THE STROKES: Backstroke
In the backstroke, the swimmer must start in the water faring the starting end with their feet under the surface of the water. (This differs from Minnesota High School League rule which allows the swimmer to start the race while standing on the gutter of the pool grasping the starting platform as long as some part of their body, usually their heels, remain in contact with the water.) The swimmer must stay on the back except during the turns. The stroke is an alternating motion of the arms (a reverse wind milling) with a flutter kick. The rules now allow the swimmer to turn over onto the stomach during the turn as part of "a continuous turning action." However, the swimmer must be on the back when they leave the wall after a turn and at the finish of the race. The backstroke flags that appear five yards from each end of a short course pool (five meters from each end of a long course pool) are very important to backstrokers. The flags alert them that they are approaching the wall. Swimmers spend a great deal of time practicing their turns until they know how many strokes it takes them to reach the wall after passing the flags. This helps them make the turn without looking for the wall. You may notice some swimmers doing an extended dolphin style (feet together with a flipper motion) kick as they come off the wall. Though that is not the style of kick used throughout the race, it is legal and helps the swimmer get back to speed and into rhythm. At the finish, you may also notice some swimmers diving backwards to touch the wall. This technique is a little faster way to finish the backstroke race.