MSO Guidelines for Referees

Masters Swimming Ontario is pleased to present you with a copy of the MSO Handbook. We hope that you will take a moment to familiarize yourself with the history and the rules and the administration of Masters Swimming in Ontario.

In an effort to conduct well organized and consistent Masters Swim Meets in Ontario, MSO would like to make you aware of the following information.

Masters Swimming Ontario is pleased to present you with a copy of the MSO Handbook. We hope that you will take a moment to familiarize yourself with the history and the rules and the administration of Masters Swimming in Ontario.

In an effort to conduct well organized and consistent Masters Swim Meets in Ontario, MSO would like to make you aware of the following information. These points may or may not be different from SNC rules for Age Group Swim Meets.

References to MSO rules are from the Rulebook section

The Start

MSO Rule 2.01 supersedes SW 4.1 and 4.2

SW 4.3 is not applicable

Masters Swimmers may choose to start from the blocks, from the pool deck or from in the water. The swimmer shall be allowed to find and then to maintain a comfortable and stable position before the race is turned over to the starter. For this reason, for freestyle, breaststroke, butterfly and individual medley races, if started with a dive from the blocks, the swimmer shall assume the starting position with at least one foot at the front of the blocks, before the race is turned over to the starter. There may be movement of the feet on the command 'Take your marks'.

False Starts

MSO Rule 2.02 supersedes SW 4.4 and CSW 4.4.1

MSO observes the 'One False Start' rule. On the second start, if the starting signal is given before the disqualification is declared, the race shall continue and the offending swimmer or swimmers shall be disqualified at the completion of the race.

Stroke Rules

MSO Rule 3 is identical to SW 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 except for SW 8.3

The MSO stroke rules are identical to the SNC rules and have been included in our Rule Book only for the purpose of educating the swimmers. However, you should be aware that there will be many variations of strokes. The two most common are double arm backstroke and butterfly with a breaststroke kick. The latter has been specifically allowed in FINA rule MSW 3.10 Some Masters Swimmers, through age or infirmity, may be unable to adhere strictly to the technicalities of the stroke rules (such as symmetry in breaststroke or butterfly). In these cases, the theory of illegally gaining an 'unfair advantage' shall apply before a disqualification is rendered. It is incumbent on the swimmer to notify you before the beginning of the swim of any such condition.

Warm-Up

MSO Rule 4

In our ongoing concern about safety we must enforce no diving, no hand paddles, no kick boards, no pull buoys and no fins during general warm-up. An SNC certified official must be on deck during warm-up according to the Masters Swimming Ontario insurance policy under which you are covered for the purposes of this meet. Sprint lanes shall be one outside lane and the adjacent lane. This allows access to ladders and the pool deck at the side of the pool from both one sprint lane and one circle swimming lane, for those who cannot pull themselves out over a bulkhead at the end of the pool. All swimmers shall circle swim in opposite directions in adjacent lanes.

Safety

MSO Rule 5

In addition to the very specific safety issues that arise during warm-up the officials and meet management and pool staff must work together to provide a safe environment for everyone.

Other All events are timed finals. There will be different age groups in any one heat. There may be two swimmers per lane in individual freestyle events 400 metres and longer. All swimmers, whether swimming one per lane or two per lane shall be offered the same starting options. There will be mixed relays. Masters Swimming Ontario includes a Meet Coordinator, a Rules Committee and a Board of Directors. We welcome and encourage comments, critiques and criticisms.

Finally, and most importantly, Masters Swimmers in Ontario owe a great debt of gratitude to our officials. We recognize that our meets would not be a success without you and for that we thank you.