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Directions for 2025-26 NCAA Swimming and Diving Officials’ Certification/Recertification Test

Posted on August 23, 2025August 23, 2025 by Brian Day

(New “NCAA Swimming and Diving 2025-26 and 2026 Rules Book”)
-1-Link for Rules Book:
https://www.ncaapublications.com/p-4721-2025-26-and-2026-27-swimming-and-divingrules-book.aspx
This IS A free download. If you want to purchase the book, go to this link after
September 15, 2025 and the book will be available for purchase at that time.
-2-Go to the USA Swimming Website: https://www.usaswimming.org/
-3-LOGIN:
-A-If you DO have a USA Swimming login, go to step 4 and log into your account
-B-If you DO NOT currently have a USA Swimming Login, perform the following
steps:
-a-click on “Login/Register in the top right-hand corner.
-b-click on “Create a Login”.
-c- “Do you have an existing account”: Insert “No” and click “Continue”.
-d-Confirm Age: “Are you over 16 years old?”
-if you are over 16 years old, insert “Yes” and click “Continue”
-if you are not over 16 years old, stop and exit. You are not eligible.
-e- “User Info” Complete this page.
-Notice you create your username/password at the bottom of your page.
– “Member Id”-Leave that space blank!!!!!!!!
-When “Continue” turns red, click on “Continue”.
-f- “Validate Email”:
-Go to your email account.
-There will be a 6-digit code that you need to insert in the blank
-It will inform you of your username which is your email address.
(Don’t lose your password!! )
-Insert that code into the blank and click “Submit”
-g- “Legal Acknowledgements”
-Review and click on “Yes Contact Information is Correct”.
-(Feel free to “Update Contact Information” if you would
like to add more information before you click)
-h- “Legal Acknowledgements”/USADA Disclaimer
-Complete the 5 questions and click “Continue”.
-i-“Signature”: Type in your name/signature and click on “Sign the Documents”
-j-YOU WILL NOW BE AT THE LANDING PAGE-SUCCESS!!!!

-4-Login to your account:
Username will be your email address and insert your password.
(If you have forgotten your Username, Password or both, look under
“Login” and follow those steps to retrieve what you need)
-5-Once you Login, it will take you to your “Landing Page.”
-6-Click on “Education” and then click on “Course Catalog”
-7-Click on the light blue circle with the title “Officials”
-8-On that page, it will read “Welcome to USA Swimming University”
-9-If you scroll down the slightest bit, you will see two tests; you will select one of
the two, based on the following criteria:
-10-If you ARE a CURRENT USA SWIMMING OFFICIAL, click on:
2025-2027 NCAA Supplemental Swimming & Diving Exam
(Description: Current USA Swimming Officials who pass this test will also be
registered as an NCAA Swimming Official)
-if you ARE NOT A CURRENT USA SWIMMING OFFICIAL, click on:
2025-2027 NCAA Swimming & Diving Exam
(Description: This test is for NCAA Officials or brand new officials seeking USA
Swimming Certification and NCAA Registration.
Make sure you complete the correct test for you!
Click on the test and get started! Good luck!!
ONE LAST ITEM: When you successfully complete your test AND REGISTER for CSOA
(registration will be opening VERY soon), don’t forget you need to send your NCAA test
score to Brian Day (brdaycsoa@gmail.com) in order to receive your certification.

NCAA Men’s and Women’s Swimming and Diving 2025-26 Preseason Reminders

Posted on August 22, 2025August 22, 2025 by Brian Day

With the new playing season upon us, I would like to wish the entire membership the best of luck during the coming season. I look forward to working closely with the membership to continue to improve and elevate the sport of swimming and diving. If you have any questions throughout the year, or if you need to request an interpretation, please contact me via email at greg@swimdiverules.com or by phone at (973) 486-5501.

NCAA Rules Process:

The NCAA Swimming and Diving Rules change process occurs every two years, and began in January 2025, with a call for suggested items for consideration. A non-binding survey was distributed to the entire NCAA membership, and the results were discussed at the College Swimming Coaches Convention, followed by consideration for adoption by the Swimming and Diving Rules Committee, in May. The newly adopted rules are included in the rules book that can be downloaded or purchased from NCAA publications (www.ncaapublications.com). These rules changes will be effective for the 2025-26 and 2026-27 seasons.

