Back Stroke

Back Stroke

• Must be swum on the back (shoulders at or past vertical toward the back.
• Backstroke start is used
• Toes cannot be above or curled over the lip of the pool at the start.
• Simmer may be completely submerged after start and at each turn, but the head must break the surface by the 15-meeter mark.
• After breaking the surface, some part of the swimmers body must break the surface of the water throughout the race, except for being completely submerged during the turn and at the finish.
• At each turn and the finish, some part of the swimmers body must touch the end of the wall.
• During the turn, the shoulders may rotate past vertical toward the breast, but the swimmer must immediately institute a turning action and all actions thereafter must be part of a continuous turning action: no gliding is permitted.
• If the swimmer chooses not to rotate past vertical at the turn, he/she must touch the wall while still on the back, after which time she/she may turn in any manner desired.