There should be a referee to conduct the meet; a clerk of the course, who sees that the participants are notified of the events; a scorer, who keeps an official score; three judges, who watch for fouls; three timers, a starter, and an announcer.
Score.—The score is, as a rule, 5 for first place, 3 for second, 1 for third. Relay races are often counted in different ways: 5 points, 6 points, or 8 points are the most common for the first place.
The signal for the start should be: 1. “Get- on your marks.” 2. “Get set.” 3. “Go.” (Pistol shot.) There should be no stepping over or back from starting line.
Three false starts disqualify a competitor.
Each swimmer should keep in her own course. If she crosses into the course of another swimmer and touches her she is liable to disqualification.
In turning the swimmer should touch the end of the pool with one or both hands.
The swimmer must touch the finish line with a hand out of the water.
If the stroke is judged for form the competitor must dive into the water, swim a given distance, turn, all in perfect form.
In the plunge for distance the dive should be made from a firm take-off. The body must be kept motionless, face down, no longer than sixty seconds, however. The distance is measured from a line parallel to the diving base, at right angles to base, to the farthest point reached by any part of the body.
A certain number of plunges, usually two or three, is allowed to each competitor.