Is there a specific "rule" (unwritten or otherwise) regarding swimming non-freestyle in a freestyle event? I've entered myself in the 500 free at a meet tomorrow with the intent of doing a 400IM (there's no separate 400IM event at this meet). It's not going to be a "good" 400IM (in fact I'm sure it's going to be very, very bad), I don't need an official split time, I just want to check it off The List for my own personal check-off challenge before I get stuck having to do it long course.
Do I:
a) Inform someone at the check-in for the 500
b) Inform some other official (whom?)
c) Tell the other swimmers in my heat so they don't freak out when one guy is suddenly going out way too fast for a seven-minute 500, and butterfly at that
d) Just keep my mouth shut and do it
e) Some combination of the above
Freestylers should not have an issue... they are the only stroke where the rules come down to:
Stay off the bottom
Touch the wall at each end
It is perfectly legal to stand on the bottom of the pool in freestyle.
Standing on the bottom during a freestyle race shall not disqualify a swimmer, but a swimmer must not leave the pool, or walk, or spring from the bottom. Standing on the bottom during any other stroke shall result in disqualification. But, since it is freestyle, you can stop during any of the strokes you are doing and hang out and catch your breath.
Freestylers should not have an issue... they are the only stroke where the rules come down to:
Stay off the bottom
Touch the wall at each end
It is perfectly legal to stand on the bottom of the pool in freestyle.
Standing on the bottom during a freestyle race shall not disqualify a swimmer, but a swimmer must not leave the pool, or walk, or spring from the bottom. Standing on the bottom during any other stroke shall result in disqualification. But, since it is freestyle, you can stop during any of the strokes you are doing and hang out and catch your breath.
