What happens if a team gets a required element wrong in a technical routine?
I · Intermediate · Judging and results · 4 of 7The element scores nothing. If any swimmer leaves out all or part of a technical required element, or performs a wrong action in it, its difficulty is set to zero after a video check. Required elements swum out of the declared order are also given zero. Smaller breaches cost two or eight points.
How it works
- Omitted or wrong: if one or more athletes "omit all or part of a Technical Required Element or performs an incorrect action", and the video review confirms it, "a zero (0) will be assigned as the Degree of Difficulty" for that element.
- Out of order: a zero for each required element swum out of the order declared on the coach card.
- Together and facing the same way: in the women's duet and the team, required elements, free hybrids and transitions are performed "simultaneously and facing the same direction by all duet or team members". Each breach costs two points from the elements score.
- The exceptions to that: deck work, the entry into the water, acrobatics and getting into and out of a team's circle.
- Missing content: eight points if a routine lacks one of its additional requirements, such as the extra hybrid or the pair acrobatic in a women's duet.
- Too many elements: two points for each element over the set number.
- Circles: two points if a team technical routine has more than one circle pattern.
- Mixed duet: only the required elements must be simultaneous and facing the same way. The rest may be performed freely.
The glossary has the technical required elements, the element, the technical routine and the routine penalties.
Tricky cases
One swimmer in a team of eight does the wrong action in a required element. Is the whole element lost?
Yes. The rule applies when "one (1) or more athlete(s)" make the error, and the element's difficulty becomes zero.
Does a zero difficulty mean the routine is disqualified?
No. The routine keeps its other elements and its artistic impression score. Only that element is worth nothing.
Must a mixed duet do everything in unison?
No. Outside the technical required elements, a mixed duet may move at different times and face different ways.
Is the zero given on the spot?
No. The controllers note the error during the routine and the zero follows "if the DTC video review confirms a violation".
Why the rule exists
The technical routine is the one session where every team does the same movements. That comparison only works if the movements are the ones named, done in the order declared and done by everyone at once. A zero for the element is the heaviest answer the scoring has short of disqualification.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Solo technical | Five required elements, no rule on facing | AS 18.1.9 to 18.1.11 |
| Women's duet technical | Five required elements, performed together and facing the same way | AS 18.2.10 to 18.2.13 |
| Mixed duet technical | Three required elements. Only they must be in unison | AS 18.3.10 to 18.3.13 |
| Team technical | Five required elements, one acrobatic by all members, one circle at most | AS 18.4.14 to 18.4.16 |
| Free routines | No required elements. Limits apply to hybrids and acrobatics | AS 18.5 to 18.8 |
From the rule book
World Aquatics, Competition Regulations, Part Seven: Artistic Swimming Rules (in force as from 1 January 2025), Articles 18.1.8 to 18.1.11, 18.2.9 to 18.2.13, 18.3.10 to 18.3.13 and 18.4.14 to 18.4.16, and Appendix 3. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: World Aquatics Competition Regulations (PDF).