Greenbriar Dolphin Swim Team

In swimming, the rules must be followed in total or a disqualification (DQ) is committed. This can be traumatic the first time a swimmer is DQd for just one mistake, but it isn't fair to other swimmers who swim the entire race per the rules to do otherwise.

A DQ (disqualification) is any violation of the rules observed by an appropriate official. Some of the more common reasons for DQing are as follows:

When a stroke-and-turn judge observes a violation, he raises his hand to signify that he has observed a violation, and then writes it on a DQ slip. The judge then takes the slip to the referee, who verifies that a rule has been broken and can question the stroke-and-turn judge to insure that he was able to see the violation that was cited. The referee then gives one copy of the DQ slip to the team rep and another copy to the table workers. Another clue that a DQ has occurred is a stroke-and-turn judge writing and a longer than normal pause between events.

A false start occurs whenever a swimmer moves toward the pool after having assumed a still position (taking his/her mark) and before the starter has started the race. When this occurs, a swimmer is usually trying to anticipate the starting signal and beat the other swimmers into the water.

If the false start is detected before the starting signal is sounded, the offending swimmer can be removed from the race prior to it starting. If a false start occurs but the starting signal has sounded, the race will not be stopped. Instead, the false starting swimmer(s) will be notified of their false start at the conclusion of the race. The use of a recall signal is now limited to a bad start (i.e. not all swimmers were ready) or for a safety reason. If the starter sounds the recall signal, no swimmer can be removed for a false start.

Your child will probably know before you do since the team rep tells the coach, who tells the swimmer. You'll probably find out if you saw your swimmer finish with one of the top three times but he isn't announced later in the top three places. Similarly, someone else DQd if your swimmer finished in 4th, 5th or 6th, yet is announced as one of the top three finishers. Another way to find out is by reading the official meet results, which are posted on the team website. NVSL meet results are also posted on the NVSL website.

Every official on the deck will always give the benefit of the doubt to the swimmer. Although the difference between legal-but-ugly versus illegal is sometimes close to call, any violation called by an official is an "I saw" not an "I think I saw".

The team rep is the only person who can officially question a disqualification or any other call by an official. If something happens involving your swimmer that you do not think is right, talk to the coach or the team rep. The team rep will initiate action in accordance with NVSL rules if thought to be appropriate.