I read the following PDF regarding the updated rule and interpretation for the freestyle portion of the IM:
www.usms.org/.../20150911_fina_im_interpretation.pdf
My question is regarding the freestyle flip turn. When you turn, you flip onto your back, push off and start twisting to the proper position for freestyle. It usually happens fairly fast so you're not completely on the back for any more than one kick worth at the most and by then you've begun rotating to the side. Honestly, I still flip slightly diagonally, so my feet land a bit off-horizontal but I've been working on correcting it to what has been shown to me as a more proper technique.
But I know as soon as I post this notice for my masters team on Wednesday, they are going to ask the same questions. I would assume that this position of being on the back is normal in freestyle and wouldn't constitute backstroke swimming but I've been wrong plenty of times in trying to interpret rules. But it gets me into wondering, what's going to be the line between a normal freestyle flip turn and too much time on your back? Obviously, no SDK-ing on your back down the length of the pool but exactly how fast does that twist need to be? Is there a standpoint from the officials on this yet?
Thanks in advance!
The push off on the back is no longer OK for freestyle in the IM and medley relay. Note that this interpretation applies to only the freestyle leg of the IM (any distance) and the medley relay (any distance), and the rules do not allow backstroke, breaststroke, or butterfly on that leg of either event. Backstroke is defined in USMS 101.4.2 as "shall push off on the back" and is therefore not allowed during the freestyle leg of the IM and medley relay because that is a clear definition of backstroke. This applies to the ***-to-free turn and the subsequent freestyle turns on that leg of the IM/medley relay. In an actual freestyle event, one can leave the wall on the back after the turn and rotate to the front, because freestyle by itself is defined as "swim in any style". However, in USMS 101.5.2 (freestyle stroke rule), after the statement "swim in any style", it also states "except that in a medley relay or individual medley event, freestyle means any style other than butterfly, breaststroke, or backstroke." The FINA/USA-S/USMS interpretations require that official(s) see the style of backstroke, breaststroke, or butterfly for a sufficient distance to call a DQ (FINA interpretation June 1, 1997, “When a swimmer has traveled a sufficient distance that the official can with certainty judge that the competitor is swimming in the style of butterfly, breaststroke or backstroke, then a disqualification is appropriate.”). The latest FINA interpretation (August 23, 2015) specifically states that leaving the wall on the back during the freestyle leg of the IM/medley relay is a DQ, “According to (FINA) SW 9.1 each of the strokes must cover one quarter (1/4) of the distance. Being on the back when leaving the wall for the freestyle portion of the medley is covering more than one quarter of the distance in the style of backstroke and is, therefore, a disqualification. Backstroke swimming is only defined as being on the back.”
Kathy Casey, Chair
USMS Rules Committee
The push off on the back is no longer OK for freestyle in the IM and medley relay. Note that this interpretation applies to only the freestyle leg of the IM (any distance) and the medley relay (any distance), and the rules do not allow backstroke, breaststroke, or butterfly on that leg of either event. Backstroke is defined in USMS 101.4.2 as "shall push off on the back" and is therefore not allowed during the freestyle leg of the IM and medley relay because that is a clear definition of backstroke. This applies to the ***-to-free turn and the subsequent freestyle turns on that leg of the IM/medley relay. In an actual freestyle event, one can leave the wall on the back after the turn and rotate to the front, because freestyle by itself is defined as "swim in any style". However, in USMS 101.5.2 (freestyle stroke rule), after the statement "swim in any style", it also states "except that in a medley relay or individual medley event, freestyle means any style other than butterfly, breaststroke, or backstroke." The FINA/USA-S/USMS interpretations require that official(s) see the style of backstroke, breaststroke, or butterfly for a sufficient distance to call a DQ (FINA interpretation June 1, 1997, “When a swimmer has traveled a sufficient distance that the official can with certainty judge that the competitor is swimming in the style of butterfly, breaststroke or backstroke, then a disqualification is appropriate.”). The latest FINA interpretation (August 23, 2015) specifically states that leaving the wall on the back during the freestyle leg of the IM/medley relay is a DQ, “According to (FINA) SW 9.1 each of the strokes must cover one quarter (1/4) of the distance. Being on the back when leaving the wall for the freestyle portion of the medley is covering more than one quarter of the distance in the style of backstroke and is, therefore, a disqualification. Backstroke swimming is only defined as being on the back.”
Kathy Casey, Chair
USMS Rules Committee
