SWIMMING COMPETITION RULES
Kwa-Zulu Natal will be the host province
- FINA Technical Rules will apply to all National Competitions.
- IPC rules will apply when there are events for Para swimmers at national competitions.
- All Age Group competitions will be club based.
- Clubs should be encouraged to participate at all the levels of Age Group Competitions.
- South African participants must be registered with SSA and have competed in competitions to ensure that their times for entries are on the National Database.
- Visitors must forward a clearance to compete. Their entry times must be verified.
- If due to weather conditions, any section of a swimming program cannot be completed the following will apply:
On the final day of the competition, if the Finals cannot be completed, the Final results and Medals will be awarded as per the results of the Heats.
If on any of the other days, the Finals cannot be completed, due to time constraints, the Finals will either be rescheduled or the results awarded as per the heats results.
If circumstances require, any part of the program may be swum as timed finals.
- For Inter Provincial Competitions; each Province will be required to supply at least TWO registered and trained Technical Officials, one timekeeper and one judge for EVERY SESSION.
- For Inter Club Competitions, clubs will be required to provide SSA registered trained officials for EVERY SESSION, according to the number of swimmers entered in the competition:
1 - 4 swimmers, at least one timekeeper per session
5 – 10 swimmers, at least one judge or one timekeeper for every session.
11 and over swimmers, a minimum of two officials, one judge and one timekeeper for every session.
The names of the officials must accompany the entries.
All Technical Officials must be correctly attired;
White shirts and Navy Blue Trousers or skirts for finals sessions;
Navy blue shorts for Heats. - The names of SSA registered, trained and available officials must accompany the swimmers entries.
- The SSA policy is to adjust our qualification times every four years, situations may arise that require adjustments to be made at the end of each season to ensure our times are in line with International standards and in congruence with the Long Term Participants Development framework.
- In the 2009 – 2010 season, elements of our Long Term Participant Development principles into our National Standard Qualifying Times System were introduced.
- Participation at the 2012 Level 3 and 2 Age Group competitions, will be dependent on the swimmer having a participation qualifying time for the 200m Individual Medley on the National Database. This is the first step forward in our Long Term Participant Development programme. A participation qualification time in the 200m Individual Medley will be a compulsory requirement for entry into the Level 3 and Level 2 age group competitions. This will ensure that our young swimmers do not specialise in specific strokes at too early an age. It is not compulsory for the swimmer to compete in the 200m Individual Medley at the Championships.
- The 50m Qualifying times for the S A National Youth competition have been removed. Swimmers who wish to enter 50m distance of an event, must have a qualifying time in the 100m or 200m in that particular stroke, e.g. to qualify to enter 50m Breaststroke the swimmer must have a qualifying time for either the 100m or 200m Breaststroke.
- There is also an age group change to Level 2. The 15 year age group has been reinstated. The older age group will now be 16 -18 years.
- Swimmers 10 years and younger are encouraged to swim Level 1 even if they have qualified for a higher level. Similarly, swimmers 11 years with Level 3 times are encouraged to swim at Level 2. The choice however is left to the individual and their advisors.
- Please note that the swimmers age is at the first day of the tournament and pre-season goals and targets should be set in accordance with the rules and dates of the tournaments. Swimmers may only compete at one SSA National / Regional Age Group Championship.
- We urge clubs, coaches, swimmers and parents to pass this information on in order to avoid unnecessary disputes or accusations at the Regional and National Age Group Championships.
- There are three categories for open competition, namely the SA Elite Youth, SA Youth and the SA Senior Nationals.
- The SA Elite Youth and SA Youth Competition will run concurrently with the SA Nationals Championships Programme at the same venue.
- The heats for the SA Elite Youth and S A Youth Nationals as well as the S A Aquatic Championships will be swum as a combined event.
- The results for the SA Elite Youth and SA Youth Nationals will be determined from the heats.
- There will be no SA “Elite Youth” or S A “Youth” Finals.
- Swimmers in the 16 -19 years age group, who have achieved one S A National qualifying standard will be considered a S A Elite Youth Qualifier, for results purposes. The same entry conditions will apply to entries as per the S A National Qualifier, the only difference would be the age indicator.
- There will be no relays in this category.
- The results for the S A Elite Youth Nationals will be determined from the heats.
- The first three placed swimmers in the 16 -19 years age group will receive the S A Elite Youth Medal.
- There will be no SA Youth Finals.
- Swimmers in the 16 -19 years age group, who have achieved one S A Youth qualifying standard may enter three additional Olympic Events, provided they have times on the SSA Database – except the 50m Freestyle this will be subject to rule.
- There will be no qualifying times for the 50m Youth events. Swimmers who wish to enter a 50m Event, must have achieved a qualifying time in the 100m or 200m of the particular event. e.g. 50m Butterfly, the swimmer must have qualified in either the 100m or 200m Butterfly.
- There will be no relays in this category.
- The results for the S A Youth Nationals will be determined from the heats.
- The first three placed swimmers in the 16 -19 years who qualified on the SA Youth QT, provided they do not fall in the S A Elite Youth awards will receive the S A Youth Medal.
- There will be no SA Youth Finals.
