Simple. You have absolute power to change any technique rules, start/finish rules, age up rules, sky is the limit as long as the rules pertain to swimming. What would you change and why?
Selfishly, I'd be jolly happy if we just ditched the breaststroke entirely as GeoChuck suggests. But my daughter would be bummed and I wouldn't have the pleasure of watching the real experts ply their craft. But I think we should at least get rid of the simultaneous two hand touch rule for turns and finishes on *** and fly. I hate them. Unless by some stroke of luck I hit the wall at the right time, I always find myself floating into the wall for a few tenths to make sure I get both hands on the wall at once. I'd rather do the much faster one hand turns that I do in practice :D and not lose any momentum going into the wall!
I likewise vote for eliminating the "continuous turning action" rule for the backstroke turn. I always seem to have a bit of a glide in my turn. And I find it the most difficult call to make as a stroke & turn judge at USS meets. Who cares if someone wants to have a leisurely glide into the wall? Don't think they should be DQd for that. They're going slower, not getting an unfair advantage. But only one arm pull into the wall past the flags or else we will be doing freestyle. Backstroke is a far superior stroke.
Selfishly, I'd be jolly happy if we just ditched the breaststroke entirely as GeoChuck suggests. But my daughter would be bummed and I wouldn't have the pleasure of watching the real experts ply their craft. But I think we should at least get rid of the simultaneous two hand touch rule for turns and finishes on *** and fly. I hate them. Unless by some stroke of luck I hit the wall at the right time, I always find myself floating into the wall for a few tenths to make sure I get both hands on the wall at once. I'd rather do the much faster one hand turns that I do in practice :D and not lose any momentum going into the wall!
I likewise vote for eliminating the "continuous turning action" rule for the backstroke turn. I always seem to have a bit of a glide in my turn. And I find it the most difficult call to make as a stroke & turn judge at USS meets. Who cares if someone wants to have a leisurely glide into the wall? Don't think they should be DQd for that. They're going slower, not getting an unfair advantage. But only one arm pull into the wall past the flags or else we will be doing freestyle. Backstroke is a far superior stroke.
