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?
Here is what is in the ILMSA newsletter. I think this is actually the comment from the USMS site, and is no doubt the basis for the DQ of my teammate:
The official interpretation for the changes to the breaststroke is that during, or at the end of the arm pull-down of the first stroke after the start and after each turn, a single downward butterfly kick is allowed, but not required, followed by a breastroke kick. During the pull-down, if a downward butterfly kick is taken, it must be followed by a breaststoke kick. It is not permissible to take only a downward butterfly kick without then taking a normal breastroke kick. The downward butterfly kick is not permissible prior to the arm pull-down. In addition, there is now a requirement for all movements of the legs to be “in the same horizontal plane and without alternating movement”. This was previously not included in our rules.
Here is what is in the ILMSA newsletter. I think this is actually the comment from the USMS site, and is no doubt the basis for the DQ of my teammate:
The official interpretation for the changes to the breaststroke is that during, or at the end of the arm pull-down of the first stroke after the start and after each turn, a single downward butterfly kick is allowed, but not required, followed by a breastroke kick. During the pull-down, if a downward butterfly kick is taken, it must be followed by a breaststoke kick. It is not permissible to take only a downward butterfly kick without then taking a normal breastroke kick. The downward butterfly kick is not permissible prior to the arm pull-down. In addition, there is now a requirement for all movements of the legs to be “in the same horizontal plane and without alternating movement”. This was previously not included in our rules.
