NSW Combined High Schools Sports Association Handbook
Amended 2020
4.21 Swimming - NSWCHSSA Championships
Refer NSWCHSSA Handbook “State Championships” – .
4.21.1 Championship events
The following events are contested:
(a) Freestyle
Distance |
Age division |
800 metres |
Boys open (seeded timed final) |
400 metres |
Boys 12-14, 15-16, and 17-19 years (seeded timed final) |
200 metres |
Boys 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, and 17-19 years (seeded timed final) |
100 metres |
Boys 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, and 17-19 years |
50 metres |
Boys 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, and 17-19 years |
- b) Form strokes (backstroke, breaststroke, and butterfly)
Distance |
Age division |
100 metres |
Boys 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, and 17-19 years |
(c) Individual medley
Distance |
Age division |
400 metres |
Boys 12-14, 15-16, and 17-19 years (seeded timed final) |
200 metres |
Boys 12-14, 15-16, and 17-19 years (seeded timed final) |
(d) Medley relay
Distance |
Age division |
4 x 50 metres |
Boys open |
(e) Freestyle relay
Distance |
Age division |
4 x 50 metres |
Boys 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, and 17-19 years |
6 x 50 metres |
Boys all age |
12 x 50 metres |
Mixed "any age" 6 boys and 6 girls |
4 x 50 metres |
Central Schools 2 boys/2 girls 17-19 years |
Note:
(i) All relays are school based only.
(ii) 6 x 50 metres boys and girls “All Age” relays are to contain 1 (one) swimmer only from each of the six age groups and can swim in any order.
(iii) A swimmer may compete in only 1 (one) age 4 x 50 metre freestyle relay at their own or at a higher age group.
Events – age divisions – strokes – distances for boys & girls
An ‘x’ represents events available to both boys and girls in that age group.
Individual events
Age group/events |
50 free |
100 free |
200 free |
400 free |
800 free |
100 fly |
100 breast |
100 back |
200 IM |
400 IM |
12 years |
x |
x |
x |
- |
- |
x |
x |
x |
- |
- |
13 years |
x |
x |
x |
- |
- |
x |
x |
x |
- |
- |
14 years |
x |
x |
x |
- |
- |
x |
x |
x |
- |
- |
Junior |
- |
- |
- |
x |
- |
- |
- |
- |
x |
x |
15 years |
x |
x |
x |
- |
- |
x |
x |
x |
- |
- |
16 years |
x |
x |
x |
- |
- |
x |
x |
x |
- |
- |
Inter |
- |
- |
- |
x |
- |
- |
- |
- |
x |
x |
17-19 years |
x |
x |
x |
x |
- |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
Open |
- |
- |
- |
- |
x |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Multi Class Events
Each event below is offered for both boys and girls.
All Multi Class events will be timed finals using seeded heats.
Age group/events |
50 free |
100 free |
50 fly |
50 breast |
50 back |
100 back |
200 IM |
12-15 years MD |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
16 - 19 years MD |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
Relay events – Each event below is offered for both Boys and Girls with the exception of those stated as mixed teams. All teams are School Based Teams.
12 x 50m State-wide Freestyle Relay (6 boys and 6 girls, any age, swim in any order, one team per association)
6x 50m All Age Freestyle Relay (MUST contain 1 swimmer from each age group 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17- 19, swim in any order). This event is offered as a separate girls and boys event.
Central schools 4 x 50m freestyle relay shall consist of six (6) competitors (includes 2 reserves) and must comprise two boys and two girls of any age from 12 - 19 years. Competitors must be enrolled at the central school of nomination.
