Numbers of Elements per Routines (2025 – )

In the new Artistic Swimming Rules, each routine has a set number of Elements. Elements can be the technical required elements (TRE), free hybrids, and acrobatics.

Essentially, one is only allowed to do so many things in a routine. No extra hybrids or acrobatics are allowed, declared or not declared on the Coach Card.

You can find below the number of required Elements per age group and per event.

These are for the 2025 season and on. You can find the previous required Elements for 2023 and 2024 here.

 

SENIOR & JUNIOR

  • Technical Solo (2:00 min)

6 required elements = 5 TRE + 1 Free Hybrid

  • Free Solo (2:15 min)

6 required elements = 6 Free Hybrids

  • Technical Duet (2:20 min)

7 required elements = 5 TRE + 1 Free Hybrid + 1 Pair Acrobatic

  • Free Duet (2:45 min)

8 required elements = 6 Free Hybrids + 2 Pair Acrobatics

  • Technical Mixed Duet (2:20 min)

7 required elements = 3 TRE + 1 Free Hybrid + 1 Required Hybrid + 2 Pair Acrobatics

3 declared Sustained Surface Connections (“SuCon”) with travel (1m or more) or rotation (180° or more) are also mandatory.

  • Free Mixed Duet (2:45 min)

7 required elements = 4 Free Hybrids + 3 Pair Acrobatics.

A minimum of 4 declared Sustained Surface Connections (“SuCon”) with travel (1m or more) or rotation (180° or more) are also mandatory.

  • Technical Team (2:50 min)

8 required elements = 5 TRE + 2 Free Hybrids (one must include a cadence action) + 1 Team Acrobatic (Max DD of 3.0).

A maximum of one circle must also be shown.

  • Free Team (3:30 min)

9 required elements = 6 Free Hybrids  + 3 Team Acrobatics.

  • Acrobatic Team (3:00 min)

7 required elements = 7 Team Acrobatics (one from each the four groups + 3 free choice, with a maximum of 2 from any group).

 

YOUTH (13-15)

  • Free Solo (2:00 min)

5 required elements = 5 Free Hybrids

  • Free Duet (2:30 min)

6 required elements = 5 Free Hybrids + 1 Pair Acrobatic

  • Free Mixed Duet (2:30 min)

5 required elements = 3 Free Hybrids + 2 Pair Acrobatics.

A minimum of 3 declared Sustained Surface Connections (“SuCon”) with travel (1m or more) or rotation (180° or more) are also mandatory.

  • Free Team (3:00 min)

8 required elements = 5 Free Hybrids  + 3 Team Acrobatics with DD safety limit.

  • Free Combination (3:00 min)

9 required elements = 4 Team Acrobatics with DD safety limit + 1 Solo Hybrid + 1 Duet Hybrid + 2 Team Hybrids (min. of 4 athletes) + 1 Team Choreography Hybrid (“ChoHY”) with no DD (min. of 4 athletes)

 

12 and Under

  • Free Solo (2:00 min)

4 required elements = 4 Free Hybrids

  • Free Duet (2:30 min)

5 required elements = 4 Free Hybrids + 1 Pair Acrobatic

  • Free Mixed Duet (2:30 min)

5 required elements = 3 Free Hybrids + 2 Pair Acrobatics.

A minimum of 3 declared Sustained Surface Connections (“SuCon”) with travel (1m or more) or rotation (180° or more) are also mandatory.

  • Free Team (3:00 min)

7 required elements = 5 Free Hybrids  + 3 Team Acrobatics with DD safety limit.

  • Free Combination (3:00 min)

8 required elements = 3 Team Acrobatics with DD safety limit + 1 Solo Hybrid + 1 Duet Hybrid + 2 Team Hybrid (min. of 4 athletes) + 1 Team Choreography Hybrid (“ChoHY”) with no DD (min. of 4 athletes)

 

Of note, Team Acrobatics have a difficulty cap (safety limit) for the Youth and U12 age groups. In Youth, they cannot have a DD higher than the following: for Group A: 2.7, Group B: 2.8, Group C: 2.8, and group P: 3.0.

In U12, they cannot have a DD higher than the following: for Group A: 2.5, Group B: 2.6, Group C: 2.6, and group P: 2.8.