Backstroke rule change?

Originally posted by Karen Duggan Does anyone else think the latest backstroke rule is a little silly? I'm talking about the one where one glides into the wall "too long" on their stomach for the turn. To me, as I mentioned, it just seems silly. (1) I believe the rule says that you must have continuous forward motion into the turn. If you are gliding in, which by the way is not faster, then you are moving forward. I've yet to see one stop completely! And (2) there is definitely no advantage to gliding in for that "moment too long" that is the decision of the official. The words "continuous forward motion" do not appear in the rule. What the USMS and USS rules say is that: "Upon completion of each length, some part of the swimmer must touch the wall. During the turn the shoulders may be turned past the vertical toward the ***, after which a continuous single arm pull or a continuous simultaneous double arm pull may be used to execute the turn. Once the body has left the position on the back, any kick or arm pull must be part of the continuous turning action. The swimmer must have returned to a position on the back upon leaving the wall." The historic interpretation of the rule has been that the arm pull is part of "the continuous turning action" if there is no gap between the arm pull and the turn, and that any kicking done during "the continuous turning action" (which includes both the arm pull and the turn) is considered to be part of "the continuous turning action". Some things that can disqualify you on a turn, under the rule, are: - more than one arm pull after the shoulders turn toward the *** - a pause during the arm pull - a pause between the arm pull and the turn - a kick after the shoulders turn toward the *** and before the arm pull begins.

Originally posted by Karen Duggan Does anyone else think the latest backstroke rule is a little silly? I'm talking about the one where one glides into the wall "too long" on their stomach for the turn. To me, as I mentioned, it just seems silly. (1) I believe the rule says that you must have continuous forward motion into the turn. If you are gliding in, which by the way is not faster, then you are moving forward. I've yet to see one stop completely! And (2) there is definitely no advantage to gliding in for that "moment too long" that is the decision of the official. The words "continuous forward motion" do not appear in the rule. What the USMS and USS rules say is that: "Upon completion of each length, some part of the swimmer must touch the wall. During the turn the shoulders may be turned past the vertical toward the ***, after which a continuous single arm pull or a continuous simultaneous double arm pull may be used to execute the turn. Once the body has left the position on the back, any kick or arm pull must be part of the continuous turning action. The swimmer must have returned to a position on the back upon leaving the wall." The historic interpretation of the rule has been that the arm pull is part of "the continuous turning action" if there is no gap between the arm pull and the turn, and that any kicking done during "the continuous turning action" (which includes both the arm pull and the turn) is considered to be part of "the continuous turning action". Some things that can disqualify you on a turn, under the rule, are: - more than one arm pull after the shoulders turn toward the *** - a pause during the arm pull - a pause between the arm pull and the turn - a kick after the shoulders turn toward the *** and before the arm pull begins.