Interpretation of March 6 1998 USAS Rule Changes
July 6 1998 by James R. Devine, General Chair
(This Memo Replaces all prior Memos regarding new USS Rules which became
effective March 6, 1998)
As you are all aware, several new USS rules took effect on March 6, 1998.
These rules impact the Breaststroke, Butterfly and Freestyle. In addition,
there remains a couple of ongoing questions that seem to arise whenever we
in Missouri Valley discuss the Backstroke. This memo provides interpretive
guidance on the new Rules based on Official Interpretations that can be
found at the USS website, specifically the Officials' Forum on their
website. As we move into our summer season, it is important that we all
attempt to enforce the rules consistently. I attended a USS Officials'
Chairs meeting the weekend of April 25 and the contents of this memo are
consistent with what Peter Carney, national rules chair would like us to do
and is also consistent with what other LSC's are doing regarding these new
rules.
The Breaststroke
As you know, the newly enacted version of USS Rule 101.1.2 (effective March
6, 1998), dealing with the breaststroke "Stroke" eliminates the phrase "...
and both shoulders shall be in line with the water surface" from the first
sentence of the rule. The elimination of this phrase, however, results in
no change in interpreting the breaststroke. This because the second
sentence of the rule requires that both arms be pulled simultaneously "
and in the same horizontal plane without any alternating movement." Use of the
phrase "same horizontal plane" invokes the definition of "horizontal" from
the "Official Glossary" contained in the front of your 1998 USS Rules and
Regulations. "Horizontal" is defined in the Glossary as "parallel to the
surface level of the water." The effect of the elimination of the phrase
dealing with shoulders, then, is to shift focus from the shoulders being in
line with the water surface to the arms being pulled in that horizontal
plane parallel to the water surface. The result is that while our focus is
shifted from the shoulders to the arms, most swimmers will be , in our
traditional parlance, fully on the breast throughout the course of the
swim, with the exception of the turns. That body position is not, however,
required. For the swimmer who can accomplish the feat, the body position
could be anywhere at or past the vertical towards the breast, so long as
the arms pull simultaneously in the horizontal plane parallel to the
water's surface.
On the turns, Rule 101.2.4 has also eliminated the requirement that "the
shoulders shall be in line with the water surface" at the time of the touch
at each turn. Because there is no other "horizontal" requirement in the
turn rule, the effect of the change is to permit the shoulders to be
uneven, or dropped, at the turns. In addition, please note that the rule
change did not appear to affect the finish. Thus, as the rules currently
read, the shoulders could be "dipped" at turns, but not at the finish. THIS
WAS AN ERROR IN WRITING THE NEW RULE. AS THE NEW RULE SHOULD HAVE READ, THE
SHOULDERS CAN BE DROPPED AT BOTH THE TURN AND THE FINISH.
Following the touch and turn, however, the rules continue to require the
swimmer to be at or past the vertical toward the breast when the feet leave
the wall. Additionally, the body position required in 101.1.2 must be
achieved before the arm pull-out. This means that the swimmer's arms must
pull parallel to the surface of the water on the pull-out stroke, although
the swimmer's body need only be at or past the vertical toward the breast.
The Butterfly
Like the Breaststroke, Butterfly turn rule101.2.4 has eliminated the phrase
requiring that the shoulders be "in line with the water surface." As a
result, like the Breaststroke, at the turns, the shoulders need not be
even, but one can be dropped. Note, however, that as in the Breaststroke,
the finish rule was not changed. Thus the rule appears to require that the
shoulders still be in line with the surface of the water at the finish.
LIKE THE BREASTSTROKE, THIS WAS A DRAFTING ERROR. THE SHOULDERS CAN BE
DROPPED AT THE FINISH AS WELL AS AT THE TURNS.
Of greater concern in the Butterfly is the 15 meter requirement. The
language added to 101.2.2, dealing with the Butterfly stroke, permits the
swimmer to be completely submerged for a distance of not more than 15
meters after the start and each turn, after which the head must break the
surface of the water. Please note: It is the "head," not hands which must
break the surface by the 15 meter mark. The rule then provides that "The
swimmer must remain on the surface until the next turn or finish." At issue
is whether, when approaching the turn, the swimmer who is short of the
wall, can be completely submerged while kicking into the wall, as has
always been the case. As of this writing, USS Rules Chair Peter Carney has
requested an interpretation from FINA regarding this issue. It is the
general feeling however, that the swimmer should be given the benefit of
the doubt at the turns and finishes and should therefore be given some
slack on the "completely submerged" issue. Rules Chair Carney writes: "Some
butterfliers do appear to have a point in each cycle where they are
momentarily submerged.... Clearly, FINA did not intend for this to be a d.q."
