STROKE BRIEFING

The job of the officiating team is to ensure fair and equitable competition for ALL competitors. The rules are the same without regard to the age of the swimmers, the level of meet, or whether the swimmer is scoring or exhibition.

THE BENEFIT OF DOUBT ALWAYS GOES TO THE SWIMMER

CALL WHAT YOU SEE (AND NOT WHAT YOU DON’T SEE).

BREASTSTROKE:

Forward start. Swimmer permitted one full arm pull (beyond hipline) and one kick while submerged at start and after turns; head must surface by the widest part of the 2nd stroke (before hands turn inward). Arm pulls shall be in same horizontal plane (parallel to water surface). Hands shall be pushed forward from the breast on or under the water (elbows must remain in water except at turn or finish). Stroke cycle consists of one arm pull and one kick in that order; the head must break water surface at least once each cycle. Swimmer’s leg motions must be simultaneous; feet must be turned out in downward propulsive part of kick. No flutter or butterfly kick is allowed. On the turn & finish, a simultaneous two-hand touch is required. On turn, shoulders must be past vertical toward the breast when swimmer leaves wall.

Common Violations: Two strokes or kicks underwater; alternating kick; scissors kick; butterfly kick; arms not moving in the same horizontal plane; out-of-cycle; over water recovery; non-simultaneous or one-hand touch.

BUTTERFLY:

Forward start. Swimmer is allowed one arm pull and as many kicks as desired at start and turn, but head must surface by the 15-meter mark. The first arm pull must bring the swimmer to the surface. Arms must pull and recover simultaneously, with forward arm motions over the water surface. Up and down movement of legs and feet must be simultaneous. Breaststroke or flutter kicks are not allowed. At the turns & finish, both hands must touch simultaneously, but do not have to be on the same level. At the turn, shoulders must be past vertical toward the breast when swimmer leaves the wall.

Common Violations: Submerged past the 15M mark; alternating kick; scissors kick; non-simultaneous arm stroke; underwater recovery; non-simultaneous or one-hand touch.

BACKSTROKE:

Backstroke start. Head must surface by 15-meter mark. Shoulders must be past vertical toward back throughout race except at turn. Shoulders may turn past vertical as part of a continuous turning action at the turn only. Continuous single or simultaneous double arm pull may be used to execute turn, any kicking or gliding must be part of the turning action. Swimmer must be past vertical toward back when he/she leaves the wall. Swimmer must remain on back and may not be completely submerged except at touch at finish.

Common Violations: Submerged past the 15M mark; getting artificial assistance (pulling on lane ropes or pushing off the sides); shoulders past vertical toward breast (not on back); non-continuous turn; independent kicks or pulls during the turn; no touch on the turn.

FREESTYLE:

Forward start. Head must surface by 15-meter mark. Some part of swimmer must touch wall at turn and finish. No pulling on lane lines, walking or pushing forward off bottom of pool.

Common Violations: Submerged past the 15M mark; no touch on the turn; walking on or pushing off the bottom of the pool; getting artificial assistance (pulling on lane ropes or pushing off the sides).

INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY/MEDLEY RELAY

The Individual Medley is swum in the following order: Butterfly, Backstroke, Breaststroke, and Freestyle.

The Medley Relay is Backstroke, Breaststroke, Butterfly and Freestyle.

RELAY TAKE-OFFS:

Watch the feet of the swimmer on the block. When the feet of the swimmer on the block leave the starting platform, look down to the pool to see if the incoming swimmer has touched the wall. If so, the exchange is good.

Do not raise your hand for an early take-off when using dual confirmation balloting. In recording your observation on ballots, an O indicates a good take-off and an X represents an early take-off.

GENERAL: Swimmers may also be disqualified for:

• Unsportsmanlike or unsafe conduct
• Standing on the bottom during any stroke, except Freestyle, and except during the turn after the touch
• Interfering with another swimmer
• Entering the pool without permission from the Referee