FAQ's

Current Disqualification Codes

The disqualification code used in results represent the best effort of the person encoding the infraction reported by the judge or other official. Sometimes this requires the use of a code which doesn't exactly match the infraction, but has been chosen as being in some sense 'near'.

If ASA Codes are used and can be found here ASA Judges Disqualification Codes, these are numerical codes that a parent will need to lookup to determine the cause of the disqualification. If you would like further information or wish to query a disqualifcation please contact the head official for the event

or

If SportsSystems Codes are used then a detailed graphical explanation of the SportsSystems codes can be found here.

The SportsSystems SQ codes are more complex than the other disqualification codes; in addition to encoding the infraction they also tell us on which length the infraction occurred and details of any appeal.

The code is made up of three parts:

The disqualification reason. This can be one of T (turn), FI (finish), S (stroke), ST (start), O (takeover), FO (fouling), L (wrong lane), M (midconduct) or E (equipment). Reason S has variants SA, SH and SL for faults in arms, head and legs respectively, while reason O has variant OM for an error in stroke change.
The appeal status. This is usually blank, but may be A for appeal made and X for appeal disallowed.
The length code. This is the number of the length on which the infraction occurred, followed by "L". In theory code "1L" should be used where the length is not known, but the length code is often omitted.

A Mapping of SportsSystems codes to ASA Codes is not always easily possible

(Please note officials only disqualify swimmers when they are certain there is a rule infringement, if there is any doubt then generally the swimmer will not be disqualified).

List of Old Codes used:

DQ ST - Moving at the Start.
Under the ASA Technical Rules of Racing (SW 4.4) any swimmer starting before the start signal has been given, shall be disqualified. If the starting signal sounds before the disqualification is declared, the race shall continue and the swimmer or swimmers shall be disqualified upon completion of the race, if the disqualification is declared before the starting signal, the signal shall not be given, but the remaining swimmers shall be called back and start again.

DQ T- Did not touch simultaneous at turn or finish.
In Breaststroke a common cause of disqualification is if a competitor touches the wall with just one hand during the turn. Under the ASA Technical Rules of Racing (SW 7.6) at each turn and at the finish of the race, the touch shall be made with both hands simultaneously at, above, or below the water level.
In Butterfly, ASA Technical Rules of Racing (SW 8.4) at each turn and at the finish of the race, the touch shall be made with both hands simultaneously, at, above or below the water surface.

DQ-O - Swimmer #2 started before swimmer #1 touched.
Relay changeovers are valid when the feet of the outgoing swimmer detach from the board at least 3/100 seconds after the fingers of the incoming swimmer touch the wall. If the outgoing swimmer moves too early, their team is disqualified.

DQ-SH A 3L - Stroke - Head, Appeal made, 3rd Length
For example in Breaststroke ASA Technical Rules of Racing (SW 7.4) states that during each complete cycle, some part of the swimmer's head shall break the surface of the water.

Other Codes Used by Chippenham ASC
DQ-SL - Disqualified, Stroke Legs
DQ-SA - Disqualified, Stroke Arms
DQ-SS - Disqualified - Stroke Submerged (i.e. Underwater for more than permitted distance)
DQ-F - Disqualified - Finish
DNS - Did Not Start
DNF - Did Not Finish