Pool lifesaving events

Individual events

• Obstacle swim: 200 m under eight obstacles for juniors, seniors and masters 30–49; 100 m for U11–U14 nippers and masters 50+; 50 m for U9–U10 (§7.10.1).
• Manikin carry (50 m): 25 m freestyle, dive for a manikin and carry it 25 m, in the carrying position within 5 m of the pick-up line (§7.10.2).
• Rescue medley (100 m): 50 m freestyle, then an underwater swim to a manikin 17.5 m from the turn (10 m for U13–U14) and carry it home; not raced by U9–U12 (§7.10.3).
• Manikin carry with fins (100 m): 50 m with fins, then carry the manikin 50 m, in position within 10 m (§7.10.4).
• Manikin tow with fins (100 m): juniors, seniors and masters swim 50 m with fins and a rescue tube, then clip the tube to a manikin and tow it 50 m (§7.10.5).
• Super lifesaver (200 m) for juniors and seniors, and the 100 m super nipper for U13–U14, combine a manikin carry and a tube tow (§7.10.6–7.10.7).
• Line throw: a thrower pulls a teammate 12.5 m back to the wall with an unweighted line inside 45 seconds; juniors, seniors and masters (§7.10.13).

Relays

• Manikin relay (4 × 25 m): four carriers pass one manikin in changeover zones (§7.10.8).
• Obstacle relay (4 × 50 m): each swimmer passes under two obstacles (§7.10.9).
• Pool lifesaver relay (4 × 50 m): freestyle, fins and manikin pick-up, manikin carry, fins carry (§7.10.10).
• Medley relay (4 × 50 m): freestyle, freestyle with fins, freestyle towing a rescue tube, then the last swimmer tows that teammate home as the "patient" (§7.10.11); nippers race a rescue torpedo buoy version (§7.10.12).

Starts, heats and finals

Dive starts use the one-start rule: moving off before the signal is a disqualification (§7.3.1, §7.3.3). Heats are seeded from submitted entry times, fastest in the last heat and the centre lanes (§7.5); where A and B finals are held, the A final decides places 1–8 and the B final 9–16. Order-of-finish decisions from judges or timing equipment cannot be protested (§7.2).

Common disqualifications

• Not surfacing after the dive or after each obstacle, or going over an obstacle (§7.10.1).
• Using lane ropes, steps or other pool fittings to help; pushing off the bottom except where allowed (§7.2).
• Not having the manikin in the carrying position by the 5 m line (10 m with fins), or letting go before touching the wall (§7.10.2–7.10.4).
• Sticky substances on hands or the manikin, and interfering with another swimmer or leaving your lane (§7.2).