Please note: Regulations for the Team Championships are currently under review for the 2024-25 season and so those currently published are subject to change.
SWI i The BUCS Swimming Championships shall be conducted in accordance with the following BUCS sport specific regulations, the BUCS general regulations, and the Swim England Regulations and Technical Rules of Swimming and Para Swimming. Further event specific requirements, rules, and regulations will be contained within the entry and pre-event information for each Championship.
SWI ii In the event that these BUCS sport specific regulations contradict the BUCS general regulations, these BUCS sport specific regulations will supersede, unless specifically stated otherwise.
SWI 1 Championships BUCS will host annually the following Championships:
SWI 1.1 Long Course Championships The programme shall include the events listed in Appendix 1 (‘BUCS Competition Offer and Associated BUCS Points’), subject to entry numbers.
SWI 1.2 Short Course Championships The programme shall include the events listed in Appendix 1 (‘BUCS Competition Offer and Associated BUCS Points’), subject to entry numbers.
SWI 1.3 Team Championships The programme shall include the competitions listed in Appendix 1 (‘BUCS Competition Offer and Associated BUCS Points’), subject to entry numbers.
SWI 2 Protests and disputes
SWI 2.1 A protest is an allegation that Swim England Regulations, Technical Rules or Promoter’s Conditions (including BUCS Swimming Regulations)
governing an event have not been complied with or have been misinterpreted. Protests shall be dealt with in accordance with Swim England Regulations.
SWI 2.2 In relation to SWI 2.1, should a Jury of Appeal be appointed, the BUCS appointed Meet Director will chair the Jury of Appeal or appoint a substitute. The Chair of the Jury of Appeal must be a Swim England member. Two further Swim England members shall complete the Jury.
SWI 2.3 Matters that do not relate to Swim England Regulations, Technical Rules or the Promoter’s Conditions shall be dealt with as a dispute in accordance with BUCS REG 7.7. The events appeal panel will be chaired by the Meet Director or a BUCS Executive representative. It will also comprise of two other persons attending the meet, appointed by the Chair, one of which shall be a BUCS Executive representative if such a representative is not the Chair.
Individual Championships (Long Course and Short Course Championships)
SWI 3 Promoter’s Conditions Promoter’s Conditions will be published in the relevant Entry and Pre-Event Information documents for each Championships.
SWI 4 All individual and relay events will be decided by heats and finals, except for the 400m/800m/1500m Freestyle and the 400m Individual Medley, all of which will be decided on a Heat Declared Winner (HDW) basis.
SWI 5 BUCS Points BUCS Points shall be awarded as per Appendix 1 (‘BUCS Competition Offer and Associated BUCS Points’) and REG 6, subject to entry numbers. Whilst for the Short Course Championships institutions can enter more than two swimmers per individual event and more than one team per relay event, and there is no restriction on how many of these can qualify for a final, at both Championships institutions will be limited to only their highest placed two swimmers in individual events and one team in relay events being awarded BUCS Points.
Team Championships *Regulations are currently under review for the 2024-25 season and so those currently published are subject to change.*
SWI 6 Organisation
SWI 6.1 The Championships will be a one-day event at a single venue. The day will consist of a qualifying round involving all teams entered, followed by a Championship, Trophy and Shield finals for those teams which qualify as per SWI 10.2.6.
SWI 6.2 For both the qualifying round and each of the finals, the programme shall consist of the following events for men and women, with each competitor restricted to a maximum of three individual events per gala:
- 4 x 50m Medley Relay
- 4 x 1 Length Individual Medley
- 100m Freestyle
- 100m Butterfly
- 100m Backstroke
- 100m Breaststroke
- 200m Freestyle
- 50m Butterfly
- 50m Backstroke
- 50m Breaststroke
- 50m Freestyle
- 4 x 50m Freestyle Relay
SWI 7 Squad and team selection
SWI 7.1 Following teams being entered on BUCS Play, individuals who wish to be eligible for selection for a team must apply to join, and be accepted into, the team’s squad on BUCS Play by the deadline listed in the entry information. This must include all potential swimmers including any reserves.
SWI 7.2 At the event, for both the qualification round and the finals, a team sheet must be submitted at registration detailing who will swim each event from those listed in the team’s squad on BUCS Play. Individuals who are not in the squad on BUCS Play will not be eligible to compete.
SWI 7.3 Where an institution/Playing Entity has entered more than one team, the first team should always be the strongest team available to represent that institution/Playing Entity.
SWI 7.4 Between the qualifying round and the finals, swimmers are permitted to move up to a higher ranked team, but no swimmers are permitted to move down to a lower ranked team. For example, if a swimmer has competed for the first team in the qualifying round, they will not be eligible for their institution’s second team in the finals of the Championships. Additionally, individuals are not permitted to be named on a team sheet, or compete, for more than one team in either stage (qualifying round/finals) of the Championships.
SWI 8 Timekeepers All participating teams MUST provide a timekeeper equipped with a stopwatch for BOTH the qualifying round and the finals (if they have qualified). Points may be deducted from any teams failing to comply.
SWI 9 Withdrawals and no-shows
SWI 9.1 Teams withdrawing two weeks or less before the Championships will be fined £300.
SWI 9.2 Any team who does not attend the Championships without prior notice will be fined £500.
SWI 9.3 No-shows or unauthorised withdrawals for the finals will be fined £750.
SWI 10 Qualifying round
SWI 10.1 Heat and lane draws Teams will be allocated to heats and lanes based on freestyle relay times submitted at the point of entry.
SWI 10.2 Points and positions
SWI 10.2.1 Finishing positions shall be determined by the time achieved by each swimmer/team.
SWI 10.2.2 Gala points shall be awarded as follows: The fastest swimmer/team in each event will receive an allocation of points which equates to the number of teams entered. each subsequent position will receive one point less. For example, if 50 teams are entered, first place in each event will receive 50 points, second place 49 points and so on.
SWI 10.2.3 Relays shall score double points.
SWI 10.2.4 Failing to start or finish an event, or disqualification from an event, shall score zero.
SWI 10.2.5 In the event of a tie when determining which teams progress to the finals a placings countback shall be used. In the event of a tie on placings the fastest combined four relay times shall be used.
SWI 10.2.6 Qualification for the finals The 10 highest scoring 1st teams shall go forward to the Championship Final. Of the remaining teams, the 10 highest scoring shall go forward to the Trophy Final and the next 10 highest scoring shall go forward to the Shield Final.
SWI 11 Finals
SWI 11.1 Lane draws and order of events
SWI 11.1.1 For each final, the teams which have qualified will be allocated to lanes based on their ranking in the qualifying round. Lane draws will be published as soon as possible after the results are calculated from the qualifying round.
SWI 11.1.2 If a team withdraws between the qualifying round and the finals, they will not be replaced and will be subject to a fine as per SWI 9.3.
SWI 11.1.3 For each event there will be six races; three races for each gender with one for each final. For each event the three Women’s races will be followed by the three Men’s races, swum in the order of Shield, then Trophy, then Championship.
SWI 11.2 Points and positions
SWI 11.2.1 Finishing positions in each event shall be determined by the time achieved by each swimmer/team.
SWI 11.2.2 Gala points shall be awarded as follows: 10 points for a win to one point for tenth place.
SWI 11.2.3 Relays shall score double points.
SWI 11.2.4 Failing to start or finish an event, or disqualification from an event, shall score zero.
SWI 11.2.5 In the event of a tie in a final a placings countback shall be used. In the event of a tie on placings the fastest combined four relay times shall be used.
