New FINA Rules

Former Member
Former Member
This is my first new thread so be gentle:-)!! I'm curious as the how the new FINA rules will be introduced into USMS. I heard that there was legislation passed that USMS would adopt all FINA/USA Swimming rule changes? I received the following email information from a coaching friend of mine and thought I'd see if anyone was talking about it on the USMS Forums but didn't find anything? SWIMMING During the breaststroke start and turns, while the swimmer is wholly submerged, a single downward dolphin kick followed by a breaststroke kick is permitted. The new rule ends decades of controversies (the first one occurred in Berlin, in 1978, at the World Championships, the latest last year in Athens, at the Olympics). The backstroke finish rule has officially been clarified. Now it is legal for a swimmer to be completely submerged not only during the turn but also during the last stroke. Also in backstroke, swimmers are now allowed to start with their feet out of the water. It is no more mandatory that "The feet, including the toes, shall be under the surface of the water" Thoughts??? PS Have tried to find the information concerning these rule changes on both USA Swimming's and FINA's sites but to no avail...