NCAA Officials Program:

All officials that wish to be NCAA registered officials are required to take the new test, which was updated and will be released on August 15, 2025.

Most conferences mandate the use of NCAA registered officials, and only registered officials can be selected to officiate at the NCAA Championships, in the three divisions.

Officials registration/test link:
https://www.usaswimming.org/officials/ncaa-officials

Pre-season Reminders:

Listed below are key pre-season items and deadlines that may be applicable to you or your institution.

Deadlines:

September 1: Deadline for host institutions to notify opponents that they are required to eliminate diving at home meets because of a facility that does not conform to minimum depth standards (Rule 6-1-3-c). Under these circumstances, diving must be eliminated from all home competitions during the current academic year, and no points will be awarded for diving events.

September 1: If an institution not having three-meter equipment does not wish to compete in three-meter events at away meets, it must notify each host institution at the time of contract or not later than Sept. 1 of that academic year (Rule 6-1-2-b). In this case, two one-meter events shall be held as prescribed in Rule 6-1-2-a.

September 1: If a host institution has no three-meter equipment available, it must notify all opponents of the facility limitations at the contracted time of the agreement, or not later than Sept. 1 of the academic year (Rule 6-1-2-c). In this case, two, one-meter events shall be held as prescribed in Rule 6-1-2-a.

Please Note: If the host institution fails to notify the visiting team as prescribed (by September 1) that it does not have a one-and/or three-meter facility, then the visiting team shall be awarded the maximum number of points any one team could score in both events had both events been held. The host institution shall receive no points for either the one-meter or three-meter events (Rule 6-1-2-d).

Additionally, the choice to not have divers or a diving program is an individual institutional decision but does not automatically eliminate the diving events when an institution travels to an away contest or at a conference championship meet. The events are still conducted for any institutions with divers entered.

Seven Days Prior to First Competition: Per rule 3.1.1.d.6, swimmers or divers with physical disabilities or with a need for a religious exception from the swimsuit rule may request a waiver for customization from the NCAA swimming and diving secretary-rules editor.

Rules Changes:

Listed below are several rules changes that are included in the new rules book.

Underwater Cameras (Rule 2-2.9.b-c)

When underwater cameras are available, allow officials to utilize the system to determine if violations have occurred.

Meet Committee – Appeals (Rule 4-2)

In the event of an appeal at NCAA and conference championship meets, the meet committee has the authority to act in cases of procedure, but not to overturn rules violations.

Starter (Rule 4-8)

Allow video review to determine if a disqualification for a false start in an individual event is accurate.

Diving Officials (Rule 4-31)

Alignment of diving referee duties and responsibilities with USA Diving and World Aquatics, including:

Detailed procedures for outdoor meets in situations with inclement weather.

Clarifications of the standards for diving judges to award points throughout the scoring range.
Details for allocation of points for dives completed in the wrong position.
Clarification of the instances when a dive should be declared a failed dive.

Description of Diving (Rule 6-4)

Alignment of diving rules with USA Diving and World Aquatics, including:

Detailed definition for points allocation when a diver is too close or hits the board during the flight and entry.
Correct definition of dives using the tuck position to clarify that the knees and feet must be close together within the body line of the shoulders.
Consistent description of each element of the dives, including starting positions, approach, position of the dive, and entry.

Championship Meets (Rule 8-4)

Clarify that 50-yard stroke events are allowed in all championship meets.

NCAA Championships:

NCAA Division II Men and Women: March 11-15, 2026 (Evansville, IN)

NCAA Division III Men and Women: March 18-21, 2026 (Indianapolis, IN)

NCAA Division I Women: March 18-21, 2026 (Atlanta, GA)

NCAA Division I Men: March 25-28, 2026 (Atlanta, GA)

Greg Lockard, secretary-rules editor
NCAA Men’s and Women’s Swimming and Diving Rules Committee

This email was sent to NCAA men’s and women’s swimming and diving conference commissioners and head coaches in all three divisions based on contact information in the NCAA Directory; as well as the NCAA Men’s and Women’s Swimming and Diving Rules Committee, collegiate men’s and women’s swimming and diving officials and selected NCAA staff members.

