School Sport Unit

NSW Combined High Schools Sports Association Handbook

Amended 2026

4.21 Swimming - NSWCHSSA Championship 

Refer NSWCHSSA Handbook “State championships” – Section 2.9.

4.21.1 Championship events

The following events are contested:

 

 

 

 

Note:

(i) All relays are school based only.

(ii) 6 x 50 metres boys and girls “All Age” relays are to contain 1 (one) swimmer only from each of the six age groups and can swim in any order.

(iii) A swimmer may compete in only 1 (one) age 4 x 50 metre freestyle relay at their own or at a higher age group.

Events – age divisions – strokes – distances for boys & girls

An ‘x’ represents events available to both boys and girls in that age group.

 

 

Multi class events

Relay events

 

4.21.2 Trophies

The following trophies are completed for each year:

Parkes Family Trophy – Most outstanding performance.

(a) Boys

Sprint Trophy – 17-19 years 50 metres freestyle.

Shield – 17-19 years 100 metres freestyle.

The Sir Harry Rawson Challenge Cup – 17-19 years – alternates each year from 200 metres freestyle, 400 metres freestyle and 800 metres freestyle.

Conveners Trophy – All Age 6 x 50m relay.

(b) Girls

Sprint Trophy – 17-19 years 50 metres freestyle.

Rose Bowl Trophy – 17-19 years 100 metres freestyle.

Girls 200 metres Freestyle Trophy – 17-19 years.

Girls Backstroke Trophy – 17-19 years 100 metres.

Girls Breaststroke Trophy – 17-19 years 100 metres.

Girls Butterfly Trophy – 17-19 years 100 metres.

Girls 200 metres Individual Medley Trophy – 17-19 years.

Girls 400 metres Individual Medley Trophy – 17-19 years.

Girls 800 metres Freestyle Trophy.

W.H. Hellings Memorial Trophy – girls association point score.

Conveners Trophy – All Age 6 x 50m relay.

(c) Boys and Girls

Eyeline state-wide trophy - 12 x 50 m relay.

(d) School trophies

(i) Champion School (Aggregate).

(ii) Champion Co-Educational School (Aggregate).

(iii) Champion Boys School (Aggregate).

(iv) Champion Girls School (Aggregate).

4.21.3 Starting times

(a) Where possible, the first events scheduled each day for both heats and finals will commence at 8:30am.

(b) Appointed championship officials will report for duty/briefing half an hour prior to the start time of the first event.

4.21.4 Championship rules

(a) These championship will be conducted under the rules of FINA, with exceptions noted in these by laws.

(b) Relays

(i) School relay teams (4 x 50 metres)

Shall consist of six (6) competitors whose names shall be listed and submitted electronically with the association team. Any four of the six nominated may compete in either heats or final.

(ii) School relay teams all age (6 x 50 metres)

Shall consist of six competitors, one swimmer from each of the six age section and can swim in any order. Six competitors one from each age section shall be listed, plus up to six reserves one from each age section may be listed and submitted with the association team. Only one competitor of the two nominated in each age section may compete in either heats or finals.

(iii) Relay registration forms

School relay teams must produce a completed form to the association team managers for submission via the "Meet Manager" program.

(iv) All relay competitors must be the correct age.

Penalty – disqualification.

(v) In relay events, schools are permitted to enter up to a maximum of two (2) teams per event provided they have qualified in accordance with the NSWCHSSA rules of entry. In the situation where a school has two (2) teams which qualify for a particular event, each team must remain independent of each other without any transfer of personnel for the duration of the meet.

(vi) All relay orders must be finalised prior to the start of the session. Relay order may not be changed after the session start.

(c) Out of bounds

Any area deemed as out of bounds will be described in the championship program. Offenders, competitors or otherwise, will be asked to leave the pool. All spectators must remain in the grandstand.

(d) Limitation of events

A competitor may enter any number of individual events. This includes being able to compete in both individual medleys – the 200 metre and 400 metres.

Different events:

(i) One medley relay

(ii) One freestyle age relay and

(iii) One freestyle all age relay

(iv) One state-wide relay.

(e) Marshalling

There will be limited marshalling calls. Competitors must report to the marshalling area as soon as their events are called. If competitors have not reported they will risk elimination from their event. Substitutes must report to marshalling.

