Freestyle

A swimmer can swim any style. The only restriction is that in an IM or Medley Relay the freestyle leg can be any style EXCEPT breaststroke, butterfly or backstroke.

At the start and at each turn the swimmer can swim under the surface for a distance of NOT MORE than 15 metres, by which point some part of the swimmers body must have broken the surface.

During the race some part of the body must break the surface of the water.

At the turn the swimmer must touch the wall. This can be with any part of the body.

In freestyle a swimmer may actually stop and stand up providing them DO NOT walk forward.

Whilst this may seem daft , if a swimmer is doing a 1500m and their goggles come off they may still be fast enough to win, so they may benefit by doing so.

When teaching the key things are keeping the body streamlined and stretching the shoulders to give maximum length to the body. Look out for the hips swaying. The knees should not be bending like as if someone is riding a bicycle.

Breaststroke

The key things to remember are that the body MUST be on the breast at all the time and that all movements of the arms and legs MUST be simultaneous.

The action is one arm stroke then one leg stroke.

The arms are pushed forward together from the breast on, under or above thesurface. The elbows must be under the surface except at the turn. The hands are then brought back under the water but must NOT go beyond the hipline (except at the start and at a turn see below).

During each stroke some part of the swimmers head MUST break the surface of the water.

AT THE START AND AT EACH TURN. One stroke is allowed whilst submerged. The arms may extend beyond the hip line. A single dolphin kick, followed by a breaststroke kick is allowed whilst wholly submerged . The head must break the surface of the water before the hands turn fully inward at the widest part of the second stroke. The 15-metre rule mentioned in freestyle / backstroke DOES NOT apply. So if a swimmer is capable of travelling beyond this distance and it is to their benefit they can continue.

The feet MUST be turned outward during the propulsive part of the kick. The feet are allowed to break the surface of the water.

At the turn and at the finish BOTH HANDS must touch simultaneously on, under or above the surface.

When teaching get the swimmer to put their head forward. This gives an extra few centimetres on each stroke. Look for the shoulders and see that they are in line both horizontally and vertically. Check the legs are in line and the feet are pointing out.

The turns and finish also usually catch swimmers out and they tend to touch with one hand. Get them in to the habit oftouching two handed.

When teaching the key things are keeping the body streamlined and stretching the shoulders to give maximum length to the body. Look out for the hips swaying. The knees should not be bending like as if someone is riding a bicycle.

Backstroke

At the start the swimmer shall be in the water with both hands on the starting grips. The feet can be under, above or on the water. Standing in or on the gutter or having toes curled over any gutter is NOT allowed.

A swimmer can do any number of kicks and remain under the surface for a distance for a distance of NOT MORE than 15 metres from the start or any turn, by which point some part of the body must have broken the surface.

During the race some part of the body must break the surface.

The body shall remain on the back (except when at the turn – see below). A rolling movement is allowed but the body can only roll up to, BUT NOT including 90 degrees from the horizontal. In other words the shoulders must not come in to line vertically.

At the turn some part of the body must touch the wall. This can be ANY part of the body.

During a “Tumble Turn “the shoulder may be turned over the vertical so the swimmer is on the breast after which a SINGLE arm pull or a CONTINUOUS SIMULTANEOUS double arm pull may be used to initiate the turn. After touching the wall the swimmer must the IMMEDIATELY return to the back.

At the finish the swimmer must be on their back.

Like freestyle the things to look out for are streamlining stretching and hips.

When teaching the key things are keeping the body streamlined and stretching the shoulders to give maximum length to the body. Look out for the hips swaying. The knees should not be bending like as if someone is riding a bicycle.

Butterfly

Like breaststroke the body must be on the breast all the time.

Both arms must be brought forward simultaneously over the water and brought back simultaneously (except at the start and turn- see below).

All up and down movements of the legs MUST be simultaneous. They DO NOT actually have to be on the same level but MUST NOT alternate. A breaststroke kick is NOT ALLOWED.

At the start and at each turn a swimmer is allowed any number of kicks whilst under the water, with ONEarm pull after which they must come to the surface within 15 metres of the start / turn.

At the finish and at each turn a swimmer must touch simultaneously with both hands at, above or below the surface.

At the turn/ finish some swimmers complete a stroke and are close to the end. They tend to then do a“breaststroke arm” movement, known as a “Shoot through” . This is not allowed The swimmer must continue with the Butterfly arm action. Again get the swimmers in to the correct habit.

When teaching the things to look for are that the shoulders are in line vertically and horizontally and that the leg action is correct. In order to help younger swimmers a pull buoy is often helpful to assist the swimmer.

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