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!
Thank you Charles.
I know that FINA dealt the cards and we just have to play them as best we can. It seems like you are saying that if we do a flip turn as most were taught, with a push off on the back, we are illegal, but if we turn toward the *** quickly we probably won't be DQd.
After our age group team had several meets I asked the coach what had been happening with this rule change. He had gotten a chance to ask a senior USA-S official about it and what he described was something very similar. That they seem to be focusing more on the intent to swim backstroke more than the specific action of flipping directly over and pushing off on the back. He's instructed his swimmers to make every dolphin work to slowly turn towards the side and get to the side in 3 or less. He said there has been at least one DQ he has seen (not his team) from flipping directly on the back but overwhelmingly this has not been the case and most officials seem to be focusing on an obvious attempt to swim on the back for several meters and are erring in favor of the swimmer.
I've convinced one of my swimmers to race the 4-IM for the first time next week and if this advice is not correct I am going to be steaming mad.
Thank you Charles.
I know that FINA dealt the cards and we just have to play them as best we can. It seems like you are saying that if we do a flip turn as most were taught, with a push off on the back, we are illegal, but if we turn toward the *** quickly we probably won't be DQd.
After our age group team had several meets I asked the coach what had been happening with this rule change. He had gotten a chance to ask a senior USA-S official about it and what he described was something very similar. That they seem to be focusing more on the intent to swim backstroke more than the specific action of flipping directly over and pushing off on the back. He's instructed his swimmers to make every dolphin work to slowly turn towards the side and get to the side in 3 or less. He said there has been at least one DQ he has seen (not his team) from flipping directly on the back but overwhelmingly this has not been the case and most officials seem to be focusing on an obvious attempt to swim on the back for several meters and are erring in favor of the swimmer.
I've convinced one of my swimmers to race the 4-IM for the first time next week and if this advice is not correct I am going to be steaming mad.
