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!
I really don't like how capricious and arbitrary FINA is, and this is a perfect example of that.
Current turn methodology is to flip straight over, which means you're flat on your back when your feet touch the wall. From there, you push off and twist your body to rotate towards your stomach. Quite a few swimmers are somewhat leaning towards their back at the moment they leave the wall, but very quickly rotate past 90° towards their stomach.
It would have been much less arbitrary if FINA had come up with a rule that said something to the effect of "during the turn in the freestyle portion of the individual medley and medley relay races, the swimmer must be in the process of a continuous turn towards their stomach."
Similar language to the existing backstroke turn rule, and doesn't force a sizable portion of swimmers to change how they do a flipturn on a whim.
I foresee lots 'n lots of DQs at all levels of the sport as a result of this.
Way to go, FINA! That's one kick forwards, 372,364,139 kicks backwards!
I really don't like how capricious and arbitrary FINA is, and this is a perfect example of that.
Current turn methodology is to flip straight over, which means you're flat on your back when your feet touch the wall. From there, you push off and twist your body to rotate towards your stomach. Quite a few swimmers are somewhat leaning towards their back at the moment they leave the wall, but very quickly rotate past 90° towards their stomach.
It would have been much less arbitrary if FINA had come up with a rule that said something to the effect of "during the turn in the freestyle portion of the individual medley and medley relay races, the swimmer must be in the process of a continuous turn towards their stomach."
Similar language to the existing backstroke turn rule, and doesn't force a sizable portion of swimmers to change how they do a flipturn on a whim.
I foresee lots 'n lots of DQs at all levels of the sport as a result of this.
Way to go, FINA! That's one kick forwards, 372,364,139 kicks backwards!
