World Games

1
World Games Open Water Swimming Course
Turn Buoy 3
Turn Buoy 4
350 meters
2 loops
17.5 meters
175 meters
175 meters
Turn Buoy 2
Turn Buoy 5
Turn Buoy 1
15 meters
On-the-beach Start and Finish
Beach
Procession of Athletes to Start
2
Open Water Swimming Position Number of Officials
Head Referee
Kayak 2
Lead Kayak
Lifeguard 3
Jet Ski 2
Lifeguard 1
Assistant Referee
Lifeguard 2
Lifeguard 4
Jet Ski 1
3 Timers and Assistants
Clerk of Course
3
POW (Pool Open Water) Course in 50-meter Pool
Swim competition
Swim direction
Start
Four outer turn buoys positioned near
intersection of backstroke flags and lanes 2 or 7
4
POW - Pool Open Water Examples
   
5
POW - Pool Open Water Examples
6
POW - Pool Open Water Examples
7

• POW Racing Guidelines
• The Start The start will be in the water where
  all swimmers must have one hand on the start
  rope. A maximum of 12 swimmers are in each heat,
  but this maximum number can be changed at the
  referees discretion. If all the swimmers in a
  heat cannot be line up on the starting rope, then
  some swimmers will be start behind the first
  group. The position of the swimmers at the start
  in crowded heats will be determined by a random
  draw. Each swimmer will select sticks from a
  bin. Each stick will have a number of it and
  will indicate the position of the swimmer at the
  start (e.g., 1 swimmer will get on the inside on
  the first row while 12 swimmer will start from
  the outside on the back row).
• Swim Caps Each swimmer will wear a numbered cap
  (i.e., 1 swimmer will wear cap 1, 2 swimmer
  will wear cap 2 and so on). In races where
  males and females are racing together, the caps
  of the males and females will be different. The
  numbered caps enable the swimmers to understand
  the Referees instructions.
• Race Countdown A 1-minute and 15-second warning
  will be given by the referee. If any swimmer is
  not in position by the 15-second warning, he or
  she will be immediately disqualified and will be
  asked to leave the pool. No final countdown is
  provided. The swimmer simply go at the start
  signal of the Head Referee. If any swimmer jumps
  the starting gun, beep or whistle, he or she will
  be immediately disqualified.
• Turn Buoys If the POW Race is conducted in the
  counter-clockwise direction, the swimmers must
  keep all the four turn buoys off of their left
  shoulder around each turn buoy. In the clockwise
  direction, the swimmers must keep the turn buoys
  off of their right shoulder.
• Timing Automatic timing can be used, but placing
  is the goal of POW Races.
• The Bell Lap As the first swimmer starts the
  last loop, the Referee will ring a bell
  indicating 1 loop remains.
• Disqualifications Swimmers can be disqualified
  for making intentional contact, obstruction or
  interference with another swimmer. Such
  unsportsmanlike conduct is judged either by the
  referee or assistant referee, who are located on
  opposite sides of the pool deck. A warning can
  be given by the Referees and is indicated by a
  whistle and a lap counter indicating the
  swimmers number. At the first rule infraction,
  the swimmer will be warned. At the second
  infringement, the swimmers will be asked to leave
  the pool.
• The Finish The finish is judged when the
  competitors either cross the plane of the finish
  or who pulls him/herself up and sits on the deck
  as determined by the referee.