Quick question, when did the rule change?
When I was in age-group, HS, and Collegiate swimming I was DQ'd enough times (embarrassing to admit) to incur the wrath of several coaches and teammates, including one state championship meet, for my head going too far below the waterline in breaststroke. The last time was in the late 80's. I am watching videos and seeing swimmers in the pool routinely doing the same thing, head way under waterline during breaststroke. When did the rule change? And what is the rule now?
Thanks!
-Chris
There are some of us ( the over 70 crowd) who can remember pre-Summer '57, when it was legal to swim the whole breaststroke race underwater. In fact, it was common for one swimming a fifty to only take a breath at the turn. Having poor breath control, I was constantly being told by my coaches to "stay under longer." I can remember one coach telling me in a relieved tone that I could now be a good breaststroker because the rules had changed. So in my first big meet after that, I panicked and took a long stroke to catch up and was promptly DQd! It's hard to tell how many changes my stroke has undergone in all those years.
There are some of us ( the over 70 crowd) who can remember pre-Summer '57, when it was legal to swim the whole breaststroke race underwater. In fact, it was common for one swimming a fifty to only take a breath at the turn. Having poor breath control, I was constantly being told by my coaches to "stay under longer." I can remember one coach telling me in a relieved tone that I could now be a good breaststroker because the rules had changed. So in my first big meet after that, I panicked and took a long stroke to catch up and was promptly DQd! It's hard to tell how many changes my stroke has undergone in all those years.
