JUDGE OF STROKE,
INSPECTOR OF TURNS &
HEAD LANE TIMEKEEPER
November 2013
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Overview of all
Strokes
The Start
The Stroke
The Turn
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Breaststroke SW 7
The Start
Head must break the surface of the water
by the time the arms have reached the widest portion
of the second arm pull. Each stroke cycle must contain one pull and
one kick in that order. During each cycle some part of the
swimmer’s head must break the surface of the water.
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Breaststroke SW 7
Butterfly during Start/Turn
A butterfly kick is ONLY permitted after the start and at each turn:
1. Must be initiated during the first arm pull – i.e., between time hands
separate from streamlining until they reach maximum extension past
hips
2. Must be followed by a breaststroke kick
1.
2.
Note: Swimmer does not have to be submerged
during butterfly any more!
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Breaststroke
The Stroke
The arm pull must not go beyond the hips
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Breaststroke
The Stroke
The elbows shall remain under the water…
… except for the final stroke before the turn, during
the turn and for the final stroke at the finish.
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Breaststroke
The Stroke
Watch that all movements of the arms are simultaneous and
in the same horizontal plane.
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Breaststroke
The Turn/Finish
Watch for a simultaneous two hand touch
with hands that must be separated (ie. Not
one hand on top of the other).
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Breaststroke
The Turn
After the two hand touch and before leaving the
wall on the breast, the swimmer may turn in any
manner they like.
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Backstroke SW 6
The Start
The head must have broken the surface not more than 15m
after the start or turn.
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Backstroke
The Stroke
Watch for movement
beyond the 90 degree
vertical.
Legal
Legal
Legal
Not Legal
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Backstroke
The Turn
During the turn, the swimmer may
come in on their back, touch the wall
and leave on their back.
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Backstroke
The Turn
… OR the swimmer may roll over into a
freestyle turn using a single or double
arm pull, as long as it is part of a
continuous turning action.
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Backstroke
The Turn
The turn must be initiated by the time the arm pull is
complete - that is, the hand has reached full extension
past the hipline.
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Backstroke
The Turn
The swimmer must leave on
their back.
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Backstroke
The Finish
Upon the finish of the race the swimmer
must touch the wall while on the back
(ie. May not roll over past 90 degrees).
Some part of the body must be above
water at the touch – the body may not be
completely submerged.
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Butterfly SW 8
The Start
At the start the swimmer may take no more
than one arm pull while totally submerged.
This must bring the swimmer to the surface.
There is no limit on the number
of butterfly kicks executed.
The head must have broken the surface
not more than 15m after the start or turn.
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Butterfly
The Stroke
Both arms must be brought forward together over the water
and brought backward simultaneously throughout the race
– no alternating arm movement
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Butterfly
The Stroke
All up and down movements of the
legs must be simultaneous.
The position of the legs or feet need not be on the same level,
but they shall not alternate in relation to each other.
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Butterfly
The Stroke - Legs
Alternating kick (flutter)
is not allowed.
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Butterfly
The Turn
Watch for a simultaneous two hand touch
with hands that must be separated.
Arms must be recovered over
the water on the touch.
This picture shows an
underwater recovery
which is NOT permitted
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Butterfly
The Turn
After the two hand touch and before leaving
the wall on the breast, the swimmer may
turn in any manner they like.
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Freestyle SW 5
The Start
The head must have broken the surface
not more than 15m after the start or turn.
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Freestyle
The Turn
The swimmer must touch the end wall with some
part of the body during the turn.
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Individual Medley SW 9.1
Fly
Back
All strokes, turns and finishes
must be
performed within the
rules assigned to
that stroke.
Breast
Watch that strokes are
swum in proper sequence.
Free (MUST be any stroke
other than Fly, Back or Breast)
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Officials always give the swimmer the benefit
of doubt.
Swimmers do not dispute decisions with any
officials – they communicate with the coach
who can approach the meet referee to discuss
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Thank you
Approved by the Ontario Swimming Officials’ Association Board
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