Age group/events |
4 x 50m freestyle relay |
4 x 50m medley relay |
6 x 50m freestyle relay |
12 x 50m freestyle relay |
12 years |
x |
- |
- |
- |
13 years |
x |
- |
- |
- |
14 years |
x |
- |
- |
- |
15 years |
x |
- |
- |
- |
16 years |
x |
- |
- |
- |
17-19 years |
x |
- |
- |
- |
Open |
- |
x |
One swimmer from each age group |
6 boys and 6 girls of any age |
Central Schools |
2 boys/2 girls |
- |
- |
- |
4.21.2 Trophies
The following trophies are completed for each year:
Parkes Family Trophy – Most outstanding performance
(a) Boys
Sprint Trophy – 17-19 years 50 metres freestyle
Shield – 17-19 years 100 metres freestyle
The Sir Harry Rawson Challenge Cup – 17-19 years – alternates each year from 200 metres freestyle, 400 metres freestyle and 800 metres freestyle
Conveners Trophy – All Age 6 x 50m relay
(b) Girls
Sprint Trophy – 17-19 years 50 metres freestyle
Rose Bowl Trophy – 17-19 years 100 metres freestyle
Girls 200 metres Freestyle Trophy – 17-19 years
Girls Backstroke Trophy – 17-19 years 100 metres
Girls Breaststroke Trophy – 17-19 years 100 metres
Girls Butterfly Trophy – 17-19 years 100 metres
Girls 200 metres Individual Medley Trophy – 17-19 years
Girls 400 metres Individual Medley Trophy – 17-19 years
Girls 800 metres Freestyle Trophy
W.H. Hellings Memorial Trophy – girls association point score
Conveners Trophy – All Age 6 x 50m relay
(c) Boys and Girls
Eyeline state-wide trophy - 12 x 50 m relay
(d) School trophies
(i) Champion School (Aggregate)
(ii) Champion Co-Educational School (Aggregate)
(iii) Champion Boys School (Aggregate)
(iv) Champion Girls School (Aggregate)
4.21.3 Starting times
(a) The first events scheduled each day for both heats and finals will commence at 8:30am.
(b) Appointed championship officials will report for duty/briefing at 8:00am each day.
4.21.4 Championship rules
(a) These championships will be conducted under the rules of FINA, with exceptions noted in these by laws.
(b) Relays
(i) School relay teams (4 x 50 metres)
Shall consist of six (6) competitors whose names shall be listed and submitted electronically with the association team. Any four of the six nominated may compete in either heats or final.
(ii) School relay teams all age (6 x 50 metres)
Shall consist of six competitors, one swimmer from each of the six age section and can swim in any order. Six competitors one from each age section shall be listed, plus up to six reserves one from each age section may be listed and submitted with the association team. Only one competitor of the two nominated in each age section may compete in either heats or finals.
(iii) Relay registration forms
School relay teams must produce a completed form to the association
team managers for submission via the "Meet Manager" program.
(iv) All relay competitors must be the correct age.
Penalty – disqualification.
(v) In relay events, schools are permitted to enter up to a maximum of two (2) teams per event provided they have qualified in accordance with the NSWCHSSA rules of entry. In the situation where a school has two (2) teams which qualify for a particular event, each team must remain independent of each other without any transfer of personnel for the duration of the meet.
(vi) All relay orders must be finalised prior to the start of the session. Relay order may not be changed after the session start.
(c) Out of bounds
Any area deemed as out of bounds will be described in the championship program. Offenders, competitors or otherwise, will be asked to leave the pool. All spectators must remain in the grandstand.
(d) Limitation of events
A competitor may enter any number of individual events. This includes being able to compete in both individual medleys – the 200 metre and 400 metres.
Different events:
(i) One medley relay
(ii) One freestyle age relay and
(iii) One freestyle all age relay
(iv) One state-wide relay
(e) Marshalling
There will be limited marshalling calls. Competitors must report to the marshalling area as soon as their events are called. If competitors have not reported they will risk elimination from their event. Substitutes must report to marshalling.
(f) Method of starting
(i) The check starter shall place competitors in their respective starting positions for the events. Students may start on the block, beside the block or in the water to help prevent incidents and accidents caused by diving. The referee will give out a long drawn out crescendo of the whistle to alert the officials and spectators and also to call the competitors to their positions in preparation to begin the race. Students starting in the water must have 2 feet on the wall and 1 hand on the backstroke bar. In the case of backstroke events competitors must start in the water. On receiving the command “take your marks”, all competitors must remain stationary until the signal to start is given.
