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GENERAL CONDITIONS

Starts: In dive starts the one-start rule shall be used.

1. On the long whistle, competitors step onto the starting platform and remain there.
2. On the starter's "Take your marks" command, competitors immediately assume a starting position with at least 1 foot at the front of the starting platform.
3. When competitors are stationary, the starter gives the acoustic starting signal.

Competitors may start on the starting platform, or on the pool deck, or in the water with one hand in contact with the starting wall. Competitors starting in the shallow end of the pool or into shallow water must use an in-water start.

Penalties: Infraction of the General Conditions for TeleGames:

1. Unless specifically provided for in the rules, no artificial means of propulsion may be used in competition (e.g., handwebs, armbands).
2. Competitors shall not take assistance from the pool bottom except where specifically allowed.
3. Taking assistance from any pool fittings (e.g, lane ropes, steps, drains or underwater hockey fittings) is not permitted.
4. A competitor who interferes with another competitor during a race shall be assigned a 60 second time penalty.

EVENT DESCRIPTIONS

Lifesaving Individual Medley

With a dive entry or in-water start on an acoustic signal, the competitor swims 25 m of each leg of the Lifesaving Individual Medley as follows: front crawl, breaststroke, legs-only lifesaving kick, and back crawl to touch the finish edge of the pool.

Competitors must swim the 4 legs of the individual medley in the order of strokes specified.

In legs-only lifesaving kick, competitors must use whip kick, eggbeater, scissor or inverted scissor kick as described in the Canadian Lifesaving Manual. Flutter kick is not an acceptable lifesaving kick. Body position is on back or side. Arms may not be used for propulsion but may be held in the position of the competitor's choice and may be used to turn at the pool edge.

Competitors must swim front crawl, breaststroke and back crawl as defined in the Canadian Lifesaving Manual.

Note: Judging criteria for strokes apply only when the top of the competitor's head has broken the surface. "Surface" means the horizontal plane of the surface of a stillwater pool. Competitors must surface within 12.5 m after the start and each turn.

Penalties: A 5 second time penalty will be assigned for each of the following infractions:

1. Infraction of the General Gonditions for TeleGames.
2. Infraction occuring during the start.
3. Incorrect strokes.
4. Not surfacing withint 12.5 m after the start and each turn.
5. Failure to touch the wall during the turn.
6. Failure to touch the finish edge.
7. Not completing the event in accordance with the event description.

Object Carry

With a dive entry or in-water start on an acoustic signal, the competitor swims 25 m front crawl to retrieve an object to the surface within 5 m of the turning edge. The competitor carries the object to touch the finish edge of the pool, for a total distance of 50 m.

All competitors need not touch the turning edge of the pool. All competitors may push off the bottom when surfacing or retrieving the object.

Positioning the weight: The weight is located at a max. depth of 2 m. In water deeper than 2 m, the weight shall be placed on a platform (or othe support) to position it at the required depth.

The weight is positioned in contact with the pool bottom touching the pool wall. Where the facility design does not provide a vertical wall that joins the bottom at 90 degrees, the weight must be positioned as close as possible to the wall but no further than 30 cm from the wall as measured at the water surface.

Penalties: A 5 second time penalty will be assigned for each of the following infractions:

1. Infraction of the General Conditions for TeleGames.
2. Infraction occuring during the start.
3. Taking assistance from any pool fitting (e.g., lane rope or steps). when surfacing with the object - not including the pool bottom.
4. Failure to touch the finish edge.
5. Not completing the event in accordance with the event description.

Obstacle Swim

With a dive entry or in-water start on an acoustic signal, the competitor swims the course, passing under the immersed obstacles to touch the finish edge of the pool.

Competitors must surface after the dive entry before the first obstacle; after passing under each obstacle; and after a turn prior to passing under an obstacle.

Competitors may push off the pool bottom when surfacing from under each obstacle. "Surfacing" means the competitor's head breaks the plane of the surface of the water.

Swimming into or otherwise bumping an obstacle is not a behaviour that results in disqualification.

Position of obstacles: One obstacle is located 12.5 m from the starting edge.

Penalties: A 5 second time penalty will be assigned for each of the following infractions:

1. Infraction of the General Conditions for TeleGames.
2. Infractrion occuring during the start.
3. Passing over an obstacle without immediately returning over that obstacle
   and then passing under it.
4. Failure to surface after the dive entry or after a turn.
5. Failure to surface between obstacles.
6. Failure to touch the wall during the turn.

7. Failure to touch the finish edge.

8. Not completing the event in accordance with the event description.

Throwing Accuracy

In this timed event, the competitor throws an unweighted line to hit a floating target within a 2 minute time limit.

Starts: Competitors stand facing the target, motionless and "at attention" (legs together and arms beside the body), holding the line with 1 or 2 hands.

