Relays Rules

[SwimGPT]

Freestyle Relay:

• Four swimmers on each team, each swimming one-fourth of the distance.
• Any swimming stroke can be used.
• Finish rules are the same as individual freestyle races.
• No swimmer can swim more than one leg.

Medley Relay:

• Four swimmers on each team, each swimming one-fourth of the distance.
• The order of strokes must be backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly, and freestyle.
• Each stroke must follow the rules of individual medley races.
• Finish rules for each stroke apply at the end of each leg.
• No swimmer can swim more than one leg.

Mixed Gender Relay:

• Teams must have two males and two females.
• Other rules follow the same as freestyle or medley relays.

General Relay Rules:

• Each swimmer must touch the touch-plate or pad in their lane at the end of their leg.
• Swimmers can only start after their teammate has finished their leg.
• Any team member other than the designated swimmer cannot enter the pool before all teams have finished the race, unless it's an approved in-the-water start.
• Swimmers must leave the water immediately after finishing their leg, except for the last member.
• If a swimmer's feet lose touch with the starting platform before their teammate touches the wall, their team will be disqualified.
• In relay races involving in-the-water starts, if a swimmer loses touch with the end of the course before their teammate touches the wall, their team will be disqualified unless the swimmer returns to the original starting point at the wall.
• Second, third, and fourth swimmers cannot start from the top of the adjustable back plate and must have at least one foot in contact with the starting platform during the relay exchange.