Relay Rules Everyone Should Know
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TL;DR
• Relays must be made up of swimmers from the same club/school (exceptions: all-star/zone teams).
• Relays can be run as timed finals or prelims & finals.
• Multiple relays from the same club must be labeled A, B, C….
• Relay swimmers’ names must be submitted, and order must be declared before the race starts.
• Relay lineups can change between prelims & finals, but once a heat starts, no more changes allowed.
Relays are some of the most exciting races at any meet — but they come with their own set of rules. Here’s what swimmers, parents, and coaches should keep in mind:
✅ The Basics
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Team membership matters: All swimmers on a relay must be from the same USA Swimming club, school, or organization.
- Exception: At zone or all-star meets, relays may represent an LSC or federation.
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Relay format: Relays may be run as timed finals or with prelims and finals, just like individual events.
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Multiple relays per club: If a team enters more than one relay in the same event, they’re labeled as Team A, Team B, etc.
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Times are locked: Relay entry times must be submitted on the entry form for seeding; no changes later.
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Eligible swimmers: First and last names of potential relay swimmers must be listed according to the meet announcement.
🔄 Lineups & Changes
- Relay lineups can change between prelims and finals (helpful if a coach wants to rest certain swimmers).
- Once a relay swims in prelims and is disqualified, those swimmers cannot swim that relay again in finals.
- Coaches must submit the order of swimmers to the clerk of course or head lane timer before the race.
- No changes allowed after the heat starts.
💡 Real-Life Example
At a big invitational:
- The club enters two 400 Free Relays — Team A and Team B.
- Before prelims, the coach lists six swimmers as eligible for relays.
- In prelims, Team A swims with swimmers 1–4. Later, the coach can swap swimmer 5 into finals if they want — as long as all swimmers are on the eligible list.
- Right before the heat, the coach confirms the swimming order with the head lane timer. Once the race starts, that order is locked in.
📝 Quick Tips
- For swimmers: Always double-check with your coach before leaving a meet — you may be needed for a relay later in the day.
- For parents: Don’t worry if your swimmer isn’t listed in the first relay lineup; coaches often adjust relays between prelims and finals.
- For coaches: Relays are strategic — balancing speed, rest, and team depth. Make sure eligible swimmers are all listed ahead of time.
📖 Official reference: USA Swimming 2025 Rulebook (Rule 102.3).
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