This event shall use the one-start rule as follows: On the long whistle, competitors step into the throw zone and remain there. On the starter's "Take your marks" command, competitors immediately assume the starting position. When competitors are motionless, the starter gives the acoustic starting signal.

On an acoustic starting signal: Competitors throw and retrieve the line. The line may hit the target directly or be thrown beyond the target and pulled back to touch it. The event is finished when the competitor's line hits the floating target for the 3rd time.

Throw zone: Competitors must remain on the deck and in their allotted lanes, poolside of a clearly defined mark 1.5 m from the pool edge. If there is a raised portion of the poolside, the line shall be 1.5 m back from the deck side of the raised portion.

Competitors must keep at least 1 foot wholly within the throw zone. Competitors who exit the throw zone (as judged by both feet) while retieving the line prior to the 2 minute time limit, shall be given a time penalty of 5 seconds.

On the condition that there is no interference with another competitor, and provided that at least 1 foot remains wholly within the throw zone, any part of the competitor's body may touch or cross the throw zone line without penalty. Any part of the competitor's feet may cross over the front of the "pool edge" of the throw zone without penalty.

:::

Competitors may reach to retrieve a line dropped outside the throw zone as long as they maintain at least 1 foot wholly within the throw zone, and that there is no interference with another competitor. Competitors who enter (or fall into) the water shall be given a time penalty of 5 seconds.

Time limit: Competitors must hit the target 3 times within 2 min. If a throw falls short or outside the allotted lane, competitors may recover the line and throw again as often as necessary up to the 2 min. limit. Competitors who fail to hit the target 3 times within the time limit will be assigned a time of 2 min.

Penalties: A 5 second time penalty will be assigned for each of the following infractions:

1. Infraction of the General Conditions for TeleGames.
2. Infraction occuring during the start.
3. Leaving the throw zone at any time after the start and before the finish, judged as both feet leaving the throw zone.
4. Not completing the event in accordance with the event description.

Tow with Fins

With a dive entry or in-water start on an acoustic signal, the competitor swims front crawl with fins and tube. After touching the turning wall, and within the 5 m pick-up zone, the competitor fixes the rescue tube to a manikin and tows it to the finish. The event is complete when the competitor touches the finish edge of the pool.

Competitors must tow - not carry - the manikin with the line of the rescue tube fully extended.

Retrieving lost fins: Competitors may retrieve fins lost after the start and continue without penalization.

Securing the manikin (for competitors 11 yr. & under): After first touching the turning wall, the competitor secures the manikin correctly with the rescue tube by clipping the rescue tube to the loop on the manikin's head or back of neck, within the 5 m pick-up zone. Competitors must complete the 25 m front crawl swim by touching the pool edge before touching the manikin.

Securing the manikin (for competitors 12 yr. & over): After first touching the turning wall, the competitor secures the manikin correctly with the rescue tube around the body and under both arms of the manikin, and clipped to an O-ring, within the 5 m pick-up zone. Competitors must complete the 75 m front crawl swim by touching the pool edge before touching the manikin.

Note: Many manikins no longer have a clip at the top of the head. Clubs need to develop new strategies for manikin clipping for competitors 11 yr. & under. A simple suggestion from the Richmond Hill Lifesaving Club is to fit the manikin with a 60-90 lb. lifejacket. The competitor can clip the loop on the lifejacket and tow the manikin this way. Please share other techniques your club develops.

Towing the manikin: Competitors must tow - not carry - the manikin. Beyond the 5 m pick-up zone, competitors must tow the correctly secured manikin maintaining the manikin's mouth or nose above the surface. The line of the rescue tube must become fully extended as soon as possible and before the top of the manikin's head passes the 10 m line. Competitors must do nothing to delay or inhibit the line of the rescue tube becoming fully extended at the earliest possible moment.

Competitors shall be penalized if the rescue tube and manikin become separated. Competitors shall not be penalized if the rescue tube slips during the tow so that the manikin is secured only under one arm, provided that the rescue tube was "secured correctly" originally, and the mouth or nose of the manikin is maintained above the surface.

As long as the manikin has not become separated from the rescue tube, and the mouth or nose remain above the surface, a competitor may stop to re-secure the rescue tube correctly around the manikin without penalization.

Rescue tube defect: If, in the opinion of the referee, the rescue tube, line and / or harness (belt) present a technical defect during the event, the referee may allow the competitor to repeat the race.