NCAA Men’s and Women’s Swimming and Diving Rules Review

Posted on November 26, 2024November 26, 2024 by Brian Day

NCAA Men’s and Women’s Swimming and Diving Rules Review

NCAA Rules Process:

Waiver Requests – Institutions requesting a waiver of the NCAA Swimming and Diving playing rules must submit the request in writing to the NCAA Secretary-Rules Editor, Greg Lockard (greg@swimdiverules.com). Waiver requests must include the name(s) of the student-athlete, rationale for requesting a waiver of the specific playing rule and any other pertinent documentation (e.g. medical documentation), if necessary.

The NCAA Swimming and Diving Rules change process occurs every two years, and will begin in January 2025, with a call for suggested items for consideration. A non-binding survey will be distributed to the entire NCAA membership, and the results will be discussed at the College Swimming Coaches Convention, followed by consideration for adoption by the Swimming and Diving Rules Committee, in May. The suggested rule changes will be considered by the Playing Rules Oversight Panel (PROP); and if approved, will be included in the 2025-2026, 2026-2027 rulebook that will be released on September 1, 2025.

The current rules book is available to be downloaded or purchased from NCAA publications (www.ncaapublications.com).

NCAA Officials Program:

All officials that wish to be NCAA registered officials are required to take the new test, which was updated and released on September 1, 2023
Most conferences mandate the use of NCAA registered officials, and only registered officials can be selected to officiate at the NCAA Championships, in the three divisions.

Rule Reminders:

Required Levels of Timing (Rule 4-21-2-a, b, c, d)

a. Three levels of judging and timing equipment (primary, secondary, and tertiary) are required at championship meets, for NCAA time standards, consideration standards, and optional entry standards to be achieved.

b. For clarification: primary = automatic equipment; secondary = semiautomatic equipment; tertiary = manual watches.

c. The following priority list shall be used to designate levels of judging and timing equipment:

1. Automatic equipment.

a. When stationary overhead cameras recording 100 images per second and that are fully integrated into the primary electronic system are in place at a competition, it is permissible to use the system as the primary back-up system, and no other back-up system is necessary.

2. Two-button semiautomatic equipment.

3. Two manual watches per lane.

d. For a time to be considered for entry into an NCAA championship it must have been achieved using priority level one equipment (automatic equipment).

Artificial Aids (Rule 3-1-4-a)
ARTICLE 4.a. No swimmer is permitted to wear or use any device or foreign substances, including kinesiology tape, to help their speed, pace, buoyancy, or body compression in competition.

The use of tape, kinesiology tape, and compression sleeves is permitted to treat a documented medical condition, but not to gain an advantage over the remainder of the field. The prescribed course of treatment must describe a minimally invasive plan identifying the necessary placement of tape, kinesiology tape or compression sleeves to support the athlete’s medical condition. Documentation must be presented to the referee and must come from a physician or certified athletic trainer to be considered.

Note: Requests for use of any form of tape must be presented to the referee and do not require approval from the Secretary-Rules Editor in advance.

Invitational Meets (Participation Limits, Scoring & Format)

(Rule 5-3-1-c)
The host institution shall establish and publish in advance, limits on the numbers of individual, relay and/or total events in which each contestant is allowed to compete in a relay or invitational meet.

(Rule 7-4)
The scoring of place values in invitational meets shall be established and published in advance by the host institution.

(Rule 8-3)
The established program for an invitational meet shall be established and published in advance by the host institution.

Bona Fide Competition (Rule 9-1-1)
Non-collegiate athletes may not participate in collegiate meets in any form. Non-collegiate athletes may compete in exhibition events conducted outside of the meet program.

Note: These exhibition events may occur in breaks, during the regularly contested collegiate competition. Non-collegiate athletes may not compete against collegiate athletes.

