Disqualified???

The back turn has to be timed perfectly as the rule states it is a continuous motion, so if you are too far, you can't backpedal and get away with it. One way to eek out and save a back turn that is too far is to keep that 1-handed free turn arm in front of you, and not pull back right away, or else you are stuck kicking head first and that's an easy dq to spot. Hoever, with the hand up in front, you could arguably say you were in motion, continuous motion, so save yourself a dq if not a very clean turn. Google fixing optional, but yes, legal. Actually, on a backstroke turn, the only thing that matters is the top half of the body. You can get deeked either by (1) failure to initiate the pull after turning on your belly or (2) failure to initiate the turn after taking your one pull (head must move, hips up, etc, for there to be continuous motion). So if you leave the one arm extended without any motion and just kick, that is DQ #1. To avoid a DQ if you are too far out, you should do a slow continuous sculling type of pull with the extended arm to get yourself closer to the wall for the flip. You can actually adjust your goggles at any turn. However, for *** and fly, this can only be done after a legal touch for that stroke and before pushing off the wall. The wall is like free space. For backstroke, either adjust goggles staying on your back. Or touch the wall on your back, adjust goggles and push off on your back.

For backstroke, either adjust goggles staying on your back. Or touch the wall on your back, adjust goggles and push off on your back. Yeah, the rules for the swim portion of backstroke are about as simple as they could possibly be: stay on your back. Other than that you can do whatever you want.

In the Canadian masters rules watches are banned and at the meets I have been to officials will disqualify any swimmer who wears one. They usually make an announcement at the beginning of the meet to not wear any watches.

Yeah, the rules for the swim portion of backstroke are about as simple as they could possibly be: stay on your back. Other than that you can do whatever you want. Yep, except go under the lane line by accident and return to your own lane. Then you would be fully submerged before the finish.

Further down the rabbit hole ... An Individual Medley (IM) event is actually four small races, back-to-back. This has no effect for fly, ***, and free, but for backstroke, it means you have to finish the backstroke leg using a legal backstroke finish, which is to say, ON YOUR BACK. You are not allowed to turn over on your front and do a flipturn, then push off into the breastroke leg, as it might seem natural to do, and as would be legal at the end of any other length of backstroke (except for the finish). It has to be a legal backstroke finish. I've seen several DQ's for this. Also, on a backstroke start, you are not allowed to curl your toes over the gutter (if a gutter is present). Your toes ARE allowed to be above the water line, but they have to stay on the flat part of the wall.

You can touch the bottom as long as you do not push off to gain forward movement. If you are choking - stand up , regain composure & pull your legs up off the bottom ---- then start swimmingYou may never see this in a race,but it is legal.

Actually, on a backstroke turn, the only thing that matters is the top half of the body. You can get deeked either by (1) failure to initiate the pull after turning on your belly or (2) failure to initiate the turn after taking your one pull (head must move, hips up, etc, for there to be continuous motion). So if you leave the one arm extended without any motion and just kick, that is DQ #1. To avoid a DQ if you are too far out, you should do a slow continuous sculling type of pull with the extended arm to get yourself closer to the wall for the flip. You can actually adjust your goggles at any turn. However, for *** and fly, this can only be done after a legal touch for that stroke and before pushing off the wall. The wall is like free space. For backstroke, either adjust goggles staying on your back. Or touch the wall on your back, adjust goggles and push off on your back. Yes, better put. I did not put it out and keep it stationary, but rather, move it realy slow instead of pulling back and kicking head first. Continuous motion, albeit really slow. Better to practice getting the right place to take that last stroke and flip over, but knowing the rule helps in case you are too far.

And in the event you are too close and take an incher of a stroke or jam the wall, you can touch (hopefully not with your face) while on your tummy but you must push off on your back, keeping a continous motion, if not very graceful as you make eye contact with the turn judge and give him that pleading look in your eyes, see, i was continuous! no dq-y!

Further down the rabbit hole ... An Individual Medley (IM) event is actually four small races, back-to-back. This has no effect for fly, ***, and free, but for backstroke, it means you have to finish the backstroke leg using a legal backstroke finish, which is to say, ON YOUR BACK. You are not allowed to turn over on your front and do a flipturn, then push off into the breastroke leg, as it might seem natural to do, and as would be legal at the end of any other length of backstroke (except for the finish). It has to be a legal backstroke finish. I've seen several DQ's for this. Also, on a backstroke start, you are not allowed to curl your toes over the gutter (if a gutter is present). Your toes ARE allowed to be above the water line, but they have to stay on the flat part of the wall. Thanks for the post, ive been wondering about the back-*** IM turn for over a year and thought that must be the case based on TV coverages from meets. Didn't know about the toes and gutter either. Touching the bottom of the pool is also prohibited. This can be a problem with poor turns in shallow pools. As a very young AGer (think about 7-8ish), I got beat in a 25m mixed race in the bay by a friend who was walking on the bottom and making swimming motions on top of the water. I could see her feet while i was swimming, but apprantly the water was sufficently murky that the ref couldn't. My parent's convinced me it would be unsportsmen like to rat her out. Sounds silly, but make sure you verify the distance and a stroke before getting ready to start. At two meets this year I have seen folks dive in and take two strokes of a different stroke right off the blocks. This is pretty easy to do, i think. ive seem it at HS meets and usms meets. Think it's not supposed to be sign of Alzheimers unless you for get to swim at all. :)

I've been to a couple of meets where swimmers wearing watches were given a warning but no DQ. Technically timing devices could assist a swimmer with their pace. But regarding jewelry I stand corrected as the rule is only for college and high school meets. The same refs who officiate our masters meets had DQ'd a few high school girls for having hoops in their ears. Studs in ears apparently are ok.