Beginning September 1, 2020, there are new restrictions on 12 and under athletes wearing a tech suit in any USA Swimming competition. How do you know what's a tech suit and what's not? Check out these resources!

Tech Suit Restriction for 12-and-Under Swimmers

Check out the video "Tech Suit Rules Overview" at:  https://youtu.be/1XYSz8qWUOU

The following rule, proposed by the Age Group Development Committee, took effect September 1, 2020.  

102.8 SWIMWEAR  

.1 Design 

F. No Technical Suit may be worn by any 12 & Under USA Swimming athlete member in competition at any Sanctioned, Approved or Observed meet. 

1) A Technical Suit is one that has the following components: 

a. Any suit with any bonded or taped seams regardless of its fabric or silhouette; or 

b. Any suit with woven fabric extending past the hips.
 

(Note: WOVEN FABRIC- A suit with woven fabric and sewn seams that does not extend below the hips is permitted.) 

(Note: KNIT FABRIC-  A suit with knit fabric and sewn seams not extending below the knees is permitted.) 

This rule is in effect for all USA Swimming competitions in the United States, so any manufacturer or vendor selling a suit in the United States is subject to the above rule. No Technical Suits may be worn by any 12-Under USA Swimming athlete member in competition at any Sanctioned, Approved or Observed meet.

A Technical Suit is one that has the following components: 

  • Any male or female suit with any bonded or taped seams is defined as a technical suit regardless of its fabric or silhouette.

Bonded Seam                           
TechSuitSeamBad250x250

Sewn Seam
TechSuitSeamGood250x250

  • Any male or female suit with woven fabric and to the knee or mid-thigh is defined as a technical suit regardless of the type seams: bonded, taped or sewn. (Note: A woven suit with sewn seams and in a male brief or female regular cut not to the knees is not defined as a technical suit and is not restricted).

Woven Fabric                             
TechSuitFabricBad250x250

Textile Fabric
TechSuitFabricGood250x250

For additional questions, please consult the  FAQ.

Compliant Suits

checkmark 

Any suit that does not have the  FINA logo on it is approved for 12-Under use.

There are a handful of suits in the market that have the  FINA logo that would be considered legal for age group competition because they do not meet the definition of what is deemed a technical suit. These suits and only these suits will bear an additional check mark logo developed by USA Swimming to indicate that the suit is complaint with the rule. This check mark will be placed to the left or right of the  FINA logo on the suit. A picture of the check mark logo is next to this paragraph