2-4-3: When practical, the numbering of lanes should be from right to left as the swimmer stands facing the course.
Rationale: This addition to the rule provides direction for consistency in the numbering of lanes, which is already a common practice. If there is an individual facility constraint preventing right-to-left numbering, the language will accommodate such situation.
2-7-4: Requires a recall device be provided for recalling a race but no longer specifies a recall rope.
Rationale: There is no need to reference a recall rope as it is one of several recall devices that may be used when necessary to recall a race.
3-3-4 new Penalty: The penalty for a subsequent violation of the uniform/jewelry rules by the same competitor is disqualification in the heat/round and ineligibility for the remainder of the meet if not corrected. This is a change from the previous penalty of potential disqualification from the meet under unsporting conduct rules.
Rationale: Although the wearing of jewelry and/or illegal attire is not a frequent occurrence, once a competitor and a coach have been notified of a violation there is no justification to allow the competitor to continue in the competition without penalty if observed by an official a subsequent time. The penalty is now disqualification from the event/round rather than the meet for unsporting conduct. The penalty is more appropriate for the severity of the violation and can be more consistently enforced and administered by the meet referee.
4-2-2k: Clarifies that when there is dual confirmation it is not the proper mechanic for the officials to raise their hand for a violation for relay takeoffs and the no-recall false start.
Rationale: There was a need to clarify an additional situation when the official's hand should not be raised upon observation of a specific violation when dual confirmation is being used in the meet.
6-3-4: In order to consider a potential timing system malfunction, there must now be a difference of more than 0.3 seconds between automatic and backup times.
Rationale: Current meet administration software and timing systems now recognize a potential timing malfunction to occur with more than a 0.3 difference between automatic and backup times. The change allows meet administration to utilize current technology for efficient meet administration.
8-1-2: Clarifies on the backstroke start the competitor shall become stationary immediately after the starting command, "Take your mark," and is consistent with the starting procedure for the forward start.
Rationale: This has been the procedure for the backstroke start that had not previously been included in Rule 8-1-2.
9-1-1f: Clarifies the water depth for diving at any point 2 to 5 feet in front of the end of the board is 12 feet, with an exception for any pool constructed prior to January 1987 being 10 feet. This is just a reversal in order as new pools in which diving is conducted are to be 12 feet in depth.
Rationale: Enough time has elapsed to amend this rule so it is clearly indicating the standard for new pools in which diving is conducted is the depth of 12 feet. The exception is only for older pools constructed before 1987 (20-plus years ago) to maintain the 10-feet depth. This language is more current for communicating pool depth in today's competitive swimming and diving world.