Synchronized Swimming
Collegiate synchronized swimming competitions consist of two parts; the figure competition and the routine competitions.
Figure Competitions:
There are 4 different sections for figures, each one harder than the next.
D Figures are the section for beginners
A Figures are for the best
C & B are the intermediate
Each swimmer in each category is required to swim 4 different figures as a part of the figure competition. During the figure competition, spectators are required to be quiet and swimmers are asked to be very professional. All swimmers wear black suits, white swim caps and are able to wear goggles and nose clips. This is done to reduce judging biases and so that the judges focus only on the move being performed. Figures take less than a minute each and are supposed to demonstrate the swimmers skill and control.
Routine Competitions
There are 4 sections for routines
Solos: These are the shortest routines and are performed by one swimmer at a time
Duets: Two swimmers perform at one time
Trios: Three swimmers perform together
Team: This is the longest routine and can be anywhere from 4-8 swimmers (it gets harder with more swimmers so more points are awarded to larger teams)
The routines are choreographed dances in the water. They include lifts, hybrids (movements done upside down), pattern changes (swimmers move to a different location in the pool), facial expressions and much more! Swimmers typically wear costume suits that match their music, heavy makeup, headpieces and their hair in buns. Swimmers are not allowed to wear goggles, but do wear nose clips. These routines are performed in pools that are 13 feet deep and 25 yards long and wide. There are penalties for touching either the bottom or sides of the pool.
Scoring
Each team is allowed to count 7 events towards their total score. One of the seven events must be a figures event. Not all teams will compete in every event, but teams that do are only allowed to count 7. Judges score teams on a scale of 1-10, similar to the way diving, gymnastics or ice skating is scored. For the routines, swimmers are scored on two different sections, technical merit and artistic impression. For the final score, these two are summed and then presented. For figures, swimmers are scored only on technical merit and it is a scale of 1-10.
Collegiate Synchro
Collegiate synchro is a program of USA Synchro, and since there are swimmers competing at Division 1 schools, all sports are required to follow NCAA rules. Therefore, in collegiate synchro only women are allowed to compete. However, men are welcome in any other program.
Figure Competitions:
There are 4 different sections for figures, each one harder than the next.
D Figures are the section for beginners
A Figures are for the best
C & B are the intermediate
Each swimmer in each category is required to swim 4 different figures as a part of the figure competition. During the figure competition, spectators are required to be quiet and swimmers are asked to be very professional. All swimmers wear black suits, white swim caps and are able to wear goggles and nose clips. This is done to reduce judging biases and so that the judges focus only on the move being performed. Figures take less than a minute each and are supposed to demonstrate the swimmers skill and control.
Routine Competitions
There are 4 sections for routines
Solos: These are the shortest routines and are performed by one swimmer at a time
Duets: Two swimmers perform at one time
Trios: Three swimmers perform together
Team: This is the longest routine and can be anywhere from 4-8 swimmers (it gets harder with more swimmers so more points are awarded to larger teams)
The routines are choreographed dances in the water. They include lifts, hybrids (movements done upside down), pattern changes (swimmers move to a different location in the pool), facial expressions and much more! Swimmers typically wear costume suits that match their music, heavy makeup, headpieces and their hair in buns. Swimmers are not allowed to wear goggles, but do wear nose clips. These routines are performed in pools that are 13 feet deep and 25 yards long and wide. There are penalties for touching either the bottom or sides of the pool.
Scoring
Each team is allowed to count 7 events towards their total score. One of the seven events must be a figures event. Not all teams will compete in every event, but teams that do are only allowed to count 7. Judges score teams on a scale of 1-10, similar to the way diving, gymnastics or ice skating is scored. For the routines, swimmers are scored on two different sections, technical merit and artistic impression. For the final score, these two are summed and then presented. For figures, swimmers are scored only on technical merit and it is a scale of 1-10.
Collegiate Synchro
Collegiate synchro is a program of USA Synchro, and since there are swimmers competing at Division 1 schools, all sports are required to follow NCAA rules. Therefore, in collegiate synchro only women are allowed to compete. However, men are welcome in any other program.