(f) Method of starting

(g) False starts

"One start" rule will apply, Swimmers who false start may be disqualified.

(h) Coaching

Once competitors are in the marshalling area, they are not to receive any coaching or advice. Penalty – disqualification.

(i) Timekeepers

"Automatic Officiating Equipment" shall be used to determine times and places. Where possible, three (3) manual buttons per lane shall be used for timekeepers to record the times in each lane.

(j) Judging

Competitors must remain in their lanes at the completion of an event until “whistled out” by the referee.

(k) In distance events

Competitors who, in the opinion of the state convener / championship manager or their appointees, are not likely to be placed, must withdraw from the water when instructed to do so.

(l) Protests

All protests shall be lodged by the association team manager in writing to the referee within twenty minutes of the conclusion of event. Protests shall be dealt with by the swimming committee. The referee is the sole arbitrator in points of law.

(m) Age section

The meet shall be conducted in six (6) age groups per sex for able-bodied athletes: 17-19 years, 16 years, 15 years, 14 years, 13 years and 12 years. The championship will be conducted in two (2) age groups per sex for Multi-Class athletes: 16-19 years, 12-15 years.

A competitor must swim in their age group determined by their age as at 31 December in the year of competition. (Refer NSWCHSSA Handbook "student eligibility" - ). When an event is not offered in each age group, competitors must compete at the nearest age above. “Open” events are open to competitors from any of the age groups.

(n) Point score

First 12, second 10, third 8, fourth 6, fifth 5, sixth 4, seventh 3, eight 2, ninth 1, tenth 1.

In all cases, these points are doubled for relays.

(o) Champions

(i) School

The school gaining the greatest aggregate of points in all age groups shall be declared the champion school.

(ii) Association

The association gaining the greatest total in all age groups shall be declared the champion association.

(iii) Age championship points

The swimmer gaining the greatest total number of points in their age/sex group shall be declared the age champion. Provision exists to include points gained in events not offered in each age group (ie. 800m Freestyle, 400m Freestyle, Individual Medley).

(p) Perpetual trophies

All trophies must be returned to the NSWCHSSA office by the end of February each year.

(q) Costume

Competitors must compete in an approved costume as per FINA / Swimming Australia regulations.

(r) Representation of associations

Entries:

(i) Individual events

Three (3) per association with the exception of 400m individual medley and 800m freestyle. A maximum of two (2) swimmers per association can be nominated, with the exception of a swimmer whose nominated time would have placed them fifth or above at the previous year’s championship. Swimmers must have met the qualifying time as set by the meet director. There will be a maximum of two (2) heats at the state championship.

(ii) Relay events

Three (3) per association. (Note: all relays are school based only).

(iii) Association may enter a 4th swimmer in an event, provided that the nominated swimmer equals or betters the time of the 5th place getter at the previous year’s championship. This time must be achieved at the appropriate association swimming championship.

(iv) Where an association has chosen a swimmer(s) in their team to compete at the NSWCHSSA Swimming Championship, and that swimmer has indicated an alternate pathway for NSW All Schools selection, the association may make a request to the Swimming Convener to add additional swimmer(s) to their team to compete in the events that the alternate pathway swimmer(s) is competing.

The number of additional swimmer(s) per event, would be based on the number of swimmer(s) in that event who will be taking the alternate pathway.

(v) All entries to be confirmed with the convener by 6:00pm the day prior to the championship. No additional entries will be accepted after this date without prior approval from the convener.

(s) Competitor withdrawal

(i) A competitor withdrawing from an individual final must do so in writing, through an association team manager, to the state convener / championship manager within fifteen minutes of the posting of event results.

(ii) Any competitor who withdraws after this time may be scratched from all other individual finals.

(t) Swimming caps

(i) Individual events

If a swimming cap is worn it must be an association swimming cap.

(ii) Relay events

Where swimming caps are worn all team members must wear either the association swimming cap or the school swimming cap. All team members wearing swimming caps must wear the identical cap.

(u) Swimming committee

Shall consist of the following:

(i) State convener.

(ii) The championship referee.

(iii) A NSWCHSSA executive committee member.

(iv) An association sports coordination officer.

(v) A association team manager.

Members (iv) and (v) must be from different associations. The state convener shall be the chairperson.

Any protests, appeals and judicial problems will be dealt with by the swimming committee, where necessary.

 

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