Mid Kansas Swim League 2016 Stroke Requirements General *Swimmers age nine (9) and older who fail to meet the stroke and turn requirements for an event shall be disqualified from that event. In such situations, the Stroke Judge shall send a disqualification slip with the swimmer's event, heat, lane and name to the scorers table and shall sufficiently explain the disqualification to the swimmer or the coach. If there is reasonable doubt that a swimmer has violated the requirements, a warning, not a disqualification, will be issued. *For all divisions from 11 years old and up, touching the bottom will always result in disqualification. *Swimmers in the 8-under age group shall not be disqualified unless obviously swimming the incorrect stroke for the 1st 3 meets in the season. Beginning with the 4th meet, June 23, 2012, DQ's will be issued. During the first 2 meets, in situations in which a swimmer would be otherwise disqualified, the Stroke Judge shall issue a warning to the swimmer and sufficiently explain the problem to the swimmer or the coach. It should be emphasized that even though no disqualification will take place in the 8-under division for the first 3 meets, swimmers are not to use touching the bottom to gain an advantage. I.E. - pushing off to gain ground. *Through the first two(2) meets, swimmers in the 9-10 year old age group shall not be disqualified. In situations, in which a swimmer would be otherwise disqualified, the Stroke Judge shall issue a warning to the swimmer and sufficiently explain the problem to the swimmer or the coach. It should be emphasized that even though no disqualification will take place, swimmers are not to use touching the bottom to gain an advantage. I.E. - pushing off to gain ground. *10-under must start in the water or sit-dive with at least one foot completely submerged and some part of it against the pool wall for all individual and relay events when entering pools with shallow depths. Any other questions about starts in shallow water should be addressed at the coaches' meeting before the meet begins. Butterfly Start - A forward start off the blocks, side, or in water shall be used. - Some part of the swimmer's head must break the surface of the water by the time he/she reaches the middle of the pool. Stroke - The swimmer will remain on the breast throughout the swim. - At the start and after each turn, the swimmer is permitted one or more kicks, but only one butterfly arm pull under water. This arm pull must bring the swimmer to the surface. - Arms movements must be simultaneous. Both arms must be brought forward over the surface of the water and pulled back under water. Kick - Only dolphin kick may be used with a simultaneous up and down movement of the legs and feet throughout the entire distance. - Feet do not need to be at the same level or together, but may not have in any type of alternating movement. A scissor, breaststroke, or flutter kick is not allowed. Turn - The swimmer must remain on the breast until the touch is made. After the touch, the swimmer may turn in any manner. - Only a dolphin kick may be used while the swimmer is submerged at the start and turns. - A two-hand touch is required. The swimmer's hands must touch simultaneously and in the same horizontal plane at, under, or above the water surface. Finish - The swimmer must remain on the breast until the touch is made. - A two-hand touch is required. The swimmer's hands must touch simultaneously and in the same horizontal plane at, under, or above the water surface. - Timers shall stop their watches after both hands have touched the wall. Backstroke Start - Swimmers shall line up in the water facing the starting end, with both hands on the gutter, the pool edge, ankles, or on the starting block grips. - Before or after the start, a swimmer may not place feet in or on the gutter, place the toes above the lip of the gutter, or bend the toes over the lip of the gutter. - Some part of the swimmer's head must break the surface of the water by the time he/she reaches the middle of the pool. - The swimmer may kick in any manner while submerged, and a single-arm stroke may be made as the swimmer comes to the surface. Stroke - The swimmer shall push off on his/her back and remain on his/her back throughout the race. - Arms shall be moved in a rotary/alternating movement over the surface of the water. - Simultaneous movement of the arms as in the elementary backstroke is not permitted. Kick - Any style of kick may be used. Turns - During the turn the shoulders may be turned past the vertical toward the breast after which one continuous single arm or one continuous simultaneous double-arm pull may be taken to complete the turn. - Once on the breast, the swimmer must complete a flip turn. - If the swimmer turns to the breast too soon, kicking to the wall to complete the flip turn is allowed Finish - At the finish, the swimmer must remain on his/her back until touching the wall with some part of the body. - Timers shall stop their watches as soon as any part of the swimmer touches at the finish. - Timers should not catch a swimmer's head unless asked by the swimmer's coach. Breaststroke Start - A forward start off the blocks, side, or in water shall be used. - The underwater portion of the start may include a full arm stroke completely back to the legs and one leg kick while wholly submerged. This leg kick may include a dolphin kick. The head must break the surface of the water before the hands turn inward at the widest part of the second stroke. - Some part of the swimmer's head must break the surface of the water by the time he/she reaches the middle of the pool. Stroke - The swimmer will remain on the breast throughout the swim. - The arms shall move simultaneously and in the same horizontal plane without any alternating movement. - The hands shall be pushed forward together from the breast, on, under, or over the water. - Elbows should remain under water, except at turns and finish touch. - Hands shall be brought back on or under the surface of the water. - A