Rulebook - 2008 USA-S/USMS differences

RE: Rulebook - 2008 USA-S/USMS differences

orca1946 — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 07:09:41 GMT

Thanx Kathy, this seems to clear things up. I thought that this was a DQ in all ways.

RE: Rulebook - 2008 USA-S/USMS differences

Kathy Casey — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 11:53:44 GMT

Yes, it can be done before you touch the wall. You can roll past vetical while taking your last armstroke ("turn the shoulders past vertical toward the ***") and make contact with (grab/touch) the wall. Once the shoulders have turned past vertical toward the ***, the turning action must be continuous (in other words, grab the wall right away). If this is still unclear, feel free to ask me for more information. Kathy Casey, Chair USMS Rules Committee

RE: Rulebook - 2008 USA-S/USMS differences

orca1946 — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 10:32:00 GMT

Can this past vertical be done BEFORE you touch the wall?

RE: Rulebook - 2008 USA-S/USMS differences

Kathy Casey — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 01:08:49 GMT

No, you are not missing anything. Technically that is not a difference between USA-S and USMS rules. However, the USMS Rule Book specifically states in a note in 101.4.3 that a swimmer can turn "past vertical and, in a continuous motion, grab the wall before pushing off with the feet while on the back..." (in other words, do an open turn). That is a difference in text between the two rule books but not a difference in the interpretation of the rule. I have come across meet situations in the past year where officials were warning swimmers at USMS meets that they could not turn past vertical and grab the wall for an open backstroke turn. You are correct; it became clear to me that the interpretation allowing the open backstroke turn needed to be explicitly stated, so the note from 101.4.3 (USMS Rule Book) was added to the USA-S/USMS Differences. It appears in the "Differences" published in the USMS Rule Book but not in the "Differences" published in the USA-S Rule Book because it is not a difference in interpretation of the rule. Kathy Casey, Chair USMS Rules Committee