rules at a swimming pool

rules at a swimming pool

I will begin by discussing the rules you should find at a swimming pool and explain why they are important. I will then go on to explain some of the rules used in competitive swimming.

pool rules

Pool rules are important because they help keep everyone safe. Below are some of the most common pool rules and the reasons why pools have them in place. Some pools may have more or fewer rules than these, but the ones listed below are usually the most important for safety.

1) no diving in water shallower than 1.5m

When you dive, you enter the water head-first. If you make a mistake, you could hit your head on the bottom of the pool, which can cause serious injuries. This rule is mainly for casual swimming sessions.

2) no back flops or front flops

Not only can these jumps be very painful, but they can also be dangerous. Once you are in the air, you cannot easily change how you land. If someone swims underneath you, there is a risk of landing on them.

3) no spitting

Spit contains bacteria, so spitting in or around the pool is unhygienic and unacceptable.

4) no shouting or cursing

Lifeguards need to communicate clearly. If people are shouting over them, it can become distracting and could interfere during an emergency.

Swearing or intimidating behaviour towards staff or members of the public is never tolerated.

5) do not sit on other people's shoulders

Even if someone is strong enough to hold another person up, it is still dangerous. The person underneath could slip underwater. The person on top could fall onto someone else or the poolside. They could injure themselves.

6) if you are a non-swimmer, do not enter the deep end

A non-swimmer is someone who cannot swim 25 metres unaided without touching the floor.

Entering the deep end can still be dangerous, even if a strong swimmer is with you. The swimmer helping you could become distracted or experience a medical emergency. In a panic, you could also accidentally push them underwater while they are trying to help you.

7) no silly jumps

This includes cannonballs, 360s, flips, or similar jumps. These can be dangerous because you could slip, misjudge the jump, land on someone else, or hurt yourself.

8) no fighting

Fighting is dangerous and disruptive. Someone could get injured, and that injury could distract the lifeguard and keep them from spotting another person in danger.

9) do not dunk others underwater

You do not know how long someone can safely hold their breath. Also highly distracting, it can quickly become dangerous.

10) no running on poolside

Poolside areas are wet, making them slippery. Running increases the risk of slipping, falling, and hitting your head.

To avoid getting hurt or being told off, always read the signs around the pool so you understand what the staff expect from you.

competitive swimming rules

Competitive swimming has more rules than many people realise. If you are thinking about competing, it is important to learn and understand them.

race starts

The referee controls the start of the race using whistle signals.

Swimmers step onto the starting blocks, or into the water for backstroke events.

When the referee says, “Take your marks,” swimmers must become completely still.

If a swimmer leaves early, it counts as a false start and results in disqualification under the one-start rule.

Swimmers then dive when they hear the buzzer.

false starts

Any movement before the starting signal can lead to disqualification.

UK swimming follows a strict one-start system, which means swimmers do not get a second chance unless everyone leaves early together.

If the start is recalled accidentally, swimmers are not penalised.

freestyle

Swimmers can use any stroke style, although most choose front crawl because it is the fastest.

Swimmers must touch the wall at every turn and must not walk on the pool floor.

backstroke

Swimmers must stay on their back, except during turns.

At the start and after each turn, swimmers can stay underwater for up to 15 metres. In many pools, the anti-wave lane ropes mark this distance with a different colour.

breaststroke

Arm and leg movements must happen at the same time.

At turns and finishes, both hands must touch the wall together.

Swimmers are only allowed one underwater pullout after starts and turns.

A pullout is when both arms pull from in front of the swimmer down to their sides underwater.

butterfly

Both arms must move together over the water.

Swimmers may use only dolphin kick.

Swimmers must use a two-hand touch at turns and at the finish.

Swimmers can stay underwater for a maximum of 15 metres after starts and turns.

turns

Swimmers may only use tumble turns in freestyle and backstroke.

In breaststroke and butterfly, swimmers must touch the wall with both hands at the same time.

finishing

Swimmers must finish the race in their assigned lane.

Judges decide the finish based on whether the swimmer touches the wall correctly according to the rules for that stroke.

common reasons swimmers get disqualified

Common reasons for disqualification include:

• False starts
• One-hand touches in breaststroke or butterfly
• Pulling on lane ropes
• Walking on the pool floor
• Incorrect turns
• Staying underwater for longer than 15 metres

safety rules

RLSS and Swim England place a strong focus on safe diving and race starts.

Competitive starts usually require a minimum water depth of 1.35m.

Swimmers often need certified start-and-turn training before officials allow them to race from starting blocks.

read more here

World aquatics rules-worldaquatics.com

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