Stroke & DQ Information
ASL Stroke & Turn Briefing
USA Swimming Officials Committee April 2009
Visit GASL Officials page for information on Stroke and Turn Judge training as well as links to videos and additional information.
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 MedleyStart: 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.
