I'm doing some 500's, have always done what most call freestyle.
Can I ever mix in other strokes? Do I need to do the same stroke throughout?
I'd love to do some backstroke during it. Am also aiming for an 800.
I've read the rulebook and either not understood or not seen an answer to my questions.
Thanks! I've only been racing 3 years.
Debra, Ohio :)
Freestyle is any style.The only real exception to that is that you must stay at the surface after 15M from the start and turn.That rule applies to fly and BK also ,but not BR,therefore, is is possible(but unlikely for most swimmers) to swim BR in such a manner that it is legal in a BR race,but not in a free race(either by going beyond 15M on the pullout or submerging your entire body during the stroke.)
it is possible(but unlikely for most swimmers) to swim BR in such a manner that it is legal in a BR race,but not in a free race(either by going beyond 15M on the pullout or submerging your entire body during the stroke.)
The flip side is true too. One can swim fly in a manner that would get you DQ'd in a fly race (eg one handed turns) but not in a 500 free.
I find that the rule is very short and dry. You want the interpretations, and this is the best place:
www.usaswimming.org
Member Resources (top bar)
Officials (middle section)
Education and Training (w/in Officials section)
Education and Training Resources (w/in above section left bar)
Official's Manual/Guide to Officiating (almost there, about 1/2 page down)
Chapter 5 - go to freestyle section!
Thanks, Chowmi. Once I realized you were at usaswimming and not usms, I found what it wanted. The following was included:
3. Choice of strokes during freestyle events Question: I told a swimmer that she could not do the 200 IM during the 200 free because once a stroke is selected in a freestyle event, you cannot change to another stroke during the race. The swimmer’s coach insisted I was wrong. Who was right?
Answer: The coach was correct. In an event designated as freestyle, the swimmer may swim any style (101.5.2). There are no restrictions about changing the style of swimming during a freestyle event. The only restriction regarding style is during the freestyle portion of a medley event; in a medley relay or individual medley event, freestyle means any style other than butterfly, breaststroke or backstroke (101.5.2). Again there is no restriction about changing the style of swimming during the freestyle portion of the medley event. Regardless of the stroke(s) used, times achieved in freestyle events can be recorded only as freestyle times (103.12.2).
Yes, you see these interpretations make more sense. Other than in an IM race or medley relay, it is anything goes, including doggy paddle, corkscrews (i'd like to see knelson do this for his distance events, WOW, i can just imagine how dizzy he'd get! oh wait. never mind. he can corkscrew both ways!), and therefore you can change strokes mid-pool as well. It's so awesome we have a stroke where you don't even have to commit to a 25 of it! Of course be mindful of the 15 mark AND that you CANNOT be completely submerged, so no going 15 meters, waving and doing a sexy leg up and twisting down syncro move and going underwater to the wall. I find it interesting that if you miss a turn, and for whatever reason it takes you just short of the next wall to figure it out, you can swim back and touch that wall without getting DQ'd as long as you don't touch the opposite wall. That's a huge grace time in a LCM pool, and boy would you get your entry $ worth out of that swim.
James did a seated skull for his 25 free race.. He claimed to have everyone cheering. Completely legitimate, though I thought it was a waste of a rare opportunity
corkscrews (i'd like to see knelson do this for his distance events, WOW, i can just imagine how dizzy he'd get! oh wait. never mind. he can corkscrew both ways!)
You get an "A" for reading comprehension!
James did a seated skull for his 25 free race.. He claimed to have everyone cheering.
File under "delusions of grandeur." :banana:
Yes, but it's "freestyle" so that means everything is legal. You could do sidestroke or corkscrew if you wanted. As Allen mentioned, the only real rule is you must surface by the 15 meter mark.
Also, you can't walk on the bottom of the pool (SW 10.5) or pull on the lane rope (SW 10.6).
Challenge: swim a 500 this way (but do breathe!) swimswam.com/.../
His doing it without breathing takes it from "kinda cool" to really,really stupid (see this thread forums.usms.org/showthread.php )
