Does anyone know the rule on underwater dolphin during the freestyle starts and turns? The 15m rule doesn't apply, does it?
Freestyle is freestlye, most people don't go that far because it is slower, except Phelps/Leveaux. Just wondering though, if I went 40 meters on the first 50 of a 400 free LCM, that would be allowed, right?
Is there documentation to verify this, in case of dispute?
The 15m rule is basically the same for all strokes except breaststroke. You can stay under for 15m (16.4y) off the wall, and then you have to stay at the surface (which means that at all times, some part of your body has to be above the surface) until your next turn.
The documentation is the rule. The pertinent USMS rules are 101.3.2 (fly), 101.4.2 (back), and 101.5.2 (free). Those are based on USA Swimming rules, which are based in turn on FINA rules, but I don't have easy access to those rulebooks.
As Karen says, an official could rely on this rule to DQ proper breaststroke during a freestyle race, since proper breaststroke can involve being totally submerged even after 15m. The only difference between the backstroke and freestyle rules is that the backstroke rule says specifically that the swimmer can be completely submerged at the finish and the freestyle rule does not (implying that she can't). I swim backstroke in "freestyle" races pretty regularly and I have never been DQ'd, although I suppose if I dived back at the finish I could be.
The 15m rule is basically the same for all strokes except breaststroke. You can stay under for 15m (16.4y) off the wall, and then you have to stay at the surface (which means that at all times, some part of your body has to be above the surface) until your next turn.
The documentation is the rule. The pertinent USMS rules are 101.3.2 (fly), 101.4.2 (back), and 101.5.2 (free). Those are based on USA Swimming rules, which are based in turn on FINA rules, but I don't have easy access to those rulebooks.
As Karen says, an official could rely on this rule to DQ proper breaststroke during a freestyle race, since proper breaststroke can involve being totally submerged even after 15m. The only difference between the backstroke and freestyle rules is that the backstroke rule says specifically that the swimmer can be completely submerged at the finish and the freestyle rule does not (implying that she can't). I swim backstroke in "freestyle" races pretty regularly and I have never been DQ'd, although I suppose if I dived back at the finish I could be.
