How do I protest a decision or a problem at a meet?

Protests are possible if the rules for the conduct of the competition are not observed, if other conditions endanger the competition or swimmers, or against the decisions of the Referee. No protests are allowed against decisions of fact.

Unless the Meet Referee decides it is a matter of correcting a simple error, protests about irregularities must be in writing on Protest Form PR1:

• before the meet: sent to the Meet Referee
• during the meet: sent to the Meet Referee, who follows the Protest Procedures (PR 2)
• lodged within 30 minutes of the results being posted for the event (the time of posting must be written on the result sheet)
• with a deposit (if any) at the discretion of the meet organisers
• if exceptional circumstances arise after the meet: sent to the Branch Executive within 48 hours of the official results becoming available

Source: Masters Swimming Australia General Rules, June 2026, GR 6.15 (https://mastersswimming.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/MSA-General-Rules-June-2026.pdf).