Eek!!

Originally posted by Seagurl51 1) In an IM, going from back to ***, do you turn over on your stomach, flip and then go, or do I have to touch the wall while I'm still on my back? IM is really 4 heats swum in succession. You have to finish each of the 4 legs according to the rules for finishing a heat in that stroke. So when you're finishing the backstroke leg, you have to touch while you're on your back, just as you would if you were finishing a backstroke heat. 2) During ***, how strict are they are on turning out your toes? I think I do this already, but just in case I want to be sure I don't get DQ'd. There usually isn't a they. There's a he or a she. The strictness varies depending on what that one person feels confidently that he or she saw. For example, I saw an IM heat last year in which a swimmer violated the rule we talked about in the previous question by flipping onto his stomach before he touched when finishing the backstroke leg. But he wasn't DQed because the ref didn't happen to see it. Not pointing your toes out is a valid reason for a DQ in breaststroke, though. So you could be DQed if you don't do it. 3) How about the underwater portion, on all strokes. My breath capacity is alright, but not great, so how what are the rules for underwater swimming, in terms of kicks and pulls? For back, fly, and free, you have to surface within 15 meters (16.4 yards) after your start and after each turn and remain at the surface for the rest of that length. For breaststroke, you're allowed one underwater pull and one underwater kick. After that, your head has to surface during each cycle of one arm pull and one kick. 4) Is there a rule on when you breathe? I tend to breath at the T before I turn, but I know you're supposed to breathe at the flags, does that get you a DQ? Also, can you get DQ'd for taking a breath on your first stroke out? I'm trying to work on not doing this because I know it slows you down, but sometimes you just gotta! There are no rules regarding breathing. What you "know" is incorrect.

Originally posted by Seagurl51 1) In an IM, going from back to ***, do you turn over on your stomach, flip and then go, or do I have to touch the wall while I'm still on my back? IM is really 4 heats swum in succession. You have to finish each of the 4 legs according to the rules for finishing a heat in that stroke. So when you're finishing the backstroke leg, you have to touch while you're on your back, just as you would if you were finishing a backstroke heat. 2) During ***, how strict are they are on turning out your toes? I think I do this already, but just in case I want to be sure I don't get DQ'd. There usually isn't a they. There's a he or a she. The strictness varies depending on what that one person feels confidently that he or she saw. For example, I saw an IM heat last year in which a swimmer violated the rule we talked about in the previous question by flipping onto his stomach before he touched when finishing the backstroke leg. But he wasn't DQed because the ref didn't happen to see it. Not pointing your toes out is a valid reason for a DQ in breaststroke, though. So you could be DQed if you don't do it. 3) How about the underwater portion, on all strokes. My breath capacity is alright, but not great, so how what are the rules for underwater swimming, in terms of kicks and pulls? For back, fly, and free, you have to surface within 15 meters (16.4 yards) after your start and after each turn and remain at the surface for the rest of that length. For breaststroke, you're allowed one underwater pull and one underwater kick. After that, your head has to surface during each cycle of one arm pull and one kick. 4) Is there a rule on when you breathe? I tend to breath at the T before I turn, but I know you're supposed to breathe at the flags, does that get you a DQ? Also, can you get DQ'd for taking a breath on your first stroke out? I'm trying to work on not doing this because I know it slows you down, but sometimes you just gotta! There are no rules regarding breathing. What you "know" is incorrect.