You are the Rules Dictator

Actually Lindsay FINA only outlawed the breaststroke kick in the butterfly for non-masters swimming a couple of years ago (4-6 years.) Ever since the split of the butterfly from the breaststroke, the FINA rules simply stated that you had to kick symetrically and that was it. So the breaststroke kick met the requirement. When they changed it, they caused a big problem for masters because the FINA masters rules are listed as exceptions and additions to the "kids" rules and the changes were made when there was no mechanism to change the Masters rules. We therefore did not have an exception and our rules automatically changed. The FINA "rules dictator" granted an exception until the next FINA Masters congress was held so the disruption was held to a minimum. So in this context, we should revisit your statement and go back to the rules as they were most recently in place - oops they look like Masters rules today:) . Leo Leo: Thanks for the explanation. I didn't know that the rules up until 6 years ago allowed swimmers to use the breaststroke kick in Fly events. I remember back in the 1960' s you saw it but not much. By the time I was in High School and competed in AAU meets I never saw anyone use it no matter what distance or what age. Of course all instuction at that time in learning the Fly was to use the dolphin kick. So it took FINA up until the end of the century to change the rules for everyone except masters. With that being said then maybe they won't ever try to change the masters rules to be consistent with there FINA swimming rules.

Actually Lindsay FINA only outlawed the breaststroke kick in the butterfly for non-masters swimming a couple of years ago (4-6 years.) Ever since the split of the butterfly from the breaststroke, the FINA rules simply stated that you had to kick symetrically and that was it. So the breaststroke kick met the requirement. When they changed it, they caused a big problem for masters because the FINA masters rules are listed as exceptions and additions to the "kids" rules and the changes were made when there was no mechanism to change the Masters rules. We therefore did not have an exception and our rules automatically changed. The FINA "rules dictator" granted an exception until the next FINA Masters congress was held so the disruption was held to a minimum. So in this context, we should revisit your statement and go back to the rules as they were most recently in place - oops they look like Masters rules today:) . Leo Leo: Thanks for the explanation. I didn't know that the rules up until 6 years ago allowed swimmers to use the breaststroke kick in Fly events. I remember back in the 1960' s you saw it but not much. By the time I was in High School and competed in AAU meets I never saw anyone use it no matter what distance or what age. Of course all instuction at that time in learning the Fly was to use the dolphin kick. So it took FINA up until the end of the century to change the rules for everyone except masters. With that being said then maybe they won't ever try to change the masters rules to be consistent with there FINA swimming rules.