A serious question (I know, how unlikely is that?): I've been on the shelf most of the year since Nov., and I'm really curious as to how the new allowance of the single dolphin kick is being called. Not the official interpretation, but the actual experience of fellow breastrokers in meets, whether Open or Masters, local, zone or nats. At the time we originally discussed the new rule, there was the sentiment that some would push the envelope towards the second half-kick- is this happening, or are some calling it super-tight to avoid that?
I agree with Jeff. Here's the actual wording from the USMS rule book:
"After the start and after each turn, a single downward butterfl y (dolphin) kick followed by a breaststroke kick is permitted while wholly submerged, following which, all movements of the legs shall be simultaneous and in the same horizontal plane without
alternating movement."
Unless I'm missing something, I disagree with Erik. The amplitude of the dolphin kick isn't at issue. As long as there's only one dolphin kick, and it is followed by a breaststroke kick everything's copacetic. There's nothing that says it has to be "natural." In fact, I think that's why they chose to change the rule in the first place. It was just too difficult to determine whether some swimmer's legs were just doing a natural undulation or whether they were doing a conscious dolphin kick. Now there's no guess work. A dolphin kick is allowed.
I agree with Jeff. Here's the actual wording from the USMS rule book:
"After the start and after each turn, a single downward butterfl y (dolphin) kick followed by a breaststroke kick is permitted while wholly submerged, following which, all movements of the legs shall be simultaneous and in the same horizontal plane without
alternating movement."
Unless I'm missing something, I disagree with Erik. The amplitude of the dolphin kick isn't at issue. As long as there's only one dolphin kick, and it is followed by a breaststroke kick everything's copacetic. There's nothing that says it has to be "natural." In fact, I think that's why they chose to change the rule in the first place. It was just too difficult to determine whether some swimmer's legs were just doing a natural undulation or whether they were doing a conscious dolphin kick. Now there's no guess work. A dolphin kick is allowed.
