How to Not Get Disqualified when Swimming Freestyle

Don't false start. It is better to be the last to leave the blocks, and not get disqualified than to be first off the blocks and have the embarrassment of getting out of the water either halfway through your event, or at the finish. If you do a false start, you are automatically disqualified in most competitions, unless the official says otherwise.

Don't go past the 15 metre mark underwater. In any event you cannot pass this marker underwater, you have to have surfaced before this. In a 50 metre pool, this seems closer to you, so always watch where you are.

Do the right stroke. In freestyle, you can do any stroke you like, but most people do front crawl strokes as it can be faster. Work on your freestyle technique before the race to get the most out of your pull, and to maximise your lead with your kick.

Touch the wall with your feet on your turn. If you fail to touch the wall during a flipturn then you will be disqualified. Sometimes, if you are lucky, the official won't notice and you will get away with it, but this is almost never the case. You might want to work on your turns before your race, just make sure you are close enough to the wall to push off, but far away enough to give you space to flip over and so you don't hit your head.

Don't push off the floor. If you need to stop for any reason during the race, tread water, or stand, but do not push off the bottom. Don't pull on lane rope either, for this will also get you disqualified.

Touch at the finish. On freestyle and backstroke, you may touch with one hand. On fly and breast stroke, you finish with two hands.

Stay in your allocated lane. If you accidentally swim under the lane rope during your race, you will be disqualified, and you may disturb the other swimmer.

Do the correct amount of lengths. 50 metres is equivalent to 2 lengths in a short course pool, and one length in a long course pool. Remember to count your laps as you swim.

Only wear one swimsuit. Whether this be a regular training suit or a kneeskin (for women), it is up to you, although it is said that a knee skin makes you faster and more streamlined and they also make you look the part!