These suits are legal (apparently)

Swimsuits continue to generate debate in the Wisconsin high school swim community. With conference, sectional, and state competition coming up quickly, swimmers (and coaches and parents) continue to wonder what suits will be allowed in competition.

Prior to the start of the girls swim season this fall, the WIAA announced that it would follow the lead of the national high school federation and ban so-called high-tech suits for competition this year. See this previous post:

http://wiscswim.blogspot.com/2009/09/blue70s-here-today-gone-tomorrow.html

That's left many to ask -- which suits are legal, and which are not? Speculation was heightened recently when FINA -- the sport's international governing body -- released a list of legal suits. See this:

http://reachforthewall.com/2009/10/15/fina-puts-out-list-of-approved-2010-suits/

So far, the WIAA has maintained its official stance that it won't be releasing a list of approved suits for competition. See this from Sept. 18, 2009, published on the WIAA webite under "Swimming & Diving Interpretations and Questions & Answers"

Question: Will there be a list of approved suits?
Interpretation: NFHS – No, there is no plan this year to have a list of approved suits. The limits in style/shape, the elimination of zippers and/or fastening systems, the requirement of a textile suit of a woven or knit material and the requirement of the suit being permeable to water and air should take care of having the swimmers in legal suits. With this NFHS response in mind, below you will find some additional information that have been organized based upon recent interpretations from the NFHS:
1. Only one swimming suit shall be permitted to be worn in competition. Two suits should be relatively easy to identify.
2. A suit that does not meet the size/style restriction for girls and for boys should also be easy to identify.
3. Any zipper on a suit is a good indication of a violation.
4. The construction must meet all of the requirements in the rule – textile, permeable, no zippers (fastening system), size, and can’t aid in buoyancy. If the suit does not meet all requirements of the rule, the suit will not be considered legal.
5. If parts of the suit are permeable and other parts are not, the suit is not a legal suit.
6. “Textile” is defined as a material consisting of natural and/or synthetic, individual non-consolidated yarns used to constitute a fabric by knitting, weaving or braiding. Lycra, Spandex, Polyridge, Speedline, Streamline and PBT (texturized polyester) are considered textile materials. Coaches can check the clothing
tabs found on the inside of the suit or with the manufacturers for the material/fabric.
7. Any suit that has coating on it (i.e., plastic, rubber, foreign substance) that can be clearly seen may not be used for competition.

However, a recent email from WIAA officials obtained by wiscswim.blogspot indicates the following girls suits will be allowed in competition. The relevant parts of the email are reprinted here in full:

--------------------------------------

Speedo Aquablade: For Females—Style #705031 or #705032 (Brief)
--Style #719039 or #719040 (Recordbreaker)

--------------------------------------

Speedo FS Pro: For Females—Style #7190102 (Recordbreaker Knee), #7190203 (Recordbreaker)

--------------------------------------

Speedo FSII: For Females—Style #7190141 or #7190142 (Recordbreaker)
--Style #7190148 or 7190147 (Recordbreaker Knee)

----------------------------------------

TYR Tracer Light: For Females—Style TLAB6 (Aeroback) or TLSJ6A (Aeroback—Short John)


The TYR Tracer 2 and the Nike Hydra are not currently being identified as approved suits.

----------------------------------------

The email from the WIAA comes after coaches have requested clarifying information from the WIAA on exactly which suits would be allowable. In addition, retail swimsuit stores have apparently lobbied the WIAA for clarification, as this is the time of year during the girls swim season when parents and swimmers usually buy new suits for conference, sectional and state competition.