Back a few months, there were energetic discussions about doing away with the use of breastroke kick during butterfly swimming. At that time, I recall that FINA postponed the decision for Masters until after the Worlds. Has anyone heard anything?
Parents
Former Member
There is only one stroke rule that is vastly different in Masters swimming from USA swimming, and that is the allowance in butterfly for use of the breaststroke kick. When Masters swimming began back in the 1970's, maybe there was some rationale for this, being that butterfly is the most difficult stroke to learn and perfect. However, I believe that Masters swimming has grown up enough now to eliminate this one discrepancy. Using a breaststroke kick makes an entirely different stroke that just isn't butterfly, even if there is a rulebook that says it is.
There is only one stroke rule that is vastly different in Masters swimming from USA swimming, and that is the allowance in butterfly for use of the breaststroke kick. When Masters swimming began back in the 1970's, maybe there was some rationale for this, being that butterfly is the most difficult stroke to learn and perfect. However, I believe that Masters swimming has grown up enough now to eliminate this one discrepancy. Using a breaststroke kick makes an entirely different stroke that just isn't butterfly, even if there is a rulebook that says it is.
