Backstroke Turn Scenarios

Scenario 1:

At the turn in a backstroke event, the swimmer completes the turn by touching the wall on their back. After touching, they proceed to do a flip turn against the wall and then leave to resume their swim on the back.

Question:

Should this swimmer be disqualified? What is the infraction?

Solution/Recommendation

In examining the sequence of the turn:

1. Swimmer touches the wall on their back -> legal: When executing the turn there must be a touch of the wall with some part of the swimmer’s body.
2. Swimmer does a flip turn at the wall -> legal: During the turn the shoulders may be turned over the vertical to the breast.
3. Swimmer leaves the wall on their back -> legal: The swimmer must have returned to the position on the back upon leaving the wall.

Based on this rule and the interpretation above, the swimmer performed a legal turn and should not be disqualified.

Scenario 2:

During a backstroke event, the swimmer turned to their breast and completed a flip turn, but missed the wall with any part of their body. While on their back, they skulled back and touched the wall with their feet.

Question:

Should this swimmer be disqualified? What is the infraction?

Solution/Recommendation

In examining the sequence of the turn:

1. Swimmer turned to their breast and completed a flip turn -> legal: During the turn the shoulders may be turned over the vertical to the breast after which an immediate continuous single arm pull or immediate continuous simultaneous double arm pull may be used to initiate the turn.
2. Swimmer does not touch the wall with any part of their body -> illegal: When executing the turn there must be a touch of the wall with some part of the swimmer’s body.

Based on this rule and the interpretation above, the swimmer should be disqualified. The touch of the wall must occur as part of the turn.

The wording on the infraction card should be: “6.4 Did not touch the wall during the ___m turn.”