- Swimmers may enter the events that they have S A National qualifying times for, plus three additional non qualifying events provided they have times on the SSA Database.
- Provinces may enter their fastest non qualifier in an event where they do not have any swimmers with qualifying times entered.
- Provinces may enter two relay teams per event for S A Nationals.
- Both teams will score points.
- There may be heats and finals for the Relay events where there are 8 or more entries. This decision will be taken at the Manager’s Meeting.
- The team composition may consist of swimmers who are SA Youth or S A National swimmers.
- Any swimmer entered into the meet may be selected as a member of their provincial relay team.
- Swimmers may enter the events that they have S A National qualifying Times for, plus three additional events provided they have times on the SSA Database.
- Para Swimming events will be swum in two categories, Depending on their classification. Category 1 Swimmers with S1 -13 classifications – category 2 Swimmers with S14 and S15 classifications.
- The heats will be swum together and then the finalists for Category 1 and 2 will be separated into two finals. The final results and qualification for the finals will be determined using the World Records for each classification.
- TIME TRIALS
- Applications for Time Trials during any competition period, will be considered for the following swimmers:
- Swimmers who had entered the relevant event by the closing date for entries of the competition.
- Written application detailing the motivation must be received at least twenty-four hours prior to the time trial.
- The Fee will be R400.00 per time trial.
- Time Trials, if granted, will take place at the end of a heats session.
- All entries must be submitted by the Provincial Secretary. The competitions competed on a Provincial basis, must be entered as Province and not as clubs, the inter-club competitions, must be entered as clubs.
- Only accredited managers may:
Withdraw competitors
Lodge objections
Lodge complaints - Written protest accompanied by R500.00 must be lodged with the Admin Referee within 30 minutes of the publication or announcement of the disqualification
- In the case of a dispute, the referees’ decision will be final.
- All team managers should attend the Manager’s Meeting.
Clubs/Provinces who are not represented and who do not comply with the rules concerning entries will not receive any concessions.
This will be the last opportunity to apply for late entries subject to the late entry fee of 10x the original entry fee and the availability of lanes.
- Withdrawals (Scratchings)
- Pre-competition at the Manager’s Meeting – no charge
- After the Manager’s Meeting, Withdrawals will be accepted 1hour before the start of the evening session preceding the heats. Withdrawals made outside this time limit, will be fined R100.00 per event.
- No-shows, heats or finals, swimmers who do not show for their race, will be fined R200.00 and the swimmer may not compete in any other event until this fine has been paid.
- Withdrawals from the finals – this must be done before the end of the heats session or as notified by the Admin Referee. It would be really helpful if these withdrawals are done as soon as possible after the results are notified, as this would be useful for notifying the alternates for the particular events. The alternates must report for the finals in case they are needed.
- If the Referee deems a swimmer to have deliberately false started or not performing to the swimmer’s capabilities then the swimmer will be fined R500.00 and will be withdrawn from all further events that session, including relays if they fall in that session.
- Relays
- The names must be received in the correct following order for the relays on the prescribed forms and must be submitted before the end of the session prior to the session, this will be confirmation of the relay entry, if the relay form is not received the team will be withdrawn from the event. Only swimmers entered in the competition may swim in relays.
- The names of the relay swimmers may be changed up to one hour before the start of the session. Relay changes after this time will be subject to a medical certificate.
- CEREMONIES
- Opening Ceremony – Managers should instruct Swimmers on respectful behaviour during the performing of the National Anthem and Opening Speeches.
- Medal Ceremony – Swimmers must present themselves in good time and correctly attired.
- Only medal winners are allowed to be on the medal podium during medal presentations (no family members, etc). 7 SSA reserves the right to enter provincial/club swimmers, who have met the SSA qualifying standards for any National Competition.
Kwa-Zulu Natal will be the host province
- Date: Swimming 16 – 22 April 2012
- Venue: Kings Park, Durban
- Manager's Meeting: 15 April 2012 17h00 Kings Park, Durban
- Closing Date for Swimming Entries: 22 March 2012
- Closing Date for Corrections: 29 March 2012
- 50 Free: 27.72
- 100 Free: 1:00.21
- 200 Free: 2:10.03
- 400 Free: 4:33.87
- 800 Free: 9:22.42
- 1500 Free: 17:29.47
- 50 Back: 31.76
- 100 Back: 1:09.10
- 200 Back: 2:28.66
- 50 Breast: 35.11
- 100 Breast: 1:17.29
- 200 Breast: 2:46.00
- 50 Fly: 29.32
- 100 Fly: 1:06.47
- 200 Fly: 2:26.54
- 200 IM: 2:27.44
- 400 IM: 5:10.74
- 50 Free: 24.36
- 100 Free: 53.66
- 200 Free: 1:58.50
- 400 Free: 4:10.66
- 800 Free: 8:32.28
- 1500 Free: 16:35.34
- 50 Back: 28.16
- 100 Back: 1:01.76
- 200 Back: 2:14.08
- 50 Breast: 30.83
- 100 Breast: 1:08.96
- 200 Breast: 2:29.73
- 50 Fly: 26.35
- 100 Fly: 59.20
- 200 Fly: 2:11.79
- 200 IM: 2:12.33
- 400 IM: 4:41.66
