Swimmers can choose their own musical accompaniment for the technical routine, but the routine s duration must be within 10 seconds of two minutes 20 seconds for duets and two minutes 50 seconds for teams. Free routines aim for flair and drama and last four minutes for duets and five minutes for teams. They incorporate difficult manoeuvres and must include changes in tempo and mood. Innovation, pattern changes, intricate patterns and aerial movements are all common. Two sets of five judges each assess each routine, one set judging technical merit and the other artistic impression.
Execution covers strokes and other propulsion techniques and the precision of patterns.
Movements should be smooth and effortless and swimmers should be high in the water. The form of swimmers in maintaining patterns and strokes should not deteriorate as the routine progresses. Synchronization must be maintained above and below the water line. Levels of difficulty are determined by the demands the routine places on the strength and technical proficiency of swimmers. As in gymnastics and figure skating, swimmers are rewarded for performing difficult tasks well.