At the past 4 Masters meets I officiated (including 2 Nationals), I have observed slower butterfliers completely submerged at some point in the stroke cycle (after surfacing before the 15 mtr mark). Although the swimmer is not attempting to submerge for the purpose of streamline dolphin kicking, their momentum coupled with slow turn-over takes them completely underwater for short periods of time.
The video link - http://vimeo.com/248356962 - shows me swimming slow fly. For brief moments I am completely submerged with no forward propulsion - just resting before the next stroke.
An overly strict, by-the-rules official would be within the rules to DQ a swimmer doing butterfly like the video. It is called "resubmerging after the 15 mtr mark".
This is one of those cases where Masters might need an interpretation of the rule - specific for masters swimmers - that allows for submerging during a stroke cycle provided the swimmer does not perform more than "x" dolphin kicks while submerged.
Mark,
Your paragraph 1 & 2 comments are exactly why I would like to see Masters "issue" an interpretation. Without an interpretation, DQs will take place on the basis of discretion and personal interpretation - neither of which leads to consistency.
To date, I think the officials are making the right call, as you mention, if the resubmerge takes place as part of their normal stroke cycle." Masters could be out in front of this and avoid an official making the wrong call.
Many years ago, there were questions about which part of the arm had to break the surface during the butterfly recovery. Some officials used the fingers, other looked at the elbow, others looked at the shoulders - all independent of each other. Then there was the official who felt the water surface was arbitrary and simply judged if the arm recovery on the basis of the "path of the arms." This is a great example of personal interpretation and discretion being used to avoid making a tough call.
Paul
Mark,
Your paragraph 1 & 2 comments are exactly why I would like to see Masters "issue" an interpretation. Without an interpretation, DQs will take place on the basis of discretion and personal interpretation - neither of which leads to consistency.
To date, I think the officials are making the right call, as you mention, if the resubmerge takes place as part of their normal stroke cycle." Masters could be out in front of this and avoid an official making the wrong call.
Many years ago, there were questions about which part of the arm had to break the surface during the butterfly recovery. Some officials used the fingers, other looked at the elbow, others looked at the shoulders - all independent of each other. Then there was the official who felt the water surface was arbitrary and simply judged if the arm recovery on the basis of the "path of the arms." This is a great example of personal interpretation and discretion being used to avoid making a tough call.
Paul
