Approximately 400 referees across England have now been trained on the revised competition regulations from World Aquatics.
Implementation Dates
The new regulations will be introduced in England in two phases:
- Level 1 Meets: Friday 27 March 2026
- All other levels (including unlicensed meets): Monday 11 May 2026
This phased approach allows additional time to support officials, coaches, and volunteers as the changes are rolled out.
Key Resources
The latest DQ code proforma is available within the Swimming Reference Card section of the official World Aquatics documentation:
- World Aquatics – Swimming Documents (see “Swimming Reference Card”)
A revised version of the DQ form will be published in due course.
Key Regulation Update
One notable change is the introduction of:
- Lapcards
- Warning signals for 400m Freestyle events
Guidance for Clubs
Clubs running 400m events (e.g. within club championships or Level 3 meets) may be considering lapcard provision.
While professionally produced lapcards are available from suppliers, there is no requirement from Swim England to purchase these.
Clubs are encouraged to consider low-cost, home-made lapcards, which are equally effective and help maintain accessibility across the sport.
Supporting Accessibility
In line with Swim England’s commitment to inclusivity, this guidance aims to ensure that participation in swimming remains accessible to individuals and clubs of all financial means.
