Swimming Protest Rules

In most sports, there is a way to protest certain eligibility requirements and disqualifications. Swimming is no exception. Protests in swimming give coaches and competitors a chance to appeal disqualifications, debarments, or results that have had a negative impact on a competitor. This process will allow a coach and competitor to stand before the referee and a jury of appeals in order to present information that may result in a different outcome that overturns the negative decision.

Protest Reviewers

Protests have very specific guidelines to prevent excessive usage of this procedure. Protests against judgments made by any judges, which includes the starters, stroke, turn, place, and relay take-off judges, may only be reviewed by the referee, and any decision that the referee makes is final. If a swimmer’s protest is not results-based, the referee can appoint a meet jury. The jury must consist of between three and five members, and at least one of the jury members must be either a coach or a swimmer.

Protest Making

Protests have a specific timeline they must follow in order for them to be considered. Protests that are made regarding the eligibility of a swimmer or relay team to compete must be made in writing and given to the referee before the meet. If a protest is not resolved prior to the race, the referee or meet jury must allow the swimmer to compete despite being under protest, and the protest must be announced at the start of the race.

Any other competition-related protests (typically made during the meet) must still be made in writing and must also be given to the referee within 30 minutes of the alleged violation or ruling being made.

Aside from a competition category protest, the official results of protests can’t be announced to the participants, the disputed awards of the race may not be given, and any points scored cannot be distributed until the protest has been resolved or withdrawn in writing. 

Decision Appeals

Unless protesting a place or other results judgment (where the referee’s decision is final), a swimmer can appeal a referee’s or meet jury’s ruling. Protests involving rules that correspond with parts one and seven of the USA Swimming rulebook must be submitted in writing within 10 days to the Chair of the USA Swimming Rules and Regulation Committee, and they must issue a ruling within five days of receiving the protest. This ruling will be final and binding for the swimmer and for the committee. Any other protests can be submitted to the National Board of Review alongside the referee’s or jury’s written decision.

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