The breaststroke is probably the most challenging of the strokes to officiate. Breaststroke has the most variations of technique of any of the strokes. In a single race, you might observe many distinct styles of swimming - and they might all be legal! The technical rules for breaststroke are found in Article 101.2 of the rulebook.

Your responsibility begins as the swimmers enter the water after their forward start. From the beginning of the first stroke, the body stays on the breast. After the start and each turn, the swimmer may take one arm stroke completely back to the legs. Prior to the first breaststroke kick, a single butterfly kick is permitted. The head must break the surface of the water before the hands turn inward at the widest part of the second stroke.

A legal breaststroke may look very different from swimmer to swimmer, but they must follow the complete stroke cycle. One arm stroke followed by one leg kick - in that order. During each complete cycle, some part of the swimmer’s head shall break the surface of the water.

What should the arms do?

Arms move simultaneously without any alternating movement. The hands are pushed forward together from the breast. This can be on, under, or over the water. The elbows stay under water except for the final stroke before the turn, during the turn, and for the final stroke at the finish. The hands are brought back on or under the surface of the water. The hands shall not go back beyond the hip line, except during the first stroke after the start and each turn.

Now, the legs.

All movements of the legs shall be simultaneous without alternating movement. The feet must be turned outwards during the propulsive part of the kick. Scissor kicks, alternating movements, or downward butterfly kicks are not permitted during the stroke cycle. Breaking the surface of the water with the feet is allowed unless followed by a downward butterfly kick.

When officiating the breaststroke, watch the whole body, not just the pull or just the kick. Many breaststrokers have an undulating motion to their bodies when swimming. This is perfectly legal as long as the swimmer is following all other rules. The best position to observe the stroke is slightly behind the slowest swimmer while watching the whole body.

During the last stroke before the turn, an incomplete stroke cycle is allowed. This means an arm stroke not followed by a leg kick is permitted. The head may be submerged after the last arm pull prior to the touch, but it must break the surface of the water at some point during the last complete or incomplete cycle preceding the touch.

At the turn, the swimmer should touch the wall with both hands separated and simultaneously at, above, or below the water level. It is important that you observe the touch carefully. Many swimmers touch the wall very quickly with both hands, then one hand swipes away immediately to continue the turn. As long as the touch was simultaneous, this is legal. You need to actually observe the swimmer not touching simultaneously to signal an infraction.

After the touch, the swimmer may turn in any manner. They may roll onto their back as long as their shoulders are past vertical towards the breast when the feet leave the wall. To give the swimmer the benefit of the doubt, you should first observe the swimmer's feet leave the wall, then check the position of the shoulders.

After they push off the wall, it’s the same as the start. The swimmer may take one arm stroke completely back to the legs, complete a single butterfly kick, and the head breaks the surface before the hands turn inward at the widest part of the second stroke. The complete stroke cycle starts again.

At the finish, an incomplete stroke cycle is allowed with the same conditions - the head may be submerged if it broke the surface during the last complete or incomplete cycle before the touch. The swimmer must touch the wall with both hands separated and simultaneously at, above, or below the water level. One hand can touch above the water and the other below, as long as the touch is simultaneous.

To review, the rules require:

● Swimming on the breast

● Completing the stroke cycle of one arm pull followed by one leg kick

● Head breaking the surface during each stroke cycle

● Arm movements are simultaneous, and leg movements are simultaneous

● Elbows under the water throughout

● Touching the wall after each length and at the finish with both hands simultaneously

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 breaststroke.

● Doing a scissor kick, alternating kick, or a downward kick

● More than one butterfly kick after the start or turn

● Doing more than one pull underwater after the start or turn

● Head not breaking the surface before the hands turn inward at the widest part of the second stroke after the start or turn

● Not touching the wall simultaneously with both hands at the turn and finish

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