Rules and Regulations
Taken from the Technical Rules of Disability Swimming from the ASA (Amateur Swimming Association the National Governing body for Swimming in England.
Using their numbering system the following rule: Eligibility and Categories is the one which identifies the recognized classes for each disability
Eligibility and Categories
- 1103.1 A disabled swimmer shall be defined as a person who has been classified according to either the INAS-FID system for persons with mental handicap/intellectual disability, the IBSA system for the visually impaired or the FCS for locomotor disability.
- 1103.2 The following classes shall be recognized:
Physical Disability - 1 to 10
Visual Impairment - 11 to 13
Leaning Disability - 14
Hearing Impairment - 15
The strokes shall be indicated by the following prefixes to the class number;
Freestyle, backstroke or butterfly events - S
Breaststroke events - SB
Medley events - SM
So, having had your eyes classified with BBS how does this equate to you?
B1 equates with S11
B2 with S12
and B3 with S13
And, here’s an example to help too:
Q: I am a BI breaststroker what is my classification please?
A: SBI
Click here for sight classification details
TECHNICAL RULES OF DISABILITY SWIMMING including item 1103!
The following is an extract from the rules which relate to VI swimmers:
- 1101 Application
1101.1 All disability swimming competitions under the jurisdiction of the ASA
shall be held under ASA Judicial Laws (101 et seq.) and ASA General
Competition Laws (401 et seq.). The ASA Technical Rules of Racing shall
apply to them except where specifically varied by these ASA Disability
Technical Rules.
- 1102 Definitions
1102.1 “INAS-FID” shall mean International Sports Federation for Persons with
Mental Handicap.
1102.2 “IBSA” shall mean International Blind Sports Association.
1102.3 “CISS” shall mean the Comité International des Sports des Sourds
1102.4 “FCS” shall mean the Functional Classification System for locomotor
disability.
1102.5 “Support Staff” shall mean any person designated by a swimmer, club,
County or Region to assist a swimmer, within these Technical Rules.
1102.6 “Tapping” shall mean the touching of a swimmer to indicate the proximity
of the end of the pool or, where necessary, an indication of the start of the
race or of his leg of a relay.
- 1103 Eligibility and Categories
1103.1 A disabled swimmer shall be defined as a person who has been classified
according to either the INAS-FID system for persons with mental
handicap/intellectual disability, the IBSA system for the visually impaired,
the CISS system for the hearing impaired or the FCS for locomotor disability.
1103.2 The following classes shall be recognised:
Physical Disability 1 to 10
Visual Impairment 11 to 13
Learning Disability 14
Hearing Impairment 15.
The stroke(s) shall be indicated by the following prefixes to the class number:
Freestyle, backstroke or butterfly events S
Breaststroke events SB
Medley events SM
1103.3 For competitions of a low level and open meets which are restricted to a
local area, a disabled swimmer may also be defined as a person who has
been classified or attested according to a classification or attestation
system operated by a body affiliated to the ASA.
- 1105 Duties of officials
1105.1 THE TECHNICAL ADVISERS notwithstanding anything in their duties set
out elsewhere in ASA Laws and Technical Rules shall:
1105.1.1 be responsible for advising the referee, and other officials about the
adaptations of the ASA Technical Rules of Racing and the
application of these Disability Technical Rules pertaining to an
individual swimmer having regard to the Certificate of Permanent
Functional Impairment, Certificate of Permanent Disability or
Functional Ability Card issued to that swimmer;
1105.1.3 ensure that the goggles of Class 11 swimmers are checked prior to
and immediately after the race.
1105.5 THE TIMEKEEPERS, notwithstanding anything in their duties set out
elsewhere in ASA Laws and Technical Rules, shall:
1105.5.2.2 for swimmers requiring a tapper, notify the tapper that the swimmer
has two lengths plus 15 metres to swim to the finish. It shall then
be the responsibility of the tapper to indicate this to the swimmer.
1105.5.3 check that the goggles or opaque coverings of Class 11 swimmers
without prosthesis are in place at the start and remain in place at the
finish.
- 1106 Support Staff
1106.1. Support Staff shall include, but not be limited to:
1106.1.1. persons permitted to be on the pool deck to assist an FCS or visually
impaired swimmer with entering and/or leaving the water and
during the start. Arrangements for deck access for support staff
shall be made and published by the promoter on the entry form;
1106.1.2 tappers whose duties shall be to:
1106.1.2.1 indicate non-verbally to a visually impaired swimmer that he is
approaching the end of the pool, in either an individual or relay
race, and/or to indicate the start of his leg of a relay race;
1106.1.2.2 indicate non-verbally to a hearing impaired and visually impaired
swimmer that he is approaching the end of the pool, in either an
individual or relay race, and/or to indicate the start of his leg of an
individual or relay race;
1106.1.2.3 indicate non-verbally to an FCS swimmer carrying an
endorsement on his FCS classification card that tapping is
necessary for safety reasons, that he is approaching the end of the
pool, in either an individual or relay race.
1106.2 It shall be the responsibility of the swimmer requiring Support Staff to
ensure that they are provided.