(ii) In the case of relays. For a swimmer starting in the water, The swimmers feet must be on the wall when the incoming swimmers hand touches the wall. The swimmer starting in the water must start on the left of the lane. If swimmer 2 starts in the water, swimmer 1 will not be able to gain an official time.
(g) False starts
"One start" rule will apply, Swimmers who false start may be disqualified.
(h) Coaching
Once competitors are in the marshalling area, they are not to receive any coaching or advice. Penalty – disqualification.
(i) Timekeepers
"Automatic Officiating Equipment" shall be used to determine times and places. Where possible, three (3) manual buttons per lane shall be used for timekeepers to record the times in each lane.
(j) Judging
Competitors must remain in their lanes at the completion of an event until “whistled out” by the referee.
(k) In distance events
Competitors who, in the opinion of the state convener / championship manager or their appointees, are not likely to be placed, must withdraw from the water when instructed to do so.
(l) Protests
All protests shall be lodged by the association team manager in writing to the referee within twenty minutes of the conclusion of event. Protests shall be dealt with by the swimming committee. The referee is the sole arbitrator in points of law.
(m) Age section
The meet shall be conducted in six (6) age groups per sex for able-bodied athletes: 17-19 years, 16 years, 15 years, 14 years, 13 years and 12 years. The championships will be conducted in two (2) age groups per sex for Multi-Class athletes: 16-19 years, 12-15 years.
A competitor must swim in their age group determined by their age as at 31 December in the year of competition. (Refer NSWCHSSA Handbook "student eligibility" - ). When an event is not offered in each age group, competitors must compete at the nearest age above. “Open” events are open to competitors from any of the age groups.
(n) Point score
First 12, second 10, third 8, fourth 6, fifth 5, sixth 4, seventh 3, eight 2, ninth 1, tenth 1.
In all cases, these points are doubled for relays.
(o) Champions
(i) School
The school gaining the greatest aggregate of points in all age groups shall be declared the champion school.
(ii) Association
The association gaining the greatest total in all age groups shall be declared the champion association.
(iii) Age championship points
The swimmer gaining the greatest total number of points in their age/sex group shall be declared the age champion. Provision exists to include points gained in events not offered in each age group (ie. 800m Freestyle, 400m Freestyle, Individual Medley).
(p) Perpetual trophies
All trophies must be returned to the NSWCHSSA office by the end of February each year.
(q) Costume
Competitors must compete in an approved costume as per FINA / Swimming Australia regulations.
(r) Representation of associations
Entries:
(i) Individual events
Three (3) per association.
(ii) Relay events
Three (3) per association. (Note: all relays are school based only).
(iii) Association may enter a 4th swimmer in an event, provided that the nominated swimmer equals or betters the time of the 5th place getter at the previous year’s championships. This time must be achieved at the appropriate association swimming championships.
(iv) Where an association has chosen a swimmer(s) in their team to compete at the NSWCHSSA Swimming Championships, and that swimmer has indicated an alternate pathway for NSW All Schools selection, the association may make a request to the Swimming Convener to add additional swimmer(s) to their team to compete in the events that the alternate pathway swimmer(s) is competing.
The number of additional swimmer(s) per event, would be based on the number of swimmer(s) in that event who will be taking the alternate pathway.
(s) Competitor withdrawal
(i) A competitor withdrawing from an individual final must do so in writing, through an association team manager, to the state convener / championship manager within fifteen minutes of the posting of event results.
(ii) Any competitor who withdraws after this time may be scratched from all other individual finals.
(t) Swimming caps
(i) Individual events
If a swimming cap is worn it must be an association swimming cap.
(ii) Relay events
Where swimming caps are worn all team members must wear either the association swimming cap or the school swimming cap. All team members wearing swimming caps must wear the identical cap.
(u) Swimming committee
Shall consist of the following:
(i) State convener
(ii) The championship referee
(iii) A NSWCHSSA executive committee member
(iv) An association sports coordination officer
(v) A association team manager
Members (iv) and (v) must be from different associations. The state convener shall be the chairperson.
Any protests, appeals and judicial problems will be dealt with by the swimming committee, where necessary.