Hi there.
I'm a new swimmer and would like to ask a few questions about FINA Swimming Rules. I hope someone here can help me out.
Freestyle
If a swimmer is having difficulties and is unable to complete a freestyle race, he or she may be permitted to stand on the floor of the pool or hold on to the lane rope provided that the swimmer does not walk or pull on the rope to assist his or her movement. How long can a swimmer remain in such a way? Meaning, how long can he stand on the floor or hold on to the lane rope?
The same thing goes for the freestyle turn. Unlike other strokes, where the turn must be simultaneous, the freestyle turn can almost be described to be "anything goes" for novice or junior swimmers. If a swimmer chooses to grab the wall before making the turn, how long is he permitted to remain holding on to the wall before he resumes the race?
Backstroke
In the FINA Rule Book, is it legal for a swimmer to do a double-arm backstroke pull? There is no mention as to how the backstroke pull should be executed and the only reference to it is it SW 6.2 "... and swim upon his back throughout the race ..."
During the race, is it legal for the swimmer to do breaststroke kicks instead of the normal flutter kick while swimming the backstroke? The rulebook does not indicate anything about the backstroke kick.
Breaststroke
In SW 7.7, there's mention of making a cycle of an arm stroke and leg kick. But there's no mention of the swimmer's breathing cycle or how the swimmer should breathe. Instead of submerging his or her head after making the inward sweep, is a swimmer allowed to keep his or her head above the water at all times during the entire duration of the breaststroke race?
Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
