Iowa Swimming has followed the lead of Southern California, Arkansas, Maine, and New England LSCs by passing a tech suit ban on 10 and unders. ISI says discussions over the topic of tech suits among age groupers at the USAS Convention in Texas as well as possible action on the subject from USA Swimming was what motivated the ban.
The full policy is as follows:
- A list of the restricted suits that swimmers ten years old and younger shall not wear while competing in an ISI sanctioned competition shall be posted and maintained on the ISI website.
- The Technical Planning Committee shall revise and update the list of restricted suits as needed.”
In addition, all Iowa Swimming sanctioned meets must include the following statement in the meet info for the first 12 months after the policy is implemented:
Iowa’s new policy is most similar to New England’s, where the ban only effects 10 and unders and there are no exceptions where a ten and under could wear a banned suit.
The policy is set to be implemented starting April 1, 2018.
It’s possible more LSCs will pass similar bans leading up to the final report from the consulting firm USA Swimming hired to study tech suits in age group swimming, which is set to be released next month.
Yes! Banning LEGAL tech suits sounds brilliant (NOT). Lets ban private lessons next so everything is equal. (Sarcasm intended).
Up the age to 15 and we will be getting somewhere.
Go Iowa! I really would like USA swimming to ban all 12 & Unders from tech suits unless they are competing at Sectional level or above.
For what it’s worth, MA LSC also banned tech suits for 10&U.
You know it!
Props to Coach Eric Crawford for drafting the proposal.