2025 NCAA Championships:

Division II Men and Women – Indianapolis, IN (March 12-15, 2025)
Division III Men and Women – Greensboro, NC, (March 19-22, 2025)
Division I Women – Federal Way, WA (March 19-22, 2025)
Division I Men – Federal Way, WA (March 26-29, 2025)

I look forward to working closely with the membership throughout the year. If you have questions or need to request an interpretation, please contact me via email at greg@swimdiverules.com or by phone at (973) 486-5501.
Greg Lockard, secretary-rules editor
NCAA Men’s and Women’s Swimming and Diving Rules Committee.

This email was sent to NCAA men’s and women’s swimming and diving conference commissioners and head coaches based on contact information in the NCAA Directory; as well as the NCAA Men’s and Women’s Swimming and Diving Rules Committee, and selected NCAA staff members.

NCAA Position on Revised FINA Backstroke Finish Rule

Posted on March 15, 2023March 15, 2023 by Gary Matyko

Effective February 21, 2023, World Aquatics, formerly known as FINA, implemented a change to the Backstroke finish rule, allowing the swimmer to fully submerge prior to reaching for the finish.

Here is the revised World Aquatics Rule 6.3:

“6.3 Some part of the swimmer must break the surface of the water throughout the race, except that once some part of the head of the swimmer has passed the 5 metres mark immediately prior to reaching for the finish, the swimmer may be completely submerged. It is also permissible for the swimmer to be completely submerged during the turn, and for a distance of not more than 15 metres after the start and each turn. By that point the head must have broken the surface.”

Effective March 10, 2023, Derek Paul, Chair USA Swimming Rules & Regulations Committee implemented the same rule revision as follows:

USA Swimming Rule USA Swimming Rule 101.4.2 (pp 24) – To Comply with World Aquatics SW6.3

Stroke — The swimmer shall push off on his back and continue swimming on the back throughout the race. Some part of the swimmer must break the surface of the water throughout the race, except it is permissible for the swimmer to be completely submerged during the turn and for a distance of not more than 15 meters (16.4 yards) after the start and after each turn. By that point, the head must have broken the surface of the water. Additionally, once some part of the head of the swimmer has passed the 5 meter mark (long course and short course meters) or 5 yard mark (short course yards) immediately prior to reaching the finish, the swimmer may be completely submerged prior to the touch.

With NCAA Division III and Division I Championship meets upcoming this week and next week, CSOA President Brian Day reached out to Greg Lockard, NCAA Swimming and Diving Rules Committee Secretary-Rules Editor, to obtain an NCAA position regarding these rule changes. Mr. Lockard stated that a rule change will not be implemented before the upcoming championship meets. Mr. Lockard contacted the respective Referees for the upcoming championship meets to inform them of the NCAA Rules Committee position on this recent World Aquatics and USA Swimming rule change. It is expected that the Backstroke finish rule will be revised in the upcoming NCAA rules change process.

If interested, use the following link for the World Aquatics Competition Regulations

https://resources.fina.org/fina/document/2023/03/03/b460304b-c4fb-4a78-9307-31452ccb95ee/Final-Competition-Regulations.pdf

If interested, use the following link for USA Swimming Rules and Policies information:

https://www.usaswimming.org/about-usas/governance/rules-policies?utm_campaign=MarketingCloud&utm_medium=email&utm_source=3-9-23+Rule+Changes+-+Backstroke+Finish+and+Take+Your+Marks&utm_content=Rules+%26amp%3bamp%3b+Policies+Page

NCAA Position on Arena Powerskin Carbon Duo Female Competition Suit

Posted on February 17, 2023February 17, 2023 by Gary Matyko

Arena has obtained FINA approval of new two piece female competition suit. Some of you might see this suit during the 2023 conference championship season. The suit consists of a bottom piece, similar to a mens jammer style swimsuit, that covers the swimmer from the waist to above the knees. The second piece is similar to a standard female swimsuit and is worn over the bottom piece. Both pieces of the Arena Powerskin Carbon Duo are marked with a FINA approval logo.

