Rules

Location: For the 5k and 10k events, all swims must be completed in a 50-meter pool ONLY—no other length of pool will be accepted.

Eligibility: All swimmers must be 2018 full members of USMS (or the equivalent FINA organization for foreign swimmers) on or before the day of their swim. One-Event USMS memberships are not available for this event. USMS swimmers will have their membership verified automatically. Foreign swimmers must verify their FINA Organization membership by submitting an electronic or mailed copy of their FINA organization 2018 registration card to the event director by September 16, 2018. Foreign swimmers are not eligible for USMS records or All-American status.

Rules: 2018 USMS Rules govern these events, including USMS Rule 102.12.1 regarding swimwear. Drafting, flotation, and propulsive devices (pull buoys, fins, paddles, snorkels, wet suits, etc.) are not permitted. No more than two swimmers should share a lane. If a lane is shared, each swimmer must stay on his or her side of the lane during the entire race (i.e. no circle swimming).

Timing & Splits:

● An adult acting as a starter/head timer/referee shall be present at all times during the swim, having no additional responsibilities during the swim other than acting as a timer if necessary. Each swimmer must have a timer who shall time and count lengths by recording cumulative split times every two lengths during the swim. One person may serve as a timer for no more than two swimmers at the same time.

● Timing may be done with a stopwatch or electronic timing device..

● Cumulative split times must be recorded to the nearest second on the official event split sheet. Any final time submitted without tenths or hundredths will be defaulted to .99 second, and any final time submitted with tenths (.x) will be defaulted to .x9 second. Enter .99 if you have no tenths or hundredths of a second as a documented final time. No adjustment will be made for swims completed at elevation.

● Save your split sheet!

Unsporting Conduct: Any act of fraud, deception, dishonesty, or knowingly providing false information (including name, date of birth, age, or gender) in this event may result in disciplinary action by USMS pursuant to USMS Rule 402.3, 402.4.3, and 402.4.4

Individual Events: Men and women compete separately in age groups of five-year increments: 18-24, 25-29, 30-34, and as far as necessary. The swimmer’s age as of Dec. 31, 2018 will determine his or her age group. (Reference: USMS rule 301.4: "In open water and postal swims, the eligibility of a swimmer shall be determined by the age of the swimmer on December 31 of the year of competition, except for 18-year-olds, who must be 18 on the day that they swim.") That means that each swimmer can only submit an entry in one age group for the 2018 USMS 5K/10K ePostal Nationals.