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
You understand correctly, Val.
Misty Hymen and others are mostly on their side when they butterfly kick off of the wall in butterfly races. The logic (as explained by Hymen) is that when they kick sideways the turbulence spreads that way, and does not bounce off of the bottom of the pool and the surface of the water, and thus impede their swims. The same logic would apply to buttefly kicks off of the wall in backstroke.
Again, you can be any orientation you want when your feet are on the wall, but when your feet leave the wall your body (usually defined as the plane through the shoulders) should be toward the back. Only a little bit off of sideways would be OK. Also, the way stroke and turn judges are taught - with the benefit of the doubt being given to the swimmer - I doubt anyone would be disqualified if they were in fact 'sideways.'
I am a stroke and turn judge for USS Swimming and I speak from that experience. There are others who read this forum that have more experience than I have, but I am confident about my interpretation of this issue.
You understand correctly, Val.
Misty Hymen and others are mostly on their side when they butterfly kick off of the wall in butterfly races. The logic (as explained by Hymen) is that when they kick sideways the turbulence spreads that way, and does not bounce off of the bottom of the pool and the surface of the water, and thus impede their swims. The same logic would apply to buttefly kicks off of the wall in backstroke.
Again, you can be any orientation you want when your feet are on the wall, but when your feet leave the wall your body (usually defined as the plane through the shoulders) should be toward the back. Only a little bit off of sideways would be OK. Also, the way stroke and turn judges are taught - with the benefit of the doubt being given to the swimmer - I doubt anyone would be disqualified if they were in fact 'sideways.'
I am a stroke and turn judge for USS Swimming and I speak from that experience. There are others who read this forum that have more experience than I have, but I am confident about my interpretation of this issue.
