I Scream DQ!

To get DQ also means to get disqualified. If you don't swim correctly, then you will get disqualified from your event. For example, if you don't swim the stroke correctly [if your swimming breast stroke and while still pulling the breast stroke pull, but kicking flutter kick(example)] then you would get disqualified. Another way you can get disqualified is if you false start. To false start means to start early. The way you would false start is if you move or dive in after the official says "take your mark", but before the "go" siren goes off. Those aren't the only ways that you can get disqualified. You can also get disqualified if you miss your event. If you miss your event in a championship meet than you could possibly get scratched from your next event. To get scratched means that you are being disqualified before the event swims. You don't just get scratched if you miss an event, but you can get asked to get scratched. If when you get to the meet and you decide at the last minute that you don't want to swim a certain event, then you can scratch yourself from that event (or have a coach scratch you). Another way that you could get disqualified from your event if the way you finish or turn (mainly in butterfly or breaststroke). In butterfly and breaststroke you need to finish with two hands. Also when you touch to turn, the touch needs to be with two hands. If you don't do that then you will also get disqualified. There are lot of other ways to get disqualified, but those are the main ones.

Go to http://www.usaswimming.org/USASWeb/DesktopDefault.aspx?TabId=95&Alias=Rainbow&Lang=en and click on "Click here for a complete copy of the 2010 Rulebook". When the open file tab pops up, click okay. You need to read pages 17-21 (not the numbers on the thin bar on the right side, but the page numbers on the bottom of the big pages in the center of the screen). That will tell you more about disqualifications and more reasons that you would get DQ.

Did you know that most of the new fast suits (suits you wear to make you go faster in a meet) are against the USA and Illinois swimming rules. You can get scratched from your event if you break the rule and wear one!