USA Swimming Safety Notice to Parents
To avoid risk of serious injury, no swimmer who has not been properly
trained should attempt to perform a racing start, from either a starting
block or the side of the pool, into less than six feet of water.
USA Swimming has implemented a racing start certification program
where a swimmer's coach documents his or her professional judgement
that a swimmer has demonstrated sufficient skill to safely perform a
racing start into four feet of water.
Although somewhat unusual, swimmers do not always participate in
swimming competitions under the supervision of a certified coach. It is
the parent's responsibility to make sure the swimmer does not attempt
to perform a racing start in less than six feet of water if the swimmer has
not been properly certified by the swimmer's coach to do so.