- 1107 Classification
1107.1 Functional Ability Cards will be issued to swimmers in all categories by
ASA classification officers appointed by the ASA Disability Committee.
Functional Ability Cards will show the exemptions afforded to the
swimmer under ASA Law. Cards shall be issued for a period of time
determined by the classifier at the time of classification.
1107.2 Functional Ability Cards cards are not for use at events or competitions run
under the Functional Classification System or Disability Specific systems.
1107.3 Functional Ability Cards cards remain the property of the Amateur
Swimming Association and must be surrendered to an authorised person
on demand. Failure to surrender a Functional Ability Card may result in a
complaint under the Judicial Laws.
1107.4 A swimmer may be reclassified either prior to the commencement of the
competition or during the competition.
1107.5 All classification and reclassification procedures shall comply with those
defined and published by the ASA Disability Committee.
- 1108 Classification Objections
1108.1 Notwithstanding anything in the definition and treatment of protests set
out in the ASA Judicial Laws, classification objections may be made:
1108.1.1 against a decision of the classifier(s);
1108.1.2 by the head classifier if he believes that a swimmer did not perform
to his true potential during classification.
1108.2 A classification objection must be made orally to the head classifier and
confirmed in writing within thirty minutes following the conclusion of the
event during which the incident giving rise to the objection took place unless
the reason for the objection is known before the event, in which case the
objection must be made as soon as reasonably practicable and in any case
before the event starts. If a classification objection is made prior to the
appointment of a head classifier then the objection should be made to the
promoter who shall refer the objection to the head classifier when he
appoints the head classifier. If no classifier is present at the competition, any
classification objection shall be made to the referee who shall report the
matter, in writing, to the Judicial Administrator who shall arrange for the
objection to be dealt with.
1108.4 Any objection to the classification of an S11 to S14 swimmer must be made
on an official objection form to the Judicial Administrator who shall
arrange for the objection to be dealt with.
1108.5 A competitor failing to attend a classification objection hearing when
requested may be disqualified from further competition.
1108.6 At competitions where a classifier is not present, or classifiers are not
present in sufficient numbers to deal with any classification objection
appeals, these facts shall be made known by the promoter on the entry
form and programmes.
- 1109 Disqualification
1109.1 If a competitor who competed in a final is disqualified for any reason,
[including medical control or a classification decision], the position he
would have held shall be awarded to the competitor who finished next and
all lower placed competitors in the final shall be advanced one place. If the
disqualification occurs after the presentation of awards, the awards shall
be returned and given to the appropriate competitors, applying the
foregoing provisions.
- 1110 Additional Provisions to Technical Rules of Racing
- 1110.1. General provisions
1110.1.1 Support Staff may not verbally communicate with nor coach the
swimmer from when the referee has signalled by a single long
whistle blast that the swimmers and officials are ready for the start
until the swimmer has been released from his lane by the referee
after the race . If such communication occurs, the competitor shall
be disqualified.
1110.1.2 All tapping devices shall be checked and deemed safe prior to the
competition by an official designated by the referee.
1110.1.3 Where tapping is necessary, a different tapper shall be provided at
each end of the pool for each competitor needing one.
- 1110.2 Class specific provisions
1110.2.1 All Class 11 competitors except those with prosthesis in both eyes
shall wear opaque goggles or, if their facial structure will not
support goggles, shall cover their eyes with an opaque covering.
The goggles or covering shall remain over the eyes for the whole of
the race.
1110.2.2 Tapping shall be compulsory for all visually impaired swimmers in
the S11 class.
1110.2.3 No FCS swimmer shall be permitted to wear any prosthesis and/or
orthosis during a race.
- 1111 Exceptions to the Technical Rules of Racing
- 1111.1 Starting
1111.1.1 Following the single, long whistle blast from the referee and prior to
the starter’s command “take your marks”:
1111.1.1.1 a swimmer with a visual impairment shall be permitted to
orientate himself;
1111.1.2 If it is stated on his Certificate of Permanent Disability or Functional
Ability Card that a swimmer has balance problems he may have
assistance from a support staff member to balance himself on the
starting block.
1111.1.4. If a tapper is required to convey a starting signal to a visually
impaired and hearing impaired swimmer, it shall be done by means
of a non-verbal signal.
1111.1.5. At the start of a race for visually impaired swimmers the spectators
shall be requested to remain silent until the swimmers have passed
the false start rope.
1111.1.6. If it is stated on his Certificate of Permanent Disability or Functional
Ability Card that a swimmer has been classified on the basis of starting
in the water, he shall start in the water.
- 1111.2 Team Races
1111.2.1 Any competitor swimming breaststroke in a freestyle relay event
shall:
1111.2.1.1 if his SB class (e.g. SB7) is lower or the same as the S class
(e.g. S7 or S8) maintain the S class;
1111.2.1.2 if his SB class (e.g. SB7) is higher than the S class (e.g. S6)
only swim in the equivalent higher class (i.e. S7) in the freestyle
event.