Carney recognizes this as potentially inconsistent with our interpretation
of the backstroke, which does not permit the swimmer to be completely
submerged at the finish. Further interpretation will be needed. In the
interim, please make this call consistent with the following backstroke
interpretation. That is, it must be made by the turn/finish judge. . If
that judge, because of the position of the swimmer, is required to watch
the swimmer's touch at the wall (to make sure the hands touch
simultaneously), then the stroke judge is not in position to determine if
the swimmer was completely submerged at that moment and cannot make that
call. Thus, this call will only be made if the swimmer is completely
submerged BEFORE the time that the turn judge is required to look at the
swimmer's hands touching the wall. This interpretation will also be used
for the backstroke and the freestyle and is consistent with Official
interpretations that USS has given in the past regarding the backstroke
finish.
The Freestyle
The language added to the stroke rule on Freestyle, 101.4.2 is the
identical language currently contained in the backstroke rule. The rule
requires some part of the swimmer to break the surface of the water except
during the turns and for a distance of not more than 15 meters after the
start and each turn. This rule requires the freestyler to have some part of
their body breaking the surface at the finish. Until further notice, please
make this call consistent with the butterfly/backstroke interpretation
above. If the turn/finish judge should be looking at the swimmer's hand
touching the wall, the judge is in no position to determine if the swimmer
was completely submerged.
The Start
The Start Rule, 102.14.2(A) no longer requires the swimmer who has stepped
on the block to have both feet the same distance back from the front.
Instead, the swimmer need only step on to the starting block. As Peter
Carney has interpreted this rule, the swimmer can stand anyplace on the
block, including at the front, with toes curled over the edge of the front.
Upon the "Take Your Mark," command, the swimmer must, if they have not
already done so, move to a position with at least one foot to the front of
the block.
The Backstroke
The backstroke rules continue to require some part of the swimmer's body to
break the surface of the water at all times other than at the start and
after each turn. At the finish, whether the swimmer is completely submerged
will be judged by the turn/finish judge. If that judge should be watching
the swimmer touch the wall, then the judge is no longer in position to
determine if the swimmer is completely submerged. Thus, the completely
submerged call must be made, if at all, prior to the time the judge should
move their concentration to the swimmer's touch.
Also on backstroke, we have had numerous discussions on the backstroke
turn.
1. Swimmers do not need to do a "flip turn"-that is, it is entirely
permissible for the swimmer to touch the wall for an intermediate turn
while still on their back;
2. For a swimmer who does touch the intermediate wall on their back, under
Rule 101.3.3, the next thing that must happen is that the swimmer "must
have returned to a position on the back [at or past the vertical toward the
back] upon leaving the wall;
3. For this swimmer, then, the middle sentences of Rule 101.3.3 have no
affect. That is-the swimmer need not touch on the back, and act in a
"continuous" manner to turn around and leave the wall. The swimmer who
touches on the back, stops, adjusts goggles or suit, is not in violation of
the "continuous turning action" provisions of Rule 101.3.3, because that
portion of the rule does not apply to this swimmer;
4. Somewhat similar is the swimmer who comes to the wall on the back, then
rolls past vertical and touches the wall while on the breast. This swimmer
must maintain " continuous " action from the point the swimmer goes past
vertical towards the breast until the swimmer touches the wall. The swimmer
is entitled to no more than one single or one simultaneous double arm pull
to accomplish this purpose;
5. Once this swimmer touches the wall, the need for continuousness ends. This
swimmer, too, can adjust their goggles, fix their suit or whatever, so long
as the swimmer has "returned to a position on the back [at or past the
vertical toward the back] upon leaving the wall;
6. The swimmer who comes to the wall on the back, then rolls past vertical and
does a flip turn is the swimmer for whom all of the language in Rule
101.3.3 is written. This swimmer must maintain a continuous turning action
from the moment the swimmer goes past the vertical toward the breast until
the swimmer's feet (or some other body part) touch the wall at the
conclusion of the flip turn. By continuous, once the swimmer goes past the
vertical toward the breast, the swimmer may take one single or one
simultaneous double arm pull to initiate the turn (the flip) and the
swimmer must be at or past the vertical towards the back when the swimmer
leaves the wall.
Through all of these examples, the constant is that the need for
"continuousness," if there is such a word, ends when the swimmer touches
the wall-in example 1.) While on the back; in example 4.) After turning
toward the breast and grabbing the wall; and in example 6.) After the flip
turn when some part of the swimmer touches the wall.
All of the above comes from an official interpretation of the backstroke
rule by USS. I hope it is of help to you.
Officials' Tests
For those of you who administer Officials' Tests to new and re-certifying
officials, the 1998 tests have now changed as a result of the March 6 rules
changes. You can get new copies from me or from the MVS Office.. Contact me
if you have questions.
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