September 16, 2001

Dear LMSC officials,

In light of recent events, this is trivial but we have a pending deadline with respect to the following issues.

As many of you know, FINA changed the butterfly rules at their meeting during the World Championships in July. What many of us did not realize was the fact that the FINA rules for the "kid" swimming actually allowed the use of the breaststroke kick in the butterfly. In updating the butterfly rules, they added language which prohibited the use of the breaststroke kick in the butterfly. In forming the masters rules within FINA, the writers choose to list only exceptions to the "kid" rules in the masters rules. Since the original "kid" rule allowed the breaststroke kick, no exception was necessary and when they changed the "kid" rule the masters rule also changed. The masters organization within FINA has not yet had time to react to the change. Therefore we are in a state of limbo with respect to knowing what the long term effect of the change will be. The FINA masters organization will be meeting in November and this change may be addressed at that time. The FINA Masters Congress is in March and a definitive reaction will be available at that time if action does not come sooner.

In the interim, we must deal with the change and accommodate those who might break a world record. Since the rule currently prohibits the breaststroke kick we will have to certify swims that meet the new requirements. A form is available here (in PDF format) which must be submitted by the swimmer to the meet referee prior to the swim. The official must then certify that swim was completed in accordance with the new rule. This will remain in effect from September 20, 2001 until we receive guidance from FINA masters and can react to it. Please make these forms available at all of you long course and short course meters meets.

Additionally, USA-Swimming conducted an abbreviated meeting at the USAS convention in Dearborn last week. At that meeting they enacted several other changes to the rules of competition which become effective September 20, 2001. All of the changes are permissive relative to the current rules so what is legal today will continue to be legal. According to the provisions in our rules, the changes cascade down to our rules and become effective on the same date. These rule changes are also available here as a PDF file.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact me at rules@usms.org

Thanks,

Leo Letendre
for the USMS Rules committee