I would like to see Dolphin kicking be introduced, approved, and recognized as competitive swimming's 5th stroke.
What do you think?
if I wrote the dolphin kicking rules
they'd be:
the swimmer needs to dolphin kick, her legs have to move together in a dolphin manner
the only permitted arm use is as follows:
the swimmer may take one arm stroke before turning and
the swimmer may move one or both arms to her side once per length,
(should a half breastroke stroke be permitted for athletes who elect to kick on their bellies?)
Arm Position:
Swimmers may be streamlined, (both arms above their heads)
Swimmers may have both arms at their side or
one arm forward and one arm by her side
Body Position:
A swimmer can kick on her back, either side or belly
A swimmer may change positions at any time
Start:
From blocks, just like freestyle
Turns:
the swimmer may take one arm stroke going in to a turn similar to backstroke turn rules
The swimmer may touch the wall with their hands or feet
Touch:
can touch with one or 2 hands
Should the 15 meters underwater rule apply?
Two concerns with adding events:
1. added length of already-interminable meets
2. would the medley relay then consist of 5 legs, so that (like long course 50's) the start and finish are at alternate ends of the pool?
Anyway, if we're discussing adding events, why not SIDESTROKE?
I believe it's taught in Red Cross swim lessons, and many older individuals seem to enjoy it.
That way we'd have:
butterfly and dolphin kick for the sinuous,
"Australian crawl" for those Down Under,
backstroke for those who don't enjoy getting their face wet,
sidestroke for those who like to live on the edge, and
BREASTSTROKE for the real athletes!
Two concerns with adding events:
1. added length of already-interminable meets
2. would the medley relay then consist of 5 legs, so that (like long course 50's) the start and finish are at alternate ends of the pool?
Anyway, if we're discussing adding events, why not SIDESTROKE?
I believe it's taught in Red Cross swim lessons, and many older individuals seem to enjoy it.
That way we'd have:
butterfly and dolphin kick for the sinuous,
"Australian crawl" for those Down Under,
backstroke for those who don't enjoy getting their face wet,
sidestroke for those who like to live on the edge, and
BREASTSTROKE for the real athletes!