SWIMMING SOUTH AFRICA COMPETITION RULES (2025/2026)

As part of staying on top of the sport and preparing our swimmers for success, it's important that both parents and swimmers understand the official competition rules set by Swimming South Africa.

The 2025/2026 National Swimming Competition Rules have just been published. These rules apply to all galas hosted under the Swim SA umbrella, including Level 1–3 regionals, national age groups, and championships. 

Whether your child is just starting out or already chasing national qualifying times, these rules will guide everything from event formats to race procedures, qualifying times, disqualifications, and even tech suit regulations.

Key things to take note of:

• Event formats: Galas may include heats and finals or be timed finals depending on the level of competition.
• Qualifying times: Swimmers must meet updated qualifying standards for each level, check these when entering competitions.
• Swimwear regulations: Specific rules apply to swimsuits at various levels, especially for age group swimmers.
• Conduct and disqualifications: Certain infractions (e.g. false starts, incorrect strokes) can lead to DQs, knowing the rules can help avoid this.
• Entries and withdrawals: There are guidelines for scratching from events without penalties.

At TC Aquatics, we encourage all our families to familiarise themselves with the official Swim SA rules so that you know what to expect and how to support your swimmer at every level of their journey.

If you’re ever unsure about what applies to your swimmer, don’t stress, our coaches and team managers are always happy to explain!