Subscribe to the NCSA BlogNCAA Installs New Rules on Swimsuits
July 29th, 2009 - by
When it was reported that Michael Phelps lost a race and his world record in the 200 meter free style it shocked the swimming world. Soon after, however, it was brought to light that the reason Germany’s Paul Biedermann was able to dominate Phelps was through the use of a new high-tech suit called the Arena X-Glide (pictured right).
Biedermann said after his 400 free win that the suit made him two seconds faster, but Phelps passed on the chance to wear one of the latest-generation suits. He’s been sponsored by Speedo since he was a teenager and wasn’t about to abandon the company that paid him a $1 million bonus after he won eight gold medals at the Beijing Olympics.
Shortly before the race, FINA confirmed that a ban on bodysuits will go into effect by May 2010, making this the last major competition where buoyancy aiding suits are allowed.
Now the NCAA has announced new regulations on swimsuits according to ESPN.
The NCAA is placing restrictions on high-tech suits in college competition similar to the ones swimming’s world governing body enacted this week.
The NCAA said Wednesday that its swimming and diving committees for all three divisions have endorsed rules that limit coverage and the type of material used. The Playing Rules Oversight Panel must still approve the changes, which could go into effect for the start of the season in September.
Suits cannot go past the knee, men’s suits must stop at the waist and women’s at the shoulder. Materials must be completely permeable to air and water and be no more than 0.8 millimeters thick.
The NCAA said it was not influenced by FINA’s decision. Like their counterparts on the international level, college coaches balked at seeing the new high-tech suits rewrite the record books.
Seventy NCAA meet records were set in 2009. But after much discussion, the committees decided not to wipe those marks from the books. Heat sheets at the 2010 NCAA championships, though, will include the pre-2009 records for context.
The impact of these rulings is yet to be seen, however it is safe to assume that fewer records will fall during the 2010 NCAA swim season.