Penalties: A 5 second time penalty will be assigned for each of the following infractions:

1. Infraction of the General Conditions for TeleGames.
2. Infraction occurring during the start.
3. Taking assistance from any pool fitting, (e.g. lane rope or steps) when fixing the rescue tube around the manikin - not including the pool bottom.
4. Not touching the pool edge before touching manikin.
5. Incorrect securing of the rescue tube:
6. 11yr. and under: incorrect securing of the rescue tube to the loop on the top of the manikin's head or back of neck; 12 yr. & over: around the manikin (i.e., not around body and under both arms and clipped to an O-ring).
7. Not securing the rescue tube to the manikin:
8. 11 yr. & under: not securing the rescue tube to the loop on the top of the manikin's head or back of neck within the 5 m pick-up zone, judged at the top of the manikin's head; 12 yr. & older: not securing the rescue tube around the manikin within the 5 m pick-up zone, judged at the top of the manikin's head.
9. The line of the rescue tube not becoming fully extended before the top of the manikin's head passes the 10 m line.
10. Not towing the manikin with the line of the rescue tube fully extended beyond the 10 m line.
11. Pushing or carrying, instead of towing, the manikin
12. Not maintaining the manikin's mouth and nose above the surface.
13. The rescue tube and manikin become separated after the rescue tube has been secured correctly around or to the manikin.
14. Touching the finish edge without the rescue tube and manikin in place.
15. Failure to touch the wall during the turn.
16. Failure to touch the finish edge.
17. Not completing the event in accordance with the event description.

lifesaving Medley Relay

With a dive entry or in-water start on an acoustic signal, the first competitor swims the front crawl portion of the relay. After the first competitor touches the turning edge the second competitor swims the breaststroke portion of the relay. After the second competitor touches the turning edge the third competitor swims the legs-only lifesaving kick portion of the relay. After the third competitor touches the turning edge the fourth competitor swims the back crawl portion of the relay. The fourth competitor swims to touch the finish edge.

The first, second and third competitors must leave the water upon finishing their legs of the relay without obstructing any other competitors. The first, second and third competitors may not re-enter the water.

Competitors must swim only one leg of the 4 legs of the lifesaving medley relay in the order of strokes specified. Competitors starting in the shallow end or into shallow water must use an in-water start.

In legs-only lifesaving kick, competitors must use whip kick, eggbeater, scissor or inverted scissor kick as described in the Canadian Lifesaving Manual. Flutter kick is not an acceptable lifesaving kick. Body position is on back or side. Arms may not be used for propulsion but may be held in the position of the competitor's choice and may be used to turn at the pool edge.

Competitors must swim front crawl, breaststroke and back crawl as defined in the Canadian Lifesaving Manual.

Note: Judging criteria for strokes apply only when the top of the competitors head has broken the surface. "Surface" means the horizontal plane of the surface of a still water pool. Competitors must surface within 12.5 m after the start and each turn.

Penalties: A 5 second time penalty will be assigned for each of the following infractions:

1. Infraction of the General Conditions for TeleGames.
2. Infraction occurring during the start.
3. Incorrect strokes.
4. Not surfacing within 12.5 m after the start and each turn.
5. Failure to touch the wall during the turn.
6. Failure to touch the finish edge.
7. Leaving the start before the previous competitor has touched the edge.
8. Not completing the event in accordance with the event description.

Obstacle Relay

Relay age group 44 yr. or less: With a dive entry or in water start on an acoustic signal, the first competitor swims 25 m front crawl passing under one obstacles. After the first competitor touches the turning edge, the second, third and fourth competitors repeat the procedure in turn. Competitors starting in the shallow end or into shallow water must use an in-water start.

Relay age group 45 to 68 yr.: With a dive entry or in-water start on an acoustic signal, the first competitor swims 50 m front crawl passing under two obstacles. After the first competitor touches the turning edge, the second, third and fourth competitors repeat the procedure in turn. Competitors starting in the shallow end or into shallow water must use an in-water start.

Competitors must surface after the start, before the first obstacle, and after passing under each obstacle.

Competitors may push off the pool bottom when surfacing from under each of the obstacles. "Surfacing" means the competitor's head breaks the plane of the surface of the water.

Swimming into or otherwise bumping an obstacle is not a behaviour that results in disqualification.

The first, second and third competitors must leave the water upon finishing their legs of the relay without obstructing any other competitors. The first, second and third competitors may not re-enter the water.

Position of obstacles: One obstacle is located 12.5 m from the starting edge.

Penalties: A 5 second time penalty will be assigned for each of the following infractions:

1. Infraction of the General Conditions for TeleGames.
2. Infraction occurring during the start.
3. Passing over an obstacle without immediately returning over that obstacle and then passing under it.
4. Failure to surface after the dive entry or after a turn.
5. Failure to surface between obstacles.
6. Failure to touch the wall during the turn.
7. Failure to touch the finish edge.
8. Leaving the start before the previous competitor has touched the edge.
9. Not completing the event in accordance with the event description.

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