Just like all sports, there are rules that swimmers must follow in order to guarantee a fair competition for all athletes. The following are the most common ways a swimmer might get Disqualified in a meet. We will also go over all of these in practices!

FREESTYLE:

This is the hardest stroke to be disqualified in, because "freestyle" means you are free to swim it any way you want. Swimmers typically choose the front crawl (which we now call freestyle) as it is the fastest way to swim in the pool.

Here are some examples of how you can be disqualified:

1. Failing to touch the wall on the turn in a multi-lap race.
2. Pulling on the lane line to gain advantage.
3. Pushing off the bottom to continue swimming. 

BACKSTROKE:

Similar to rules for freestyle, except swimmers have to stay on their backs (with the
exception of turns in multi-lap races.)

1. Turning shoulders past vertical towards the stomach before completing a one- lap race, or on the finish of a multi-lap race, is cause for disqualification. (This basically means, don't rollover on to your stomach.)
2. Pulling on the lane line to gain advantage.
3. The Turn: This is tricky, but the rule is that swimmers may roll to their stomachs, take one arm stroke (or a double arm stroke) and, IN ONE CONTINUOUS MOTION, do a freestyle flip turn and then push off the wall on their back. The “one continuous motion” part of the rule is fairly subjective. A guideline: If a swimmer rolls over, takes their one allotted arm stroke and then has to kick into the wall before they turn, they will probably be DQ’d.

BUTTERFLY:

1. Both hands must touch simultaneously, at the turn and finish. This is called a two-hand touch.
2. The feet have to kick together. They can be separated, but they have to stay that way. If the feet start crossing, it’s no longer a dolphin kick, it is a flutter kick—and it is a DQ.
3. Arms must be recovered OVER the water. If you pull down and then recover your arms for the next stroke under the water you’re essentially swimming breaststroke, not butterfly. Arms must be recovered simultaneously OVER the water. (Typically the position of the elbows determine if the arms are above or below the water. If the arms are moved forward with elbows under water a DQ will typically be given.)

BREASTSTROKE:

This is the most challenging stroke to swim legally!

1. Both feet must be turned OUT during the propulsive part of the kick. Some swimmers tend to turn out one foot, but not the other. This ends up being a scissor kick. If both feet are turned in this is considered a butterfly kick. Both the scissors and dolphin kicks are illegal.
2. Both hands must touch the wall simultaneously, at the finish and at the turn just like butterfly. This is called a two-hand touch.
3. Cannot take more than one stroke and kick underwater. Only one pull-down stroke and one kick are allowed at the start and after a turn. The head must break the surface level of the water BEFORE the hands turn inward at the widest part of the second arm pull. Multiple underwater strokes will result in a DQ, because the swimmer’s head must be above the surface of the water at some point during each stroke cycle. (In other words, swimmers can’t go underwater for two or more strokes at a time, during the start, turn, or during the race).
4. Hands may NOT pull beyond the HIP line except on the start and after a turn.
5. Incorrect stroke cycle, the stroke cycle must be one arm pull followed by one leg kick. You cannot pull twice then kick or vice versa. At the start or after a turn the swimmer must start with an arm pull then a leg kick. This cycle must be continued throughout the race. I.E. no double pulls or double kicks. Breaststroke is the only stroke where a stroke cycle is specified.
6. Dolphin kick at start or turn BEFORE arm kick has started. A swimmer is permitted to take ONE dolphin kick underwater either before the pulldown, or during the arm pull. It must be completed before the underwater kick.

RELAYS:

1. The same rules apply in relays as for the individual strokes as previously described.
2. False Start - Relay starts require the swimmer on the blocks to have some part of his/her body still TOUCHING THE BLOCKS when the swimmer in the water touches the wall.
3. Physical assist from another person – at the start of a relay leg the swimmer on the block may NOT be physically assisted by anyone (coach, parent, other swimmer) else. Yelling is fine, touching is not.