Ryde Carlile Swimming Club

Practice racing in a friendly and supportive environment

The Race Start

  • Friday Night Races are conducted under the one start rule.
  •  When competitors have been placed behind their block, the Starter will announce the event – for example,’100 meters Butterfly, Heat 1′
  •  The Referee will give a long whistle to signal competitors to take their positions on the back surface of the Starting Block (or for Backstroke to immediately enter the water). A second long whistle shall bring the Backstroke swimmer to the starting position.
  •  The Starter will give the precautionary command “Take your marks” and competitors will immediately take up their starting positions at the front of the starting block, or in the case of a Backstroke event, their starting position in the water, and remain stationary.
  •  When all competitors are stationary, the Starter will give the starting signal by hooter, whistle or command.
  •  Any swimmer starting before the starting signal has been given shall be disqualified. If the starting signal sounds before the disqualification is declared, the race shall continue and the swimmer or swimmers shall be disqualified upon completion of the race. If the disqualification is declared before the starting signal, the signal shall not be given but the remaining swimmers shall be called back, be reminded of the penalties, and start again.
  •  Competitors must finish in the lane in which they start and will remain in the water in their lanes at the finish of the event. On the signal from the Referee, competitors are to immediately leave the water by the side of the pool.
  •  In an Individual Medley event, the sequence of strokes is Butterfly, Backstroke, Breaststroke and Freestyle.