In response to an email from the CSOA, Greg Lockard, NCAA Swimming and Diving Rules Committee Secretary-Rules Editor, issued the following position on the Arena Powerskin Carbon Duo Female Competition Suit:

There is no prohibition against a two piece suit in the NCAA Rules. As stated in Rule 3-1-1-d-5: “The suit should contain the International Certification Trademark from FINA and said logo is exempt from the above logo restriction.”

If you would like to familiarize yourself with this new suit design, go to the following link:

Arena Powerskin Carbon Duo Competition Suit

If you would like to search the FINA website to find information on any other approved swimsuit, use the following link:

FINA Approved Swimwear

Clarification of Waiver Process for use of Athletic or Kinesiology Tape for Swimmers

Posted on January 31, 2023January 31, 2023 by Gary Matyko

In response to questions on the November 2022 Rules Newsletter, on January 30, 2023 the Rules Committee provided clarification on the waiver process for addressing injuries or medical conditions that occur on the day of competition. There is no change to the waiver process for long-term or short-term needs that are known prior to leaving for the meet location.

In the event a waiver is needed for use of athletic tape or kinesiology tape for an injury or medical condition that occurs during a competition or immediately preceding the event, and time is of the essence, the documentation from the medical personnel may be presented directly to the Meet Referee for approval.

With this clarification, the Meet Referee is now authorized to act for the NCAA Swimming and Diving Secretary-Rules Editor to approve waivers for use of athletic or kinesiology tape for injuries that occur on the day of competition, when time is of the essence. Waivers presented to the Meet Referee must include the name of the swimmer, rationale for the requested waiver, and medical documentation.

The complete communication is provided here:

Rules Clarification for Use of Kinesiology Tape

Rules Review from the NCAA

Posted on November 10, 2022November 10, 2022 by Gary Matyko

On November 8, 2022, Greg Lockard, NCAA Swimming and Diving Secretary-Rules Editor, issued a rules review memo to all Men’s and Women’s Swimming and Diving Conference Commissioners and Head Coaches.

The process for requesting approval for swimmers to use kinesiology tape (Rule 3-1-4) is defined. All requests must be submitted in writing to Greg Lockard with a letter from a designated health official. Upon approval, the Coach/swimmer shall present the Referee with Mr. Lockard’s approval document before each meet. This is the same process that Mr. Lockard established for the 2021-2022 season and requires actions over and above Rule 3-1-4 requirements. It is not acceptable for a swimmer to compete with kinesiology tape solely with a note or letter from a team trainer or health official. The swimmer must obtain an approval letter from Mr. Lockard. There are no changes to Rule 3-1-4 for divers.

There are no COVID-19 Waivers approved for the 2022-2023 season. Last season, there were four rules waivers issued due to COVID-19. These waivers are not in effect for the 2022-2023 season. Leaving empty lanes between swimmers or relay teams is no longer permitted, consistent with Rule 5-7 Note.

A rule interpretation applicable to swimsuits for swimmers and divers (Rule 3-1, Articles 1 and 2) is presented. In summary, the rule interpretation states that swimmers and divers must wear the swimsuit that is gender specific for the respective competition. That is, a women’s suit must be worn in women’s competition and a men’s suit must be worn in men’s competition, inclusive of all warmups, trials, finals, and any time trial sessions. Waivers may be granted for medical issues that require coverage due to a medical condition. This is the same rule interpretation communicated in Mr. Lockard’s August 24, 2022 memo.

The process for requesting waivers of NCAA Swimming and Diving playing rules is defined.

The complete communication from Greg Lockard is provided here

https://ncaaorg.s3.amazonaws.com/championships/sports/swimdive/rules/2022PRXSW_NovemberRulesNewsletter.pdf

Access to the NCAA test

Posted on October 17, 2022October 17, 2022 by Brian Day

I’ve gotten instruction from the NCAA Rules Secretary on accessing the NCAA test:

Go to usaswimming.org to establish your personal account and password.

You can then login and click on the EDUCATION tab, select COURSE CATALOG and scroll down to NCAA TESTS.

When you successfully complete your test, you need to copy and paste a copy of that email to Brian Day using the CONTACT US page.