DQ will be issued if a swimmer extends his/her hands beyond the hipline, other than during the first stroke after the start and each turn. (see general stroke requirements for ages/meets to DQ) - The swimmer shall breathe at least once during each complete cycle of one arm stroke and one leg kick, except after the start and each turn. Kick - All movement of the legs shall be simultaneous. - The feet must be turned outward during the propulsive part of the kick. - A scissor, flutter, or butterfly kick is not permitted. - The feet may break the surface of the water providing only a legal kick is used. Turns - At each turn, the hands must touch simultaneously and in the same horizontal plane at, above, or below the surface the water. - Once the touch is made, a swimmer may turn in any manner. - The underwater recovery on the turn may include a full arm stroke completely back to the legs and one leg kick while wholly submerged. This leg kick may include a dolphin kick. The head must break the surface of the water before the hands turn inward at the widest part of the second stroke. - The shoulders must be at or past vertical toward the breast when the swimmer leaves the wall. Finish - At the finish, the body must be on the breast and the touch made with both hands simultaneously and in the same horizontal plane at, above, or below the surface of the water. - Timers shall stop their watches after both hands have touched the wall. Freestyle Start - Forward start off the blocks, side, or in the water shall be used. - Some part of the swimmer's head must break the surface of the water by the time he/she reaches the middle of the pool. - Any kick may be used while submerged, but no arm pulls may be made. Stroke - In the short freestyle events (25 & 50 yd or m), the Front Crawl must be used. - In the long freestyle individual events (100 yd or m), any of the four approved strokes may be used. However, a change from one stroke to another must be done at the end of a length. A swimmer will be judged according to the rules of the stroke used. - In the Individual Medley, Free Relay, and Medley Relay, the Front Crawl must be swum for the freestyle leg(s). Kick - Any style kick may be used. Turns - The swimmer may turn in any manner, but some part of the body must touch the wall before leaving the wall. Finish - The swimmer shall finish the race in accordance with the rules of the stroke used. - Timers shall stop their watches as soon as the swimmer touches in accordance with the rules of the stroke used. Front Crawl - definition: A stroke swum on the breast in which the arms are alternately moved overhead accompanied by a flutter kick. Individual Medley The swimmer will swim the designated distance in the following order: 1) Butterfly, 2) Backstroke, 3) Breaststroke, 4) Freestyle. In this event, freestyle refers to the Front Crawl. Each stroke will be swum for ¼ the total distance. Start - Forward start off the blocks, side, or in the water shall be used. - Some part of the swimmer's head must break the surface of the water by the time he/she reaches the middle of the pool. Individual Medley - cont'd Stroke - The stroke for each leg shall follow the rules for that stroke as described above. Turns - Within each stroke, turns performed during distances requiring a turn must obey the turn rules for that stroke. - Turns when changing stroke must obey the finish rules for that stroke as follows: - Butterfly to Backstroke: o While on the breast, a swimmer must touch the wall with two hands simultaneously and in the same horizontal plane. After the two-hand touch, the swimmer may turn in any manner, but must be on his/her back when leaving the wall. - Backstroke to Breaststroke: o The swimmer must touch the wall on his/her back before performing a turn of any kind. After the turn, the swimmer must leave the wall on his/her breast. - Breaststroke to Freestyle: o While on the breast, the swimmer must touch the wall with two hands simultaneously and in the same horizontal plane. After the two-hand touch, the swimmer may turn in any manner before leaving the wall on his/her breast. Finish - Since the Freestyle is the final leg, the swimmer shall finish the race when any part of the body touches the wall at the end of the designated distance. - Timers shall stop their watches as soon as any part of the swimmer touches at the finish. Medley Relay - Three or four swimmers will make up a team. If there are only three swimmers, one swimmer may swim any two legs. - The race will be swum for the designated distance in the following order: o 1) Backstroke, 2) Breaststroke, 3) Butterfly, 4) Freestyle. - In this event, freestyle refers to the Front Crawl. - Each stroke will be swum for ¼ the total distance. - Each stroke will be swum in accordance with the rules for that stroke as described above. - The first swimmer will start in the water, facing the starting edge as described above for the backstroke. - Subsequent swimmers will do a forward start from the blocks, pool edge, or in the water. - Each swimmer must wait to start until the previous swimmer has touched. Motion by the swimmer is allowed as he/she prepares to take off, but at least part of a foot or hand must remain in contact with the pool or block until the previous swimmer has touched. Freestyle Relay - Three or four swimmers will make up a team. If there are only three swimmers, one swimmer may swim any two legs. - In this event, freestyle refers to the Front Crawl. - Each leg will be ¼ the designated distance. - When applicable, the race will be swum in accordance with the rules for freestyle as described above. - The first swimmer will do a forward start off the blocks, side, or in the water. - Subsequent swimmers will do a forward start from the blocks, side, or in the water. - Each swimmer must wait to start until the previous swimmer has touched. Motion by the swimmer is allowed as he/she prepares to take off, but at least part of a foot or hand must remain in contact with the pool or block until the previous swimmer has touched.