GASL Stroke & Turn Briefing

USA Swimming Officials Committee April 2009

Breaststroke

Start: Forward start.

Stroke: Body kept on breast.

• Stroke cycle is one arm pull and one leg kick in that order.
• Simultaneous arm movement in same horizontal plane.
• Head must break surface at widest part of second pull.
• Recovery by the hands from the breast-on, under, or over the water.
• Elbows under water except last stroke before turn or finish.

Kick: Simultaneous vertical and horizontal movements of the legs.

• Feet turned out during propulsive part of kick.
• No alternating, scissors or downward butterfly kicks (except a single butterfly kick during or at the completion the first arm pull after the start and each turn, which must be followed by a breaststroke kick).

Turns: Simultaneous two-hand touch at, above, or below the water surface.

Finish: Head may be submerged at turn or finish provided it broke surface during last stroke cycle prior to touch.

Butterfly

Start: Forward start.

Stroke: Body kept on breast.

• Multiple kicks permitted but first arm pull must bring swimmer to the surface.
• May be submerged after start and each turn for not more than 15 meters where head must break surface.
• Arms brought forward over water and pulled back simultaneously.

Kick: Simultaneous up and down movement. No alternating, scissors, or breaststroke kicking movements.

Turns: Shoulders at or past vertical toward breast when feet leave wall.

Finish: Simultaneous two hand touch at, above, or below the water surface.

Backstroke

Start: In water facing start end with both hands on gutter or starting grips.

• Guttered pool—feet/toes may be above the water, but not bent over the gutter at any time before or after start.

Stroke: Any style as long as swimmer remains on back.

Kick: Must break surface throughout the race after 15M.

Turns: During turn swimmer may go past vertical to the breast and may utilize a continuous single or continuous simultaneous double arm pull to initiate the turn.

• Some part of swimmer must touch wall at completion of each length.
• Swimmer must have returned to back when feet leave the wall.

Finish: May be completely submerged at the finish. Some part of swimmer must touch while on the back.

Freestyle

Start: Forward start. Stroke/ Any style may be used.

Kick: Must break surface throughout the race after 15M

Turns: Some part of swimmer must touch the wall at completion of each length or required

Individual Medley

Start: Forward start. Stroke: Rules for each stroke apply. May not swim legal other strokes during the freestyle leg.

Kick: Rules for each stroke apply.

Turns: Intermediate turns conform to turn rules for the stroke.

Finish: Transition turns conform to finish rules for the stroke.

Relays

Takeoffs: Swimmers feet/foot must remain in contact with the starting platform until the incoming swimmer has touched the finish wall or pad.