for both athletes
and parents was concerned. Clearly, it was not in the best interest
of our sport for developmental athletes to be at a pool all day or
for the entire weekend to the exclusion of other family interests,
particularly when other athletic activities could be completed in a
far more reasonable time. With that by way of background, it has
come to my attention that rule 205.3.1F is being improperly
interpreted and enforced in some LSCs. Therefore, I am issuing the
following interpretations:
Meets must be planned such that events for
12&Unders can reasonably be concluded within four (4) hours.
Sessions that exceed four hours are not in violation of the rule if
properly planned.
The rule does NOT apply to Open events even if swimmers 12 years of
age or younger are entered.
Measurement of the time duration applicable to this rule begins
with the published meet start time of a session that offers 12U
events and ends with the conclusion of the last 12U event of the
day for the same gender.
Under NO circumstances may a meet or meet session be terminated
before all individual events have been concluded as a means of
complying with the rule. Relays may be eliminated only if the meet
announcement clearly states the conditions under which relays will
be eliminated and whether relay entry fees will be refunded.
Events that are scored multi-age are impacted by the rule if the
multi-age scoring involves 12U designations, such as 11-12, 10U,
12U, etc.
Some suggested planning tools that facilitate compliance
include:
Should you have any questions regarding the above, please contact
me.
Daniel W. McAllen III, Chair, USA Swimming Rules & Regulations
Committee
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