This is an extract of the ASA
Technical Rules of Racing. The full document can be found by clicking here to link to the ASA site.
Freestyle
A
swimmer may start with a plunge or jump, or in the water holding the
rail or side of the pool or other starting place with one or both hands.
Freestyle means that in an event so designated, the swimmer may swim
any style, except that in Individual Medley or Medley Relay events,
Freestyle means any style other than Backstroke, Breaststroke or
Butterfly.
Some
part of the swimmer must touch the wall upon completion of each length
and at the finish.
Some
part of the swimmer must break the surface of the water throughout the
race, except it shall be permissible for the swimmer to be completely
submerged during the turn and for a distance of not more than 15 metres
after the start of each turn. By that point, the head must have broken
the surface.
Breaststroke
A
swimmer may start with a plunge or jump, or in the water, facing the
course, and holding the rail or side of the pool or other starting
place, with one or both hands.
From
the beginning of the first arm stroke after the start and after each
turn the body shall be kept on the breast. It is not permitted to roll
onto the back at any time.
All
movements of the arms shall be simultaneous and in the same horizontal
plane without alternating movement.
The
hands shall be pushed forwards together from the breast, on, under or
over the water. The elbows shall be under the water except for the
final stroke before the turn, during the turn and for the final stroke
at the finish. The hands shall be brought back on or under the surface
of the water. The hands shall not be brought back beyond the hip line,
except during the first stroke after the start of each turn.
All
movements of the legs shall be simultaneous and in the same horizontal
plane, without alternating movement.
The
feet must be turned outwards during the propulsive part of the kick. A
scissors, flutter or downward dolphin kick is not permitted. Breaking
the surface of the water with the feet is allowed unless followed by a
downward dolphin kick.
At
each turn and at the finish of the race, the touch shall be made with
both hands simultaneously at, above, or below the water level. The head
may be submerged after the last arm pull prior to the touch, provided
it breaks the surface of the water at some point during the last
complete or incomplete cycle preceding the touch.
During each complete cycle of one arm stroke and one leg kick, in that
order, some part of the swimmer's head shall break the surface of the
water, except that after the start and after each turn the swimmer may
take one arm stroke completely back to the legs and one leg kick while
wholly submerged. The head must break the surface of the water before
the hands turn inward at the widest part of the second stroke.
Butterfly
A
swimmer may start with a plunge or jump, or in the water, facing the
course, and holding the rail or side of the pool or other starting
place, with one or both hands.
From
the beginning of the first arm stroke after the start and after each
turn, the body shall be kept on the breast. Underwater kicking on the
side is allowed. It is not permitted to roll onto the back at any time.
Both
arms must be brought forward together over the water and brought
backward simultaneously throughout the race, subject to the provisions
of ASA Technical Rule concerning turns within the stroke.
All
up and down movements of the legs and feet must be simultaneous. The
position of the legs or the feet need not be at the same level, but
they shall not alternate in relation to each other. A breaststroke
kicking movement is not permitted.
At
each turn and at the finish of the race, the touch shall be made with
both hands simultaneously, at above or below the water surface.
At
the start and at turns, a swimmer is permitted one or more leg kicks
and one am pull under the water, which must bring him to the surface.
It shall be permissible for a swimmer to be completely submerged for a
distance of not more than 15 metres after the start and after each
turn. By that point, the head must have broken the surface. The swimmer
must remain on the surface until the next turn or finish.
Backstroke
Prior to the starting signal the swimmers shall line up in the water
facing the starting end holding the starting grips with both hands or,
in the case of a swimmer in a Masters race, with one or both hands. The
feet, including the toes, shall be under the surface of the water.
Standing in or on the gutter or bending the toes over the lip of the
gutter is prohibited.
At
the signal for starting and after turning, the swimmer shall push off
and swim upon his back throughout the race, except when executing a
turn as set out in ASA Technical Rule concerning turns within the
stroke. The normal position on the back can include a roll movement of
the body up to, but not including 90 degrees from the horizontal. The
position of the head is not relevant.
Some
part of the swimmer must break the surface of the water throughout the
race, except that it shall be permissible for the swimmer to be
completely submerged during the turn, at the finish and for a distance
of not more than 15 metres after the start and each turn. By that
point, the head must have broken the surface.
--During the turn the shoulders may be turned over the vertical breast,
after which a continuous single arm pull or a continuous simultaneous
double arm pull may be used to initiate the turn. Once the body has
left the position on the back, any kick or arm pull must be used to
initiate the turn. Once the body has left the position on the back, any
kick or arm pull must be part of a continuous turning action. The
swimmer must have returned to a position on the back upon leaving the
wall. When executing a turn there must be a touch of the wall with some
part of the swimmer's body.
Upon
the finish of the race the swimmer must touch the wall while on the
back. The body may be submerged at the touch.
Wherever possible backstroke turn indicators shall be provided by means
of flagged ropes suspended across the pool at a minimum of 1.8m and at
a maximum height of 2.5m above the surface from fixed supports or
strands set 5m from each end wall of the pool.
Medley Swimming
In individual events, the
swimmer covers the four swimming strokes in the following order:
Butterfly, Backstroke, Breaststroke, Freestyle.
In Medley Relay events,
swimmers cover the four swimming strokes in the following order:
Backstroke, Breaststroke, Butterfly, Freestyle.
Each section must be
finished in accordance with the ASA Technical Rule which applies to the
stroke concerned.
