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Ban on Technical Suits
Effective 10/01/09
PTSC Parents:
Please be aware that that there is a change in the swim suit policy for both the USA and YMCA swimming leagues. USA Swimming has issued the attached letter which also applies to YMCA Meets.
The use of technical swim suits is banned effective Oct 1, 2009. Below is an excerpt from the attached email in regards to this ban. If you plan on buying performance swim suits for your son or daughter, be sure that they meet the requirements listed below. This applies to all YMCA meets as well as USA meets (if your son or daughter is swimming in USA meets as well).
The new swimsuit requirements are very specific and technical in nature, but the most obvious restrictions/rules are as follows:
- Swimsuits for men may not extend above the navel or below the knee and for women may not cover the neck or extend past the shoulders or below the knee;
- Material used for swimsuits can be only textile fabric which is defined as materials consisting of natural and/or synthetic, individual and non-consolidated yarns used to constitute a fabric by weaving, knitting, and/or braiding; and
- No zippers or other fastening devices are allowed except for a waist tie on a brief or jammer.
Please also note: for YMCA regular season meets, swimmers are required to wear their team suits. Performance suits, such as Fast Skins, Fast Skin II, etc., can be worn for Championship meets or any USA meets if they are participating in the USA swimming program (as long as they meet the requirements listed above).
My understanding is that any suit that has been approved by FINA (see: http://www.fina.org/project/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2389&Itemid=9) can be used. Use this list for swimsuit types (e.g., Speedo Fastskin Pro), but use the above guidelines for suit types (e.g., jammers or briefs for boys).
Note: The team suits are legal and can be used for all YMCA meets. If you are planning on purchasing a performance/technical suit and have any questions on whether or not it is legal, print out the information (prior to purchase is best) and show the information to your coach. They should be able to advise you on whether or not it is acceptable.
Cindy Sunquist
USA Swimming Coordinator