High School Swimming & Diving Rules Modifications Tackle Variety of Dives Throughout Championship Meets

INDIANAPOLIS, IN (April 15, 2026) — Starting with the 2026–27 swimming and diving season, state highschool associations could have the choice to alter the variety of dives carried out by members throughout a championship meet.

 

This change highlights 5 guidelines proposals introduced forth by the NFHS Swimming and Diving Rules Committee throughout its annual assembly, held March 22–24 in downtown Indianapolis. The NFHS Board of Directors subsequently accepted all submitted rule modifications.

 

Rule 9-4-2h (Choice of Dives) now states that “by state association adoption, the number of qualifiers advancing to the semifinal round may be increased.” An extra observe states, “by state association adoption, states may alter the number of dives for their state championship series of meets.”

 

In its rationale, the committee identified that participation in highschool diving continues to say no in lots of states, and lowering the variety of dives may develop alternatives for student-athletes to take part within the occasion.

 

“The committee noted that the exception within the note is tightly crafted and limited to state association championship competition,” mentioned Sandy Searcy, NFHS director of sports activities and liaison to the Swimming and Diving Rules Committee. “Allowing championship meet modification is consistent with other provisions in Rule 5-1-1 that allow states to address issues such as scheduling and affect only their own competitions, similar to deciding whether to contest events in other sports.”

 

Additional accepted modifications have been made to guidelines concerning uniforms, digital gadgets, and the type of particular person occasions.

 

Under Rule 3-3-4b(2), wording was added to make clear that bonded or taped seams on fits aren’t topic to permeability necessities. This change mirrors requirements established by World Aquatics.

 

Rules 3-5-1 and 3-5-2 have been additionally up to date to state that no competitor shall put on any audio (microphone) or video (digital camera) machine throughout a race or dive.

 

Mirroring language was added to guidelines governing the butterfly (Rule 8-2-3g) and freestyle (Rule 8-2-4e), stating: “Once some part of the swimmer’s head has passed the 5-yard/5-meter mark immediately prior to reaching for the finish, the swimmer may be completely submerged.” The modifications align with nationwide tendencies within the sport.

 

“Sandy Searcy’s leadership is greatly appreciated as is her passion for swimming and diving, and the same can be said for every member of the NFHS Swimming & Diving Rules Committee,” mentioned Rod Garman, chair of the Swimming and Diving Rules Committee and assistant government director of the Kansas State High School Activities Association. “So much knowledge and expertise are evident during committee discussions of rules proposals and each member’s contributions are valued. The listening and respect for one another is paramount when making such important decisions that impact education-based swimming and diving across the country.”

 

An entire itemizing of the swimming and diving guidelines modifications shall be accessible on the NFHS web site at www.nfhs.org. Click on “Activities & Sports” on the high of the house web page and choose “Swimming and Diving.” The print model of the 2026-27 Swimming & Diving Rules Book shall be accessible for buy in late May at www.NFHS.com, and the digital model shall be accessible by way of NFHS Digital at www.NFHS.org.

 

According to the 2024-25 NFHS High School Athletics Participation Survey, swimming and diving is the Tenth-most fashionable sport for boys with 119,102 members in 8,105 faculties, and the ninth-most fashionable sport for ladies with 138,303 members in 8,465 faculties.