Swimming

• School coloured caps must be worn by all competitors. If a school is unable to uniform teams/individuals in accepted school caps the Executive Officer needs to be informed prior to the event.

• The carnival will be a 2-start carnival and procedure are as follows: False Start – restart. Second start, anyone false starting is to be disqualified.
• When a competitor or school is disqualified, it will be displayed on the electronic scoreboard if this is in operation. Alternatively, the school will be notified of the reason through the delegate or teacher in charge, by an official as soon as possible.
• Protests or disputes must be lodged with the organising administrative officer, by the person in charge of a team, within 15 minutes of receiving the disqualification notice. The organising administrative officer shall then refer the protest to the referee.
• The resolution arising from any event shall be in the hands of the referee of the day as appointed by the organiser.
• Protests of any other nature must be lodged within one hour of the carnivals completion.

• The first event for NHSSA carnivals will begin at 10:00am. Warm-up is allowed between 9.30 and 9.50am.
• In most cases, the order of events shall be, from youngest to oldest, alternating female/male.
• Each individual event will have 1 heat, with one competitor from each school in each event, with the exception of Freestyle which will have 4 heats. (Div 2/3 will have 2 heats of 25m freestyle and 2 heats of 50m freestyle) Heat 1 should have the fastest swimmers and Heat 2 should have the second fastest swimmers from each school. 
• Each school may only enter one relay team in relay events.
• Lane Allocation
  • A random draw will be conducted to determine lane allocation. A rotation will then occur. Each heat will have the same lane allocation for each Grade.
  • A separate lane is to be provided for each competitor.  They must swim in the lane allocated to them.

• Div 1 Swimming

Heat A – 50 Free, 50 Breast, 50 Back, 50 Fly, 100 Free, 100 Breast, – 1st – 18, 2nd – 16, 3rd – 14, 4th – 12, 5th – 10, 6th – 8, 7th – 6, 8th – 4

Heat B Free – 1st – 10, 2nd – 9, 3rd – 8, 4th – 7, 5th – 6, 6th – 5, 7th – 4, 8th – 3

Heat C Free – 1st – 9, 2nd – 8, 3rd – 7, 4th – 6, 5th – 5, 6th – 4, 7th – 3, 8th – 2

Heat D Free – 1st – 8, 2nd – 7, 3rd – 6, 4th – 5, 5th – 4, 6th – 3, 7th -2, 8th – 1

All Relays – 1st – 36, 2nd – 32, 3rd – 28, 4th – 24, 5th – 20, 6th – 16, 7th – 12, 8th – 8

• Div 2/3 Swimming

Heat A – 50 Free, 50 Breast, 50 Back, 50 Fly, 100 Free, – 1st – 18, 2nd – 16, 3rd – 14, 4th – 12, 5th – 10, 6th – 8, 7th – 6, 8th – 4

Heat B Free – 1st – 10, 2nd – 9, 3rd – 8, 4th – 7, 5th – 6, 6th – 5, 7th – 4, 8th – 3

Heat A – 25 Free, 25 Breast, 25 Back, – 1st – 16, 2nd – 14, 3rd – 12, 4th – 10, 5th – 8, 6th – 6, 7th – 4, 8th – 2

Heat B Free – 1st – 8, 2nd – 7, 3rd – 6, 4th – 5, 5th – 4, 6th – 3, 7th -2, 8th – 1

 All Relays – 1st – 36, 2nd – 32, 3rd – 28, 4th – 24, 5th – 20, 6th – 16, 7th – 12, 8th – 8

• Place ribbons are awarded to 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd placegetters in all events. These will be presented as the event is completed.
• Outstanding Performance Certificates are presented to Record Breakers. These will be sent to schools as soon as practicable after the carnival.
• Shields are awarded in each Division for Junior, Senior, and Aggregate Results (Three shields). These will be presented at the completion of each carnival.
  • Junior (Grades 7/8 Boys and Girls Combined)
  • Senior (Grades 9/10 Boys and Girls Combined)
  • Aggregate (Grades 7 – 10 All Combined)

• Record breakers will be announced first, followed by shield results.
• Reading of shield results: schools placed fourth and below will have their place only announced, schools placed 3rd, 2nd and 1st will be announced in that order with their points.
• The order of trophy presentation will be rotated annually to avoid any one group of trophies gaining pre-eminence.
• The Executive Officer will send detailed results to School delegates as soon as possible after the carnivals.

• If programs are to be used these will be produced and costs incurred by NHSSA.

• Prior to your race:

You will be directed to assemble in the marshalling area a few events before the event you are swimming in. The Marshalls will mark you off as present for your event, and just before your event is to start will walk you to the starting blocks and ensure you are standing in front of the lane you are to swim in.

• The Start:

The Referee will blow one long whistle. This is the signal for you to step up onto the starting block.  If you do not wish to start on the starting block, then you can stand next to it or get into the water and hold onto the edge of the pool. It is important that you do this quickly, ready yourself for the starting signal and remain still.

For the start of a backstroke race the referee will blow one long whistle which is the signal for you to get into the water, and then will blow a second long whistle when all swimmers’ heads have surfaced. This second whistle is the signal to get yourself ready for the starting signal.

When all swimmers are steady the starter will announce  take your marks.  This is the signal for you to be ready to dive into the water, or to start swimming. You will then hear a long buzzer sound which is the signal to start swimming.  Do not start until you hear this buzzer.

• The End of the Race:

Once all swimmers have finished the race, the referee will blow two short whistles. This is the signal for you to leave the pool. You do not leave the water until this signal. It is important that you exit the water from the sides of the pool and not climb up over the end. It is also important that you leave the water quickly so that the next race can be started.

Backstroke

• Backstroke is started in the water.
• You must remain on your back throughout the race, with the exception when you are executing a turn.
• At the finish you must be on your back, and you must have a part of your body above the water.

Butterfly

• Your arms must be brought up over the surface of the water when doing your arm strokes; and they must be brought up over the water at the same time.
• Your legs must be kept together throughout the race (butterfly kick); and your kicking action must be a dolphin type kick – you are not allowed to kick in the same way that you would kick in a Freestyle or Backstroke race.
• When finishing the race you must finish with both hands touching the end, and they must touch at the same time.

Breaststroke

• You are allowed only one butterfly kickprior to the first breaststroke kick after the dive or after when making a turn (if applicable).
• Your arms must move at the same time and in the breaststroke action.
• Your legs must move at the same time and in the breaststroke action.
• No butterfly kicking except for the one at the start and at each turn (if applicable) is allowed.
• No freestyle kicking is allowed.
• When finishing the race both hands must touch the wall at the same time, and they must touch the end apart.

Relays

• It is important swimmer two does not start before swimmer one has touched the end; swimmer three does not start their turn until swimmer two has touched the end; and swimmer four does not start before swimmer three has touched the end.
• If doing a Medley Relay (that involves the four different stroke) you must finish each stroke as you would in a normal race of each stroke.