OFFICIALS INFORMATION
The videos at the link below are provided by USA Swimming and show the proper techniques for the four strokes.
USA Swimming Stroke Videos
STROKES/RELAYS
|
|
BACKSTROKE
|
-
START
Start in the water with your back to the course. Standing on, or curling the toes over, the edge of the pool, the gutter, or skimmer is not permitted.
-
STROKE/KICK
Any style as long as the swimmer remains on the back (shoulders at or past vertical towards the back). Must break surface throughout the race except swimmer may be submerged after the start and each turn not more than 15 meters where the head must break the surface. Use far-end backstroke flags.
-
TURNS/FINISH
Some part of the body must touch the end of the racing course at a turn and finish. Swimmer MAY turn on the breast while executing the turn if head past backstroke flags. Only one single-arm stroke or one simultaneous double arm stroke is allowed while on breast. Kicking/gliding actions are permitted.
|
|
BREASTSTROKE
|
-
START
Forward start.
-
STROKE
Body kept on the breast. The stroke cycle is one arm pull and one leg kick in that order. Simultaneous arm movement in the same horizontal plane. After the start and each turn, one arm stroke may be completely back to the legs. The head must break the surface before the hands turn inward at the widest part of the second stroke. Recovery by the hands from breast-on, under, or over the water. Elbows underwater except for the last stroke before turn or finish. During each complete cycle, some part of the head shall break the surface of the water.
-
KICK
After the start and each turn, prior to the first breaststroke kick, a single butterfly kick is permitted. Movement of the legs shall be simultaneous vertically and horizontally. The feet turned out during the propulsive part of the kick. No alternating, scissors, or butterfly kick except as stated is allowed.
-
TURNS/FINISH
Shoulders at or past vertical toward the breast when feet leave the wall. Touch shall be made with both hands separated and simultaneously at, above, or below the water surface. At the last stroke before the turn and at the finish an arm stroke not followed by a leg kick is permitted. The head may be submerged after the last arm pull prior to the touch, provided it breaks the surface of the water at some point during the last complete or incomplete stroke cycle preceding the touch.
|
|
BUTTERFLY
|
-
START
Forward start.
-
STROKE
Body kept on the breast. Multiple kicks are permitted but the first arm pull must bring the swimmer to the surface. Some part of the swimmer must break the surface throughout the race, except the swimmer may be submerged after the start and each turn, not more than 15 meters where the head must break the surface. Arms, shoulder to wrist, must be brought forward over the water and pulled back simultaneously.
-
KICK
Simultaneous up and down movement. No alternating, scissors or breaststroke kicking movements.
-
TURNS/FINISH
Shoulders at or past vertical toward the breast when the swimmer leaves the wall. Touch shall be made with both hands separated and simultaneously at, above, or below the water surface.
|
|
FREESTYLE
|
-
START
Forward start.
-
STROKE/KICK
Any style may be used. Some part of the swimmer must break the surface throughout the race except the swimmer may be submerged after the start and each turn not more than 15 meters where the head must break the surface.
-
TURNS/FINISH
Some part of the swimmer must touch the wall at completion of each length or required distance.
-
OTHER
Swimmer must not leave the pool or walk, or spring from the bottom of the pool. Swimmer MAY stand on the bottom of the pool (a violation in all other strokes). Must not pull or push on the lane lines or side walls for forward propulsion.
|
|
INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY
|
- Rules for each stroke apply. Must swim one quarter of event distance as prescribed stroke, in order of Butterfly, Backstroke, Breaststroke, and Freestyle. May not swim in the style of the other three strokes during the freestyle leg. During the freestyle leg, the swimmer must return to the breast (shoulders at or past vertical towards the breast) prior to any kick or stroke and must remain on the breast (shoulders at or past vertical towards the breast), except when executing a turn. Transition turns conform to finish rules for the stroke.
|
|
MEDLEY RELAY
|
- Rules pertaining to each stroke apply. Each swimmer must swim one quarter of event distance as prescribed stroke, in order of Backstroke, Breaststroke, Butterfly and Freestyle. May not swim in the style of the other three strokes during the freestyle leg. During freestyle leg, the swimmer must return to the breast (shoulders at or past vertical towards the breast) prior to any kick or stroke and must remain on the breast (shoulders at or past vertical towards the breast), except when executing a turn. Intermediate turns conform to the turn rules for the stroke. Transition turns conform to the finish rules for the stroke.
|
