NCAA votes to allow no-recall false start

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INDIANAPOLIS -- College swimming will have an international look next season.

The NCAA's playing rules oversight panel has approved the no-recall false start, which has been used at international, national and high school swimming meets. The new rule means that unless there is a blatant false start, the event would continue and the swimmer charged with the false start would be disqualified at the end of the race.

Another change would disqualify swimmers from a single event if they are determined to be wearing an illegal swimsuit. However, they could compete in other events at dual meets or on other days in multi-day meets if they wear a legal suit.

The NCAA also will allow swimmers to wear tape, if it does not provide an advantage, and track-style starting blocks next season.

In other rule changes announced Wednesday, college pole vaulters will have to wear specially-designed helmets starting next season.

Schools will be required to make sure that if a helmet is worn, it must be designed specifically for pole vaulting.

Two other pole vaulting proposals were sent back to the men's and women's track and field committees. One would require schools to put more padding around the base of the pole vault standard and cover hard surfaces around the perimeter of the landing pad. The other would allow schools to place padding around the vaulting box and into the box -- it does not interfere with the bend of the pole.

The playing rules oversight panel wants the track committees to clarify where padding should be placed.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

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