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

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.