The technical rules for backstroke are found in Article 101.4 of the rulebook.

The backstroke is different from other strokes in a couple of distinct ways. First, the backstroke starts in the water with the swimmer’s back toward the course. Second, the swimmer pushes off on their back and continues swimming on their back throughout the race.

The swimmers line up in the water facing the starting end, with both hands placed on the gutter or on the starting grips. At least one toe of both feet must be in contact with the end wall or face of the touchpad. Bending the toes over the top of the touchpad is prohibited. 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. The position of the hands and the toes before the start are the responsibility of the starter.

After the start, the swimmer remains on the back. Like freestyle, the swimmer can kick in any way, even using a frog kick. Contact with the lane lines is ok, but they cannot pull on them as an assist. Some part of the swimmer must break the surface of the water throughout the race. There are exceptions. After the start and after each turn, the swimmer can be completely submerged for a distance of up to 15 meters. You should observe the head breaking the surface of the water at or before the 15 meter mark. Some part of the swimmer must then break the surface of the water until the next turn.

The turn in backstroke can be difficult to judge. The key? Observe the whole body but focus on the hand, then head. While a swimmer may touch the wall on their back and turn in any manner, many swimmers perform a more involved turn.

Let’s break it down into 5 parts: touch, body rotation, arms, kick, and leaving the wall.

1. The touch. When turning at the end of each length, some part of the swimmer must touch the wall.

2. Body rotation. The swimmer may rotate their shoulders past vertical towards the breast during the turn. Once the body has left the position on the back, the swimmer shall immediately initiate the turn.

3. The arms. Once the swimmer rotates their body, an immediate continuous single or simultaneous double arm pull may be used to initiate the turn. They cannot take more than one pull - even if they are too far from the wall to make a good turn. Once the hand or hands complete the pull, indicated by hands at the hipline, the swimmer must execute the turn.

4. The kick. They can continue kicking as long as it is part of the execution of the turn. But they may not make up the distance to the wall after the pull is completed by kicking. And they cannot roll to the breast, extend the arm, and start kicking but not initiate the pull.

5. Leaving the wall. The swimmer must be at past vertical towards the back once their feet leave the wall. The swimmer may not scull back to the wall if they turn too early and miss touching the wall.

Some things to remember as you officiate the backstroke turn:

● To observe the turn, stand over the lane at the end of the pool.

● Once the swimmer passes vertical toward the breast, observe that all actions are associated with the execution of the turn.

● The arm pull initiates the turn and must be followed by the execution of the turn. Does the arm pause before initiating the turn? The call is “delay initiating arm pull.” Is there a pause after the hand stops moving before the head goes up or down? The call is “delay initiating turn.”

● If a swimmer is too close to the wall after rotating towards their breast, they may grab the wall, turn in any manner, and leave on their back. That is a legal turn.

● Observe that the swimmer is past vertical towards the back when their feet leave the wall. It is important you watch the feet leave the wall and then check the position of the body.

To finish the race, the swimmer must touch the wall while on the back at the end of the prescribed distance. The touch can be with any part of the body.

The last time a swimmer can be completely submerged? At the end of the race. Once some part of the swimmer’s head has passed the 5 meter or 5 yard mark, the swimmer may be completely submerged prior to the touch.

To review, the rules require:

● Swimming on the back

● Head breaking the surface at or before the 15 meter mark after the start and turn

● Kicking in any manner

● Touching the wall after each length and at the finish

● Turn may include rotating toward the breast while initiating the turn with a single or double arm pull

● Must be past vertical towards the back as the feet leave the wall after a turn.

Remember - if you're not sure what you have observed, the benefit of the doubt always goes to the swimmer.

What are some of the common infractions that warrant a disqualification?

Let’s take a look at typical rule violations for backstroke:

● Head not breaking the surface at or before the 15 meter mark after the start or turn.

● Pulling on lane lines. Swimmers can touch lane lines, but not pull on them to propel forward.

● Not touching the wall at the turn

● Taking more than one pull after initiating the turn on the breast

● Delaying the turn because they are still too far away from the wall.

● Leaving the wall after the turn past vertical toward the breast

A few other notes:

● The swimmer can touch the wall on their back - or as they begin to rotate toward the breast - turn in any manner, and push off the wall on their back or past vertical toward their back.

● They cannot go back to a wall to touch it once they turn and leave the wall.

If you observe any of these in your jurisdiction, raise your hand to signal an infraction.