I don't believe that I have seen this mentioned, but several people have asked me this. Will the walls at Indy LC Nationals be FINA-style flat walls or regular gutter style?
Backstrokers are particularly anxious about this regarding the start, but other strokes are affected at the turns.
Mary
I have a question about backstroke starts that is relevant to the "flat walls," which I don't use often. The rule for backstroke starts is (USMS 101.1.2B):
"The swimmers shall line up in the water facing the starting end with both hands placed on the gutter or on the starting grips. Standing in or on the gutter, placing the toes above the lip of the gutter or bending the toes over the lip of the gutter before or after the start is prohibited."
Back in the "old days" when I was swimming, the foot had to be completely submerged. That no longer seems to be the case, correct? It sounds like, as long as the toes aren't curled over a gutter (non-existent with flat walls), you are okay.
I am trying to confirm this because just this summer at a masters meet, I heard a starter tell a swimmer that the foot had to be completely submerged.
I have a question about backstroke starts that is relevant to the "flat walls," which I don't use often. The rule for backstroke starts is (USMS 101.1.2B):
"The swimmers shall line up in the water facing the starting end with both hands placed on the gutter or on the starting grips. Standing in or on the gutter, placing the toes above the lip of the gutter or bending the toes over the lip of the gutter before or after the start is prohibited."
Back in the "old days" when I was swimming, the foot had to be completely submerged. That no longer seems to be the case, correct? It sounds like, as long as the toes aren't curled over a gutter (non-existent with flat walls), you are okay.
I am trying to confirm this because just this summer at a masters meet, I heard a starter tell a swimmer that the foot had to be completely submerged.
