Winter Swimming European Championships HAVE BEEN CANCELED

Rules

1. Participation rules

A competitor represents the country whose national he/she is. A competitor can represent only one country in the Winter Swimming European Championships. A swimmer coming outside Europe may participate in races without official ranking.

2. Rules for all races

  • competitor must be present in the call room at scheduled call time, which is given on the race pass
  • competitor has to swim on his/her own lane throughout the swim
  • to finish the race, a competitor must touch the end of the lane, the touch pad, with at least one hand
  • competitor is not allowed to use any outer or inner thermal protection materials nor liquids
  • competing under influence of any kind of alcohol or drug is forbidden
  • in individual races men and women can swim in same heats
  • every member of the relay team can be switched to another swimmer if the switch is announced before two (2) hours of the first race of the day
  • false start in individual and relay races will result in disqualification
  • breaking the competition rules will lead to disqualification
  • when a race official observes a swimmer breaking a rule while swimming, the official will report it to the race referee, who will make a decision of whether to disqualify or not, in unclear situations the race referee will decide in favour of the competitor 
  • competitor or the leader of the team/club/association can make a protest on disqualification in written in 30 minutes after the end of the heat in question
  • protest payment is double the participation fee and the payment has to be made when making the protest
  • protest is reviewed by the race referee and if  the protest is rejected the referee must justify his/her rejection, in this case the protest payment will stay in organisation’s possession
  • if the protest is accepted, the protest payment will be refunded to the initiator of the protest

3. Rules concerning swim wear

  • competitor must wear a swim costume and a swim hat or any other hat
  • wearing boots, socks or other additional accessories is forbidden in competitive disciplines, but allowed in non-competitive disciplines
  • swimsuits must be non-transparent and may not go beyond the knee (max. 1/3 leg length) or past the shoulder
  • use of a wetsuit or any other thermal insulation is forbidden
  • use of goggles and a nose clip is allowed
  • a race referee may disqualify a competitor without appropriate swim wear

4. Rules of the start of the race

At the starting line the race referee will command competitors: ”RIISUKAA VAATTEET” (”Take of your clothes”). Competitor must immediately take of his/her clothes and put them in the nearby basket. On the command ”VETEEN” (”Get in the water”) competitor immediately enters the water descending the stairs and grabs the bar with one hand and puts his/her both shoulders under the water. In case competitor is situated too high, official may demand competitor to place lower. 

When all competitors are placed into the start position, the starter commands "PAIKOILLENNE” (”On your marks"). Competitor must hold the ladders until the claxon sound, indicating the start of the race. The official at the start will show red flag until competitor’s shoulders are under water. 
False starts will not be called back. A false start will result in disqualification.

5. Breaststroke 25 m and 50 m

  • swim style is ”head-up” breaststroke
  • the top of the head must not be submerged during the race
  • both hands must stay under water during race except at the start the hand holding the ladder may be swayed in front above water or under water and at finish at least one hand must touch the end of the lane, the touch pad
  • before making a turn, competitor must touch the end of the pool wall with, at least, one hand and after the turn swim the top of the head must stay above water
  • tumble turns are forbidden

6. Relay 4 x 25 m breaststroke

  • swim style is ”head-up” breaststroke
  • there must be, at least, one woman or one man in each team
  • team member may participate in one breaststroke relay only
  • both hands must stay under water during race except at the start the hand holding the ladder may be swayed in front above water or under water and at finish at least one hand must touch the end of the lane, the touch pad
  • the previous swimmer completing his or her turn by touching the wall signals the start for the subsequent swimmer.
  • the second, third and fourth swimmer must be in the water in the start position while the incoming teammate is touching the wall

7. Freestyle 25 m and 50 m

  • swim style is freestyle
  • to finish the race, a competitor must touch the end of the lane, the touch pad, at least with one hand

8. Relay freestyle 4 x 25 m

  • swim style is freestyle
  • there must be, at least, one woman or one man in each team
  • team member may participate in one freestyle relay only
  • the previous swimmer completing his or her turn by touching the wall signals the start for the subsequent swimmer.
  • the second, third and fourth swimmer must be in the water in the start position while the incoming teammate is touching the wall

Rules by the Winter Swimming Board of the Outdoor Association of Finland 18.5.2018