1111.2.2 A swimmer who is to start his leg in the water may enter the water
only when the preceding swimmer is swimming his leg
1111.2.3 The members of a relay team and their order of competing must
be nominated before the race. The composition of a relay team
may be changed between the heats and finals of an event,
provided that it is made up from the list of swimmers entered for
that event.
1111.2.4 Any swimmer having finished a leg other than the final leg should
leave the pool as soon as possible without obstructing any other
swimmer. A swimmer unable to comply may stay in his lane until
the last swimmer of his team has completed the race. A swimmer
remaining in the water shall move a short distance away from the
end of the pool, close to the lane rope but shall not obstruct another
swimmer in another lane.
- 1111.3 The Race
1111.3.1 If a swimmer with visual impairment inadvertently surfaces in the
wrong lane after a start or executing a turn, if the lane is not in use he
shall be permitted to complete the race in that lane. If it is necessary
for the swimmer to return to the correct lane the tapper may give
verbal instructions but only after clearly identifying the swimmer by
name to prevent distraction or interference to other competitors.
1111.3.2 If a swimmer with visual impairment, accidentally commits a foul
during a race by surfacing after the start or a turn in a lane that is in
use by another competitor, or by swimming too close to the lane rope
etc., the Referee shall have the power to allow one or both swimmers
to re-swim the race. If the foul occurs in a final, the Referee may order
the final to be re-swum.
1111.3.3 Pace making shall not be permitted, nor may any device be used or
plan adopted which has that effect nor shall instruction to the
swimmer be given after the start of the event.
- 1111.4 Breaststroke
1111.4.10 If a swimmer with visual impairment (SB 11 and SB 12) has difficulty
making a touch simultaneously due to his proximity to a lane rope,
providing that the swimmer does not gain an unfair advantage the
non-simultaneous touch shall be allowed at any turn or the finish of
the race.
- 1111.5 Butterfly
1111.5.3 If a swimmer with visual impairment (S11 and S12) fails to comply
with the technical rules of the stroke due to his proximity to a lane
rope, providing that the swimmer does not gain an unfair
advantage it shall not result in disqualification.
1111.5.8 If a swimmer with visual impairment (S11 and S12) has difficulty
making a touch simultaneously due to his proximity to a lane rope,
providing that the swimmer does not gain an unfair advantage the
non-simultaneous touch shall be allowed at any turn or the finish of
the race..
- 1111.6 Backstroke
- 1111.7 Medley Swimming
1111.7.1 In individual or relay events where Butterfly is not included, the
swimmers shall swim the strokes in the following order: Backstroke,
Breaststroke, Freestyle.
- 1112 English Disability Swimming Records
1112.1 The following strokes and distances shall be recognised for English
Disability Records in each of the classification groupings listed. A record
shall only be recognised if the swimmer holds or, for a team race, all the
swimmers in the team hold an appropriate approved classification.
S1 – S15 Freestyle 50 and 100 metres
S1 – S5 Freestyle 200 metres
S11 – S13 Freestyle 200 metres
S6 – S15 Freestyle 400 and 800 metres
OPEN Freestyle 1500 metres
S1 – S15 Backstroke 50 and 100 metres
S2 – S5 Backstroke 200 metres
S1 – S15 Butterfly 50 metres
S5 – S15 Butterfly 100 metres
S8 – S15 Butterfly 200 metres
SB1 – SB15 Breaststroke 50 metres
SB3 – SB15 Breaststroke 100 metres
SB4 – SB15 Breaststroke 200 metres
SM1 – SM4 Individual Medley 100 and 150 metres
SM3 – SM15 Individual Medley 200 metres
SM8 – SM15 Individual Medley 400 metres
FCS classes, Freestyle Relay Team 4 x 50 metres
max 20 points
FCS classes, Freestyle Relay Team 4 x 100 metres
max 34 points
102
Functional Ability Card
FCS classes, Medley Relay Team 4 x 50 metres
max 20 points
FCS classes, Medley Relay Team 4 x 100 metres
max 34 points
S11 – S13 Freestyle Relay Team 4 x 50 metres
S11 – S13 Freestyle Relay Team 4 x 100 metres
S11 – S13 Medley Relay Team 4 x 50 metres
S11 – S13 Medley Relay Team 4 x 100 metres
S14 Freestyle Relay Team 4 x 50 metres
S14 Freestyle Relay Team 4 x 100 metres
S14 Medley Relay Team 4 x 50 metres
S14 Medley Relay Team 4 x 100 metres
1112.2 Relay teams for the visually impaired must include at least one Class
11 swimmer and no more than two Class 13 swimmers.
1112.3 The points score for an FCS relay team shall be calculated by
totalling the number value of the classification of each swimmer in
the team. e.g. S4 + SB7 + S3 + S6 = 20 points
4 x 50 metre FCS relay teams shall not exceed twenty (20) points and
4 x 100 metre FCS relay teams shall not exceed thirty four (34)
points.
1112.4 All records shall be recognised for men and women, for short and
long course and for open and junior age classification. The open
classification shall have no age limits; in the junior classification, a
swimmer shall be under the age of 18 years at midnight on the day
of the swim.
Clearly these are prescriptive rules and if you need any clarification don’t hesitate to contact the ASA or BBS.
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