USA Swimming’s Chief Marketing Officer, Matt Farrell, sent out a tweet today saying that USA Swimming will now allow logos up to 30 sq CM on swimsuits.
The 2015 USA Swimming Rulebook previously allowed swimsuit logos to be no larger than 20 square centimeters. A handful of foreign NCAA swimmers ran into issues at the men’s and women’s NCAA Championships. Because logos on certain European Arena suits were too large, they were not allowed to be worn during the NCAA Championships. Per NCAA Rules, swimsuit logos on swimsuits are not allowed to be larger than 2¼ square inches, which is roughly 13 square centimeters.
According to the 2015 USA Swimming Rulebook (102.8.3A),
“Advertising means the normal display of the name, designation, trademark, logo, or any other distinctive sign of the manufacturer of the item or any other advertiser permitted in accordance with this rule. FINA labeling and the USA Swimming logo or club logo shall not be considered as advertisements. Logos of the swimwear manufacturer shall be considered as advertising and are included in the limits described in (1) through (3) below. In the competition venue or complex of all events conducted by and under the control of USA Swimming or any LSC or division thereof, advertising appearing on swimwear is allowed as follows:
- (1) Swimsuits — A total of two separate advertising logos of a maximum size of 20 square centimeters (3.1 sq. in.) each, as measured as applied, shall be permitted. 102.8 2015 Rules & Regulations 31 1
- (2) Caps — A total of two separate advertising logos of a maximum size of 20 square centimeters (3.1 sq. in.) each, as measured as applied, shall be permitted. A club logo is not considered as advertising and is not subject to the size limitations.
- (3) Goggles — A total of two separate advertising logos of a maximum size of 6 square centimeters (.9 sq. in.) each, as measured as applied, shall be permitted, but only on the spectacle frame or band.”
USA Swimming sent out a memo today to announce that the change from 20 sq CM to 30 sq CM will be effective immediately.
Good news for suit cos, athletes and sponsors – now advertising logos can be up to 30 sq cm pic.twitter.com/ucJgPFoEej
— Matt Farrell (@mattfarrell_) April 13, 2015
If the Arena logo is too big because you bought it online not aware of the rule, can you cover it up with a marker? That is what my son thinks he can do.
It would be nice if these rules were read by swimmers and officials alike . My daughter a south african swimmer on a swimming bursary to Lindenwood University was told by and opposing swimmer that she need to take her arena swimsuit off as it had a double logo …one on the chest one on the thigh as do all arena swimsuits. This swimmer told her to remove her swimsuit 10 minutes before she was due to compete in the finals of her race….not acceptable and very unsportmanlike. Please read the rules and regulations first…..
My high school and college swimmers can only have a logo of 2 1/4 sq inches. Its becoming more difficult to buy new tech suits that meet NFHS, NCAA, USA and Fina rules. Why can’t all the organizations agree on logo size? Also, I have yet to see a new tech suit label-box have the logo size printed on it…or a website identifying the logo size…so you know what you are buying.
I agree – not sure I like this. It’s going to look like European football kits where you don’t even see the team name, just all the sponsors
I don’t care if every square inch of the suit is covered in logos if it allows more swimmers to make a living off the sport. Although USA Swimming allowing larger logos is not necessarily a step toward that.
Kinda prefer they’d just look like NASCAR jumpsuits. BRANDS BRANDS BRANDS.
I would pay so much money for the tech suit version of the Me car from Talledega Nights (http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/1099386/TalladegaNightsRickyBobby62.jpeg)
Nice Race car, man