Any Rule changes for 2007?

See www.usms.org/.../rules-2006-9-16-5.pdf for the USMS rule changes for 2007. USMS also adopted the USA Swimming rule changes, ratified at this year’s convention, for individual strokes, including the backstroke turn.

I'm not aware of any backstroke turn changes from the 2006 USMS or USA Swimming Convention. However, at the 2005 Convention, a USA Swimming rule change for the backstroke turn was adopted by USMS, which amounted to deleting one sentence from 101.4.3—Turns: "Once the body has left the position on the back, any kick or arm pull must be part of the continuous turning action." So the rule now reads: Upon completion of each length, some part of the swimmer must touch the wall. During the turn the shoulders may be turned past the vertical toward the ***, after which a continuous single arm pull or a continuous simultaneous double arm pull may be used to execute the turn. The swimmer must have returned to a position on the back upon leaving the wall. Note: The swimmer who turns past vertical and, in a continuous motion, grabs the wall before pushing off with the feet while on the back is considered to have executed a “continuous turning action.” This has not resulted in any new interpretation of the backstroke turn rule. You still need a continuous turning action, but there is no emphasis on the kick or arm pull being part of that. Please correct me if I am wrong, but I have looked at the 2006 USA Swimming Rules changes and find nothing new with regard to backstroke turns. Mary Pohlmann Ozark Stroke and Turn Judge

USA Swimming (formerly USS) did not make any rule changes in the backstroke this year and neither did USMS. Kathy Casey, Chair USMS Rules Committee