Farmington Northwood FINS Swim Team

Breaststroke

Start/Turn -- The forward start shall be used. On the start or turn, one arm stoke beyond the hipline followed by one breaststroke kick may be made while the swimmer is under water, except that before the breaststroke kick, a single butterfly kick is permitted. Some part of the head must break the surface before the hands turn inward at the widest part of the second stroke after the start and after each turn. 

Stroke – The body shall remain on the breast except while executing a turn. Except as noted above, the hands shall not be brought back beyond the hipline. Some part of the head must break the water surface sometime during each stroke cycle (one arm pull followed by one leg kick) except after the final arm pull to the turn or finish. The arms shall move simultaneously and in the same horizontal plane, without any alternating movement. Both hands shall be pushed forward from the breast simultaneously on, above, or under the surface of the water. The elbows must remain under the water except for the last stroke at the turn and finish. Throughout the race the stroke cycle must be one arm stroke and one leg kick in that order. 

Kick – The feet must be drawn up with the knees bent. The feet must be turned outward during the propulsive part of the kick. All movements of the legs and feet shall be simultaneous and in the same horizontal plane. No scissors, flutter, or downward butterfly kick (developed from a flexing and extending of the knee) is permitted except as provide above. Breaking the surface of the water with the feet is allowed unless followed by a downward butterfly kick. 

Stroke/Kick – For the 8 & under age group, each swimmer is allowed two stroke and/or kick violations (not start, turn, or finish violations) within each official’s jurisdiction without disqualification. 

Turn/Finish – 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 touch need not be made on the same horizontal plane. 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.

Butterfly

Start – The forward start shall be used. After the start and after the turn, the swimmer is allowed one or more leg kicks, but only one arm pull is allowed under the water. This arm pull must bring the swimmer to the surface of the water. After the start and each turn, the swimmer may be completely submerged for a distance of not more than 15 meters. By that point, some part of the head must have broken the surface of the water. After breaking the surface of the water, the swimmer must remain on the surface except for turns and finishes.

Stroke – The body shall remain on the breast except while executing a turn. Both arms must be simultaneously pulled backward under the water, then simultaneously recover over the water.

Kick – Both legs and feet must move up and down simultaneously in the vertical plane. Scissors, breaststroke, and alternating up and down movements of the legs are not permitted. The position of the legs or feet need not be on the same level, but they shall not alternate in relation to each other.

Stroke/Kick – For the 8 & under age group, each swimmer is allowed two stroke and/or kick violations (not start, turn, or finish violations) within each official’s jurisdiction without disqualification.

Turn/Finish – At each turn and at the finish, the body shall be on the breast. The touch shall be made with both hands simultaneously at, above, or below the surface of the water. The touch need not be made on the same horizontal plane. Once a touch has been made, the swimmer may turn in any manner desired. The shoulders must be at or past the vertical toward the breast when the swimmer leaves the wall.

Backstroke

Backstroke Start/Turn – At the start, the swimmers shall line up in the water facing the starting end, with both hands placed on the gutter or on the starting grips. Standing in or on the gutter, placing the toes above the lip of the gutter, or bending the toes over the lip of the gutter, before or after the start, is prohibited. After the start and each turn, the swimmer may be completely submerged for a distance of not more than 15 meters. By that point, some part of the head must have broken the surface of the water. After breaking the surface of the water, the swimmer must remain on the surface except for turns and finishes. 

Stroke – The body shall remain on the back throughout the race except while executing a turn. Some part of the swimmer must break the surface of the water throughout the race, except as noted above. 

Turn – The turn requires that some part of the swimmer’s body contact the end wall. The backstroke turn may be accomplished by either of the following methods: 

1)  After the swimmer’s head has passed the backstroke flag, prior to the turn, the swimmer’s upper shoulder may (but is not required to) rotate past the vertical toward the breast before the touch is completed, provided such rotation is accompanied by an initiation of the turning action or continuation into the wall. The initiation of the turning action shall be accomplished by a single-arm or simultaneous double-arm pull, or in the absence of such pulls, by a downward, underwater movement of the head. After the initiation of the turning action, no additional arm pulls may be started; however, kicking and gliding actions are permitted. The swimmer must assume a position on the back before the feet leave the wall. 

2) The swimmer must touch the end wall while on the back. Once a touch has been made, the swimmer may turn in any manner desired. The swimmer must assume a position on the back before the feet leave the wall. 

Finish – Upon the finish of the race, the swimmer much touch the wall while on the back.

Freestyle

Start – The forward start shall be used. After the start and each turn, the swimmer may be completely submerged for a distance of not more than 15 meters. By that point, some part of the head must have broken the surface of the water. After breaking the surface of the water, the swimmer must remain on the surface except for turns and finishes.

Stroke – In an event designated “freestyle” (FR and FR Relay), any body position, stroke, and kick is permitted, and any combination of styles may be used.

Turn/Finish – Upon completion of each length, some part of the swimmer must touch the wall.

Individual Medley

Start – The forward start shall be used. 

Stroke/Kick – Swimmers shall swim butterfly for the first quarter of the prescribed distance using the butterfly rules above. Swimmers shall swim backstroke for the second quarter of the prescribed distance using the backstroke rules above. Swimmers shall swim breaststroke for the third quarter of the prescribed distance using the breaststroke rules above. And swimmers shall swim any style other than backstroke, breaststroke, or butterfly for the fourth quarter of the prescribed distance . 

Start/Turn/Finish – The start/turn/finish rules of each stroke shall apply.

Freestyle Relay

The freestyle relay is swum by a team of four competitors, each swimming one quarter of the required distance of the race in any style, adhering to the turn and finish rules of the freestyle event. On relay exchanges from the deck, the second, third, and fourth swimmers must use the forward start with at least one foot at the edge of the deck. The body may be in motion, but no intentional movement of the feet is permitted. For in-water relay exchanges, the second, third, and fourth swimmers need only maintain contact with the end wall with a foot until the previous swimmer has finished. The first three members of a relay team shall leave the water promptly after finishing their quarters of the race.