Freestyle
Freestyle is for everyone. There is a preferred style, but in general it is a "free"style. So, you can do anything you want as long as you do the same thing the whole length of the race. The two big "no,nos!" are that you can not touch the bottom of the pool, and you can not pull on the lane lines. You also have to touch the wall when you finish. Most people do the forward dive of the block, but you can just jump or dive from the edge of the pool.
Disqualifications usually fall under- Missed the wall, Touched the Bottom, Pulled on Lane Line, or False Start.
Disqualifications usually fall under- Missed the wall, Touched the Bottom, Pulled on Lane Line, or False Start.
Backstroke
Backstroke is another good stroke for everyone. A swimmer must stay on his/her back the whole race. The only exception is if the swimmer knows how to do the backstroke flip turn. Otherwise, a swimmer must start on his/her back and finish each length on the back. At no time is the swimmer allowed to roll over past halfway. To do the backstroke flip turn, a swimmer usually takes 4-6 strokes past the backstroke flags and then takes 1 freestyle pull with one arm. This freestyle pull takes the swimmer into the freestyle flip-turn, but then the swimmer must push off on his/her back instead of on the stomach. Until the backstroke turn is practiced a lot, swimmers are encouraged to just touch the wall with 1 hand while still on the back. Then the swimmer will turn around without touching the bottom and push off on his/her back for the final length. Young swimmers are usually afraid of hitting their heads on the wall. This is normal, however encourage them that if they are alternating their arms, they will be protecting their head and they will hit the wall with an arm. If this doesn't work encourage them to count 5 strokes past the flags and then just kick in on their back as fast as possible. Sadly, Bribery also works to keep kids on their backs and moving toward the wall!
Disqualifications for backstroke usually fall under- Pulled on lane lines, Rolled over, Touched Bottom, Turned over too soon for backstroke turn, or Took too many freestyle strokes on turn.
Disqualifications for backstroke usually fall under- Pulled on lane lines, Rolled over, Touched Bottom, Turned over too soon for backstroke turn, or Took too many freestyle strokes on turn.
Breaststroke
Breaststroke is a difficult stroke to learn for most kids. Some kids pick up the breaststroke kick very quickly and naturally, while others struggle with not being able to turn their feet out or with illegal flutter kicks. While swimming breaststroke, swimmers also need to keep their hands in front of them. They may not pull past their hips. Swimmers also have to breathe every stroke. Breaststroke consists of a pull, breathe, kick and glide motion. Once swimmers finally get the rhythm of breaststroke, they must also remember to touch the wall with two hands. This should be the natural position of their hands when finishing, but many forget and touch with one hand which is a disqualification. Advanced breaststrokers will learn to also do a breaststroke turn and pullout for a multi-length race. When a swimmer does this, they are allowed 1 full pull past their hips, 1 breaststroke kick, a possible dolphin kick if it is the result of the natural flow of the body, and a glide. The pullout must be done in this order to be legal. PUll-Kick-Glide-Breathe.
Disqualification for Breaststroke usually falls under- Flutter kicked, 1 hand touch, Hands beneath waist, Touched Bottom, Did not breath every stroke, and too many pulls under water during pullout.
Disqualification for Breaststroke usually falls under- Flutter kicked, 1 hand touch, Hands beneath waist, Touched Bottom, Did not breath every stroke, and too many pulls under water during pullout.
Butterfly
Butterfly is for swimmers with strong dolphin kicks and strong shoulders. This is usually the last stroke the swimmers grasp. With butterfly, a swimmer must do the dolphin kick at all times. The legs can be separated, but they must kick up and down in a parallel fashion. No flutter kicking allowed. For the arms, the swimmers must bring both arms out of the water at the same time. The arms must be in unison otherwise, it resembles freestyle and that would be illegal. At a minimum, the knuckles of both hands must rise out of the water for a stroke to be considered legal. It is recommended that a butterflyer breathe every 2 strokes. Swimmers can breath every stroke, but it makes the legs work overtime. Swimmers must breathe in the forward position. Like breaststroke, swimmers must finish each length with a two hand touch.(Both at the same time)
Disqualification for Butterfly usually falls under- 1 Hand touch, Flutter kicked, Touched bottom, Arms not coming out of water, or Arms not simultaneous.
Disqualification for Butterfly usually falls under- 1 Hand touch, Flutter kicked, Touched bottom, Arms not coming out of water, or Arms not simultaneous.
Individual Medley or AKA I.M.
Once the swimmers know all the strokes, they can combine them into a Medley. An individual medley requires the swimmer to follow all the stroke rules, but they put them together back to back in a Butterfly, Backstroke, Breaststroke, Freestyle order. Each length must be finished just as a regular race of that stroke. Don't be surprised if your child gets the strokes mixed up in the IM. It takes a while to remember the order and to do everything right. It is an accomplishment to be asked to swim the IM!
Disqualification for IM usually falls under- Wrong order of strokes, any of the above reasons for the other strokes.
Disqualification for IM usually falls under- Wrong order of strokes, any of the above reasons for the other strokes.
Relay Exchanges
It is always disappointing when a relay is disqualified because of a bad relay exchange. In this league, the benefit of the doubt is supposed to go to the swimmers. If the exchange is obviously too early, then judges have to call it. In actuality, an exchange is legal as long as the big toe nail is still on the block as the swimmer in the water touches. This means that the swimmer on the block can be over top of the swimmer in the pool as he/she touches as long as the toe is still on the block. Most swimmers at this level do not have too many false starts unless the swimmer in the water takes an extra stroke or slows down and the swimmer on the block did not anticipate such a finish. A false start is usually the fault of two swimmers: the swimmer on the block and the one in the pool.
10 and under relays are special. In this league, 10 and under relays are only 100s. This means that each swimmer only swims a 25 meter race. This puts two swimmers at both ends and only blocks at the deep end. For a 10 and under relay exchange to be legal, the swimmer at the wall must enter the pool while the teammate is swimming towards him. The swimmer on the wall must be holding onto the wall with one hand and one foot on the wall as well. They can jump from side to side to dodge the one swimming into the wall, but they must continue to have one hand and one foot on the wall until their teammate touches the wall. There is never any diving at the shallow end of the pool for relays! Parents please remind your swimmers of the one hand, one foot rule every time! Coaches will remind them, but the swimmers get excited and forget often.
10 and under relays are special. In this league, 10 and under relays are only 100s. This means that each swimmer only swims a 25 meter race. This puts two swimmers at both ends and only blocks at the deep end. For a 10 and under relay exchange to be legal, the swimmer at the wall must enter the pool while the teammate is swimming towards him. The swimmer on the wall must be holding onto the wall with one hand and one foot on the wall as well. They can jump from side to side to dodge the one swimming into the wall, but they must continue to have one hand and one foot on the wall until their teammate touches the wall. There is never any diving at the shallow end of the pool for relays! Parents please remind your swimmers of the one hand, one foot rule every time! Coaches will remind them, but the swimmers get excited and forget often.