3-3-1, 3-3-2, 3-3-2 PENALTIES, 3-3-3, 3-3-4 PENALTIES
Rule 3-3 was reorganized to specify penalty protocol for uniform violations.  All current language addressing suit coverage was moved to Rule 3-3-2.   The penalty associated with this rule was written to provide clear indication that the coach of the competitor should be notified when a violation of the coverage requirement has occurred.  In the case of suit construction and cap violations, for practicality and concerns over delay of meet, the officials may communicate with either the competitor or coach.

8-1-7, 8-2-1g, 8-2-2h, 8-2-3g, 8-2-4e, 8-3-5
A legal finish now requires the competitor to contact either the touchpad or the finish end according to the finish rules pertaining to the stroke being swum.  The rule no longer requires the touchpad to be contacted by the swimmer when electronic timing is used. This change reiterates that a competitor should not be disqualified when the touchpad is not activated or when the swimmer does not physically touch the pad. The competitor has legally completed the race if he/she touches the touchpad or the finish end. The new rule also allows for situations in which pools may not have access to touch pads that stretch the entire width of the lane or in which touchpads may slip off during the course of a race.  In those cases, the competitor legally finishes the race by contacting the finish end.

The end wall is defined as the contiguous wall perpendicular to the race course.  Touching in or above the gutter is not a legal finish.

9-1-3
The rule was updated to comply with current industry standards.  The change aligns with current diving board manufacturers installation directions.

9-4-Table
The degree of difficulty for back and reverse double somersaults was lowered to match back and reverse 1½ somersaults. Meet management is advised to edit diving software programs relative to these changes so that the correct degree of difficulty is applied when computer software is utilized to conduct a meet.

9-5-6
Descriptions of diving positions were adjusted to maintain consistency with national trends.  The language has been updated to clarify requirements of the straight, pike, tuck, and free positions.

9-7-4 NOTE (NEW)
The addition of the NOTE is consistent with the diving referee’s capability of consulting with a designated member of the judging panel concerning a possible failed dive.  Now the diving referee may confer with said member regarding an unsatisfactory dive.  Use of another perspective is appropriate because the penalty for an unsatisfactory dive is severe.  Often, judges are not able to be positioned so that all have an ideal view of the diver’s performance.