Fina Rules

I do not like the specifics of the turn rule, because it penalizes a swimmer for doing something that results in a slower time, and because it is difficult to judge -- that is my opinion as a judge. I would be very interested in some solid data backing up the statement that Europe and the US judge this rule differently. As a swimmer, I never want to go back to the "touch the wall on your back" olden days. It is much easier to hit the turns well and it is faster, and less disruptive in practice (less likely to be in the wrong place when another swimmer is leaving or approaching the wall). Understand that the reason the rule allowing this type of turn was made, was because of how difficult it had become to judge the existing back stroke turn - swimmers were crossing their arm over their body and nearly turning over before touching the wall. Therefore, the backstroke turn now is better than it was, but the rules can be tweaked. The origin of the no glide portion of the rule was the idea that a swimmer should be on the back unless turning - the situation that has been true forever. But the ideal should face reality and lose - a glide should be allowed. A similar thing is happening in the breaststroke pulldown and the associated 'kick.' The problem is not Kitijama's dolphin kick - that was illegal and will, I think, always be illegal. That kick occured coming off the wall and before the pull down of the arms. What is concerning the officials is that during the pull down a small dolphin kick is 'allowed' at the judgement of the S&T judge (language like 'dolphin like motion of the legs is allowed if a natural consequence of the arm pull') So the result is that most, if not all, good breaststrokers have a very solid kick which you and I know is very clearly deliberate but very difficult for the judge to declare illegal (was it natural consequence or deliberate? Is it OK if the swimmer lets it happen, rather than controlling the core muscles and preventing it?). The feeling is, I think, that what is happening anyway, should be legal.

I do not like the specifics of the turn rule, because it penalizes a swimmer for doing something that results in a slower time, and because it is difficult to judge -- that is my opinion as a judge. I would be very interested in some solid data backing up the statement that Europe and the US judge this rule differently. As a swimmer, I never want to go back to the "touch the wall on your back" olden days. It is much easier to hit the turns well and it is faster, and less disruptive in practice (less likely to be in the wrong place when another swimmer is leaving or approaching the wall). Understand that the reason the rule allowing this type of turn was made, was because of how difficult it had become to judge the existing back stroke turn - swimmers were crossing their arm over their body and nearly turning over before touching the wall. Therefore, the backstroke turn now is better than it was, but the rules can be tweaked. The origin of the no glide portion of the rule was the idea that a swimmer should be on the back unless turning - the situation that has been true forever. But the ideal should face reality and lose - a glide should be allowed. A similar thing is happening in the breaststroke pulldown and the associated 'kick.' The problem is not Kitijama's dolphin kick - that was illegal and will, I think, always be illegal. That kick occured coming off the wall and before the pull down of the arms. What is concerning the officials is that during the pull down a small dolphin kick is 'allowed' at the judgement of the S&T judge (language like 'dolphin like motion of the legs is allowed if a natural consequence of the arm pull') So the result is that most, if not all, good breaststrokers have a very solid kick which you and I know is very clearly deliberate but very difficult for the judge to declare illegal (was it natural consequence or deliberate? Is it OK if the swimmer lets it happen, rather than controlling the core muscles and preventing it?). The feeling is, I think, that what is happening anyway, should be legal.