Starting with the 2026–27 swimming and diving season, state high school associations will have the option to change the number of dives performed by divers during championship meets.
This change highlights five rules proposals that the National Federation of High School Sports (NFHS) Swimming and Diving Rules Committee brought up at their annual meeting held on March 22-24, 2026.Â
The NFHS Board of Directors approved these rule changes that will go in affect next school year.Â
The new rules are:Â
Championship Diving Modifications (Rule 9-4-2h)
Number of Dives:Â State associations now have the option to alter the number of dives required for their state championship series.
Semifinal Qualifiers:Â States may now choose to increase the number of qualifiers who advance to the semifinal round of a diving competition.
Rationale:Â This change aims to combat declining participation by allowing for more inclusive or shorter formats that could encourage more student-athletes to participate.
Uniforms and Equipment (Rule 3-3-4b(2))
Suit Construction:Â Clarification was added that bonded or taped seams on swimsuits are not subject to permeability requirements. This aligns high school rules with World Aquatics standards.
Electronic Devices (Rules 3-5-1 and 3-5-2)
Recording/Audio Gear:Â The rules now explicitly state that no competitor is permitted to wear any audio (microphones) or video (cameras) devices during a race or a dive.
Finish Requirements (Rules 8-2-3g and 8-2-4e)
Submergence at Finish:Â For both the Butterfly and Freestyle events, a swimmer may now be completely submerged once any part of their head has passed the 5-yard/5-meter mark immediately before reaching the finish line. This update reflects current national trends in competitive swimming.
