All right, I just read the rule on the backstroke turn and couldn't figure out what was being said. I have been away from swim meets for 15 years so I think I saw some changes in telivised compititions. It seems that a freestyle flip turn is being used. Is this legal in masters swimming. I started doing what I saw on TV and it seems to be a great turn. I always hated the old style backstroke turn.
If it is legal, could someone breakdown the rule in simple terms so that I dont get DQed. I don't have a formal coach at this time.
Thanks
Parents
Former Member
Almost Dave.
But if you kick into the wall, after your one pull is completed (with either one or both arms) you will (rather, can) be disqualified. The interpretation of the 'continuous turning motion' is that the pull and the flip need to be continuous with each other. If you do turn over too far from the wall, what you need to do is kick hard and pull your arm(s) slo o o o o ly.
Great turn, lousy rule.
Also, you only need to be on your back (rather, toward your back, so you can be almost on your side) when your feet leave the wall and later.
Us oldtimers remember the 'old turn.' The rule was that you needed to be on your back the entire time between the walls. So when you touched the wall you needed be be toward your back, then you would flip (not grabbing the wall, if you were any good) and push off toward your back. The turn could be rather cramped, particularly if you mistimed the wall. The current turn is much more forgiving. There were variations, such as crossing your arm over the front of your body to touch the wall and starting to roll your body before you actually touched. I never got the hang of that turn. I remember several times just swimming into the wall. That was before I started front-quadrant backstroke, and my head got sore!
*really* old timers (like my father) remember having to do a similar turn in freestyle. That is, you needed to touch the wall with your hand, then (or during the?) flip. Someone reading this can answer the last question.
Almost Dave.
But if you kick into the wall, after your one pull is completed (with either one or both arms) you will (rather, can) be disqualified. The interpretation of the 'continuous turning motion' is that the pull and the flip need to be continuous with each other. If you do turn over too far from the wall, what you need to do is kick hard and pull your arm(s) slo o o o o ly.
Great turn, lousy rule.
Also, you only need to be on your back (rather, toward your back, so you can be almost on your side) when your feet leave the wall and later.
Us oldtimers remember the 'old turn.' The rule was that you needed to be on your back the entire time between the walls. So when you touched the wall you needed be be toward your back, then you would flip (not grabbing the wall, if you were any good) and push off toward your back. The turn could be rather cramped, particularly if you mistimed the wall. The current turn is much more forgiving. There were variations, such as crossing your arm over the front of your body to touch the wall and starting to roll your body before you actually touched. I never got the hang of that turn. I remember several times just swimming into the wall. That was before I started front-quadrant backstroke, and my head got sore!
*really* old timers (like my father) remember having to do a similar turn in freestyle. That is, you needed to touch the wall with your hand, then (or during the?) flip. Someone reading this can answer the last question.
