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!
frank,
you need to read rule 101.4.3
Durning the turn the shoulders may be turned past the vertical towards the ***, after which an immediate continuous single arm pull or an immediate continuous double arm pull maybe used to initiate the turn.
VERY LEGAL on any backstroke turn of the 400 IM (both) and 200 IM scy.
so here we have that it is perfectly legal to be on your *** for backstroke and even taking an arm pull, but you can NOT be on your back at any point during the freestyle of an IM.
You are correct at the turning end for the stroke. In 400 IM its at the at the 125, 150, and 175 turn and the 200 IM its the 75 turn in scy and in LCM its at the 150 turn in the 400 and 150 turn in the 200. I was thinking the transition from back to *** at the 200 turn for the 400 IM and 100 turn for the 200 IM. So I need you to read rule 101.6.3 which states the swimmer must touch the wall while on his back. Once he flips or does an open turn the prescribed breaststroke form must be attained prior to the first arm stroke
Since we are discussing transitions here, FINA could make the argument that when you push off on your back to do the free its not the correct transition at the wall because you can do 15 meters on your back and you should be on your front to start the crawl/free. IM has to be different for all 4 strokes and their argument is that you are essentially doing back for 15 meters because you are on your back kicking away. I am not saying its right or agreeing or disagreeing, but I think that is where this rule change rational is. Now like I said before, Ryan Lochte could do this in a freestyle event and it would be very legal because their is no transition or changing of strokes.
frank,
you need to read rule 101.4.3
Durning the turn the shoulders may be turned past the vertical towards the ***, after which an immediate continuous single arm pull or an immediate continuous double arm pull maybe used to initiate the turn.
VERY LEGAL on any backstroke turn of the 400 IM (both) and 200 IM scy.
so here we have that it is perfectly legal to be on your *** for backstroke and even taking an arm pull, but you can NOT be on your back at any point during the freestyle of an IM.
You are correct at the turning end for the stroke. In 400 IM its at the at the 125, 150, and 175 turn and the 200 IM its the 75 turn in scy and in LCM its at the 150 turn in the 400 and 150 turn in the 200. I was thinking the transition from back to *** at the 200 turn for the 400 IM and 100 turn for the 200 IM. So I need you to read rule 101.6.3 which states the swimmer must touch the wall while on his back. Once he flips or does an open turn the prescribed breaststroke form must be attained prior to the first arm stroke
Since we are discussing transitions here, FINA could make the argument that when you push off on your back to do the free its not the correct transition at the wall because you can do 15 meters on your back and you should be on your front to start the crawl/free. IM has to be different for all 4 strokes and their argument is that you are essentially doing back for 15 meters because you are on your back kicking away. I am not saying its right or agreeing or disagreeing, but I think that is where this rule change rational is. Now like I said before, Ryan Lochte could do this in a freestyle event and it would be very legal because their is no transition or changing of strokes.
