Swimming DQ reasons, by stroke
The most common ways a swim gets disqualified, with the Swimming Australia rule number for each, plus false starts, the 15 m rule and relay takeovers.
A disqualification (DQ) means a swim doesn't count, usually for a false start, a stroke technique breach specific to that stroke, missing the 15 m underwater limit, or an early relay takeover. The referee has final say (SW 2.1). Many club nights are more relaxed than official meets about acting on a DQ, especially for junior swimmers.
Common DQ reasons
Freestyle
SW 5.3- Not breaking the surface by the 15 m mark from a start or turn.
- Not touching the end of the pool/wall at each turn and the finish.
Backstroke
SW 6.3-6.5- Not breaking the surface by the 15 m mark (SW 6.3).
- Turning off the back without an immediate continuous turning action (SW 6.4).
- Not finishing on the back (SW 6.5).
Breaststroke
SW 7.1-7.6- Stroke cycle not one arm stroke to one leg kick, in that order (SW 7.2).
- Hands not together, or elbows breaking the surface except on the last stroke before a turn or finish (SW 7.3).
- Head not breaking the surface at least once each stroke cycle (SW 7.4).
- Feet not turned outward during the propulsive part of the kick, or a downward butterfly-style kick (SW 7.5).
- Not touching with both hands simultaneously at a turn or the finish (SW 7.6).
Butterfly
SW 8.2-8.5- Arms not recovering simultaneously over the water (SW 8.2).
- A non-simultaneous or breaststroke-style kick (SW 8.3).
- Not touching with both hands simultaneously at a turn or the finish (SW 8.4).
- Not breaking the surface by the 15 m mark (SW 8.5).
False starts and relays
False start
SW 4.4- A swimmer leaves the block before the starting signal. Under current rules, a single false start disqualifies that swimmer, there's no warning first.
Relay takeover
SW 10.13-10.14- A teammate's feet leave the block before the swimmer in the water has touched the wall (early takeover, SW 10.13).
- A team member other than the one due to swim enters the water before the race is finished for every swimmer and team (SW 10.14).
Both of these are easy to picture as a timing problem: an inspector or official is watching exactly when feet leave the block relative to the incoming swimmer's touch, down to a fraction of a second. That is also why relay takeovers in particular come up more often in a fast-paced carnival than in a slower club night.
How club nights handle DQs
Official meets apply these rules strictly, and the referee's word is final (SW 2.1). A club night is a different setting, and many clubs choose a lighter touch, especially for younger or developing swimmers who are still learning technique.
A common approach is to note the technique issue so a coach can work on it, while still recording the time and counting it toward a personal best. Some clubs reserve strict DQ enforcement for older or more competitive age groups, and go easier lower down. None of this is set by Swimming Australia's rules: it is each club's own call, so check what your committee does before assuming either way.
Because EasyMeet checks every swim against a swimmer's own previous best automatically, a club that chooses to still count a technically-DQ'd swim for development purposes can do so without losing the PB tracking that swim would otherwise have earned.
Disqualification questions
Who decides on a disqualification?
The referee has final say on any disqualification (SW 2.1), usually acting on a report from a judge of stroke, inspector of turns, or starter who saw the infringement. A DQ is reported to the swimmer or their coach, not announced as the reason over the PA.
What's the most common DQ at a club meet?
False starts and breaststroke technique calls (two-hand touches, the one-stroke-one-kick cycle) are the most commonly reported, simply because they happen on every single race, where something like an early relay takeover only comes up during relay events.
Does a false start always mean disqualification?
Under the current rule (SW 4.4), yes: a single false start disqualifies that swimmer, there is no warning. This is a change from older rules that allowed one false start per race before DQs started.
What is the 15 m rule?
Freestyle and backstroke swimmers must break the surface of the water by the 15 m mark from each start and turn (SW 5.3 freestyle, SW 6.3 backstroke). It stops a swimmer gaining an unfair advantage by swimming long distances underwater, where there is less drag.
Do club nights DQ swimmers the same way as official meets?
Not always. Many clubs are more relaxed at a club night, especially for junior or developing swimmers: a technique issue might be noted as feedback rather than acted on as a DQ, and the time still counted. That is a decision each club or committee makes for itself, not a Swimming Australia rule.
Can a disqualification be challenged?
At an official meet there's usually a process to query a decision with the referee or lodge a protest, set out in that meet's conditions of entry. At a club night, this is typically just a conversation with the convenor or chief official on duty.
Sources
Medley relay order, Timekeeper duties, Heats and seeding, Handicap swimming.
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