Starter's Guide to Swimming South Africa Galas All Ages 2025/26

Backstroke races and medley relays start in the water (World Aquatics rules, Part Two, Article 4.2):

1. Once swimmers have removed all clothing except swimwear, the Referee gives a short series of whistles to call them to the starting end.
2. A first long whistle: swimmers must immediately enter the water.
3. A second long whistle: swimmers return without undue delay to the starting position (facing the wall, hands on the grips).
4. When swimmers and officials are ready, the Referee holds out an arm towards the Starter. The swimmers are now under the Starter's control, and the arm stays out until the signal.
5. When all swimmers are in position, the Starter says "take your marks".
6. When all swimmers are stationary, the Starter gives the starting signal.

Dive starts (freestyle, breaststroke, butterfly, individual medley):

• On "take your marks", swimmers must immediately take a starting position with at least one foot at the front of the starting platform.
• The position of the hands doesn't matter.

Backstroke and medley relay starts (in the water):

• Swimmers line up facing the starting end with both hands holding the starting grips.
• Standing in or on the gutter, or bending the toes over the lip of the gutter, is not allowed.
• When a backstroke ledge is used, at least one toe of each foot must touch the end wall or the face of the touchpad. Bending the toes over the top of the touchpad isn't allowed.

In both cases the Starter gives the starting signal only once all swimmers are stationary.

World Aquatics uses a one-start rule: any swimmer who starts before the starting signal may be disqualified (Part Two, Article 4.4). There is no warning or second chance.

What happens next depends on timing:

Under World Aquatics rules (Part Two, Article 2.3.6), the Referee disqualifies a swimmer for starting before the signal when the early start is observed and confirmed by both the Starter and the Referee.

• When automatic officiating equipment is available, the Referee reviews the footage to verify the disqualification.
• The Starter reports any false start or other breach observed to the Referee.

The Starter decides whether a start is fair, subject only to the Referee. If the Starter decides it is not fair, the swimmers are recalled and the race is restarted (World Aquatics rules, Part Two, Article 2.5.3).

This is separate from a false start by a swimmer, which is dealt with under the one-start rule.

Under World Aquatics rules, if a swimmer delays the start, wilfully disobeys an order from the Starter, or commits any other misconduct at the start, the Starter reports it to the Referee, who may disqualify the swimmer.

The Starter doesn't disqualify swimmers directly; the Starter reports any false start or other breach to the Referee.

Yes. Under the SSA 2025-2026 competition rules, if the Referee decides a swimmer deliberately false started (or didn't swim to their capabilities), the swimmer is:

• fined R500, and
• withdrawn from all further events in that session, including relays in that session.

This is on top of the disqualification for starting before the signal.