DistrictDivisionRegion
Swimming
Published 9 March, 2026
Rules
These rules apply to State, Region, and Division competitions. Variations to these rules at Region and Division levels are available on the relevant pages of the SSV website.
- Venue: MSAC – Indoor Pool, Aughtie Drive, Albert Park.
- Doors Open: 9:00 am.
- Warm Up: 9:15 am – 10:00 am - two lanes in the indoor pool available for warming up and cooling down during competition. The indoor pool is accessible from the mezzanine foyer.
- Entry Fee: Adults $5 (cashless venue); Students and Children (Under 15) are free. Teachers receive free entry upon showing a VIT Registration Card or school ID.
- Parking: Metered parking is available at Lakeside Stadium and Albert Drive. MSAC parking (multi-story and southern) is free for the first hour, then hourly rates apply.
- Programs: Not for sale at the venue. Download free from the SSV website.
Swimming is conducted under Australian Swimming Inc. rules. All participants are bound by the SSV Codes of Conduct and Participant Behaviour Policy.
- Age Eligibility: Ages are calculated as at 31 December in the year of competition.
- Event Restrictions: Secondary students may compete in a maximum of five events (excluding relays). Primary students may compete in a maximum of two events (excluding relays). Primary Multi-Class swimmers may compete in a maximum of three events.
- Qualifying: Swimmers must be full-time students at SSV member schools and qualify through their Sporting Region. One swimmer per region qualifies for State Championships (excluding invitations).
- Protests: Must be notified to the Referee in Charge on the day. Appeals must be lodged in writing to the Convenor within 10 minutes of the decision, accompanied by a $50 cash fee.
- Four members must be from the same school/campus.
- One team per region qualifies for State Championships.
- Small schools (combined enrolment of 300 or less) may select combined relay teams.
- Girls may compete in a Boy/Mixed relay if they do not compete in a Girls’ relay. Boys may not compete in a Girls’ relay.
- Events conducted over 50m in Freestyle, Backstroke, Breaststroke, and Butterfly.
- Results calculated using the Swimming Australia Multiclass Points Schedule (MCPS).
- Students must hold a current classification. Contact Swimming Victoria for assistance.
Swimming costumes must comply with the Swimming Victoria Swimwear Bylaws and current related guidelines except Swimming Victoria By-Law Competitions and Events 6.2 Competitors 11 years and under are not permitted (or allowed) to wear a technical/performance suit in Swimming Victoria hosted competitions.
IE; Swimming Victoria By-Law 6.2 does not apply to School Sport Victoria events & Competitors 11 years and under are permitted to wear technical/performance suits.
Competitor must wear only one swimsuit in one or two pieces. No additional items, like arm bands or leg bands shall be regarded as parts of a swimsuit.
Swimwear for boys shall not extend above the navel nor below the knee, and for girls, shall not cover the neck, extend past the shoulder, nor shall extend below the knee.
The costumes of all competitors shall be in good moral taste, non-transparent and suitable for the individual sports discipline.
The Referee and/or Convener have the authority to exclude any competitor whose costume does not comply with this rule.
Football shorts or board shorts are not considered suitable for competition at State Championships.
Compression clothing (such as Skins, Underarmour, Performax etc) that are not specifically designed for swimming are not considered suitable. Swimmers wearing compression clothing that is not approved by FINA will not be permitted to compete. View a full list of approved FINA swim suits.
- First Aid: Schools must provide their own first aid kits. Strapping for injury prevention must be performed by the student or team; First Aid Responders are not permitted to perform strapping.
- Tape: Teams must supply their own sports tape.
Points are awarded on a school basis:
- Individual: 1st (10), 2nd (8), 3rd (6), 4th (5), 5th (4), 6th (3), 7th (2), 8th (1).
- Relay: 1st (20), 2nd (16), 3rd (12), 4th (10), 5th (8), 6th (6), 7th (4), 8th (2).
- Points are not awarded for disqualifications or non-finishes. A Perpetual Trophy is awarded to the school with the highest total.
- Competitors must report to the marshalling area for their event at least 20 minutes prior to the scheduled starting time of the event.
- Competitors should be aware that the scheduled times printed in the program are approximate and subject to change.
- Appropriate announcements will be made concerning any substantial alterations.
Age Group
9-10
11
12-13 (P)
12-13 (S)
14
15
16
17
18-20
Freestyle 200m
3-4
3-4
3-4
1-2
1-2
1-2
Breaststroke 50m
7-8
9-10
11-12
13-14
15-16
17-18
19-20
21-22
23-24
Breaststroke 50m MC
133/136
134/137
135/138
139/142
139/142
140/143
140/143
141/144
141/144
Breaststroke 100m
5-6
5-6
5-6
5-6
5-6
5-6
Butterfly 50m
27-28
29-30
31-32
33-34
35-36
37-38
39-40
41-42
43-44
Butterfly 50m MC
45/48
46/49
47/50
51/54
51/54
52/55
52/55
53/56
53/56
Butterfly 100m
25-26
25-26
25-26
25-26
25-26
25-26
Freestyle 50m
61-62
63-64
65-66
67-68
69-70
71-72
73-74
75-76
77-78
Freestyle 50m MC
79/80
81/82
83/84
85/88
85/88
86/89
86/89
87/90
87/90
Freestyle 100m
57-58
57-58
57-58
59-60
59-60
59-60
Backstroke 50m
93-94
95-96
97-98
99-100
101-102
103-104
105-106
107-108
109-110
Backstroke 50m MC
111/114
112/115
113/116
117/120
117/120
118/121
118/121
119/122
119/122
Backstroke 100m
91-92
91-92
91-92
91-92
91-92
91-92
Medley Relay
123-124
123-124
123-124
125-126
125-126
127-128
127-128
129-130
129-130
Freestyle 400m
131-132
131-132
131-132
131-132
131-132
131-132
Indiv. Medley 200m
145-146
145-146
145-146
147-148
147-148
147-148
Freestyle Relay
149-150
151-152
153-154
155-156
157-158
159-160
161-162
163-164
165-166
Schools’ Competition - Secondary Points
Event Type
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
6th
7th
8th
Individual
10
8
6
5
4
3
2
1
Relay
20
16
12
10
8
6
4
2
Points are not awarded if competitors are disqualified, do not finish, or do not marshal. "Invitation" competitors cannot earn points for their school.