FINA has voted to alter the rules that resulted in the disqualification of American Ella Eastin at the recent U.S. World Championship Trials and her losing a spot on the American team. At the FINA Technical Congress for swimming, several rules were changed, but the most significant of those was the alteration of the Lochte rule.
The new rules will go into effect 2 months after ratification – which means September 21st, 2017. The existing interpretation will remain in effect for the World Championships that begin on Sunday.
While FINA hasn’t released the full wording of the new rule, they say that now, so long as the swimmer is “on the breast” before “any kick or stroke,” they are legal. FINA’s explanation:
In medley swimming, on the freestyle section, the “swimmer must be on the breast except when executing a turn. The swimmer must return to the breast before any kick or stroke”. Moreover, each of the strokes must cover one quarter of the distance;
While not directly alluded to, this clarifies the rule that in the medley relay and individual medley events, a “unique stroke” must be swum from the strokes in the first three races. Prior interpretations said that turning off the wall on ones back in the closing freestyle leg, which most elite swimmers are taught to do, qualified as backstroke, which would result in disqualification.
The rule was rarely (never) used, until 2015, when Ryan Lochte started pushing this to the extreme – kicking several meters underwater on his back because he found that his underwater kicking was faster on his back than his stomach. Then, FINA emphasized the interpretation and swimmers began getting disqualified. Now, the interpretation is much more lenient, and so long as swimmers have rotated before kicking or stroking, they will be legal.
The other underwater change is more under-the-radar, but could be equally as significant. Swimmers are now no longer allowed to kick on their sides in butterfly. How FINA intends to determine the “side” from the “breast” seems to present another future interpretation.
Note that under new NCAA rules, all FINA rules will be adopted by the NCAA for technical stroke rules for the four strokes, IM, and relays. So whenever the new wording is released, that will become the law of the land in American college swimming as well.
The full list of rules FINA voted to change in pool swimming and master’s swimming.
SWIMMING
- Update on the number of required timekeepers;
- Redefinition of the Inspector of Turns’ role;
- Removed redundant wording regarding underwater kicking in butterfly. Underwater kicking is permitted provided that the body position is toward the breast.
- In medley swimming, on the freestyle section, the “swimmer must be on the breast except when executing a turn. The swimmer must return to the breast before any kick or stroke”. Moreover, each of the strokes must cover one quarter of the distance;
- Timing to 1/1000 of a second is no longer a possibility;
- World Records can only be established in water with less that 3gr/litre of salt.
MASTERS
- World Records are only accepted if recorded by automatic officiating equipment;
- Introduction of Mixed Team events in Diving and Mixed Duets in Synchronised Swimming;
- Revision of the required elements in synchronised swimming routines;
- Update on the World Record application form.
There is a difference between natural and intentional movement. It is NOT DQ if the push off from the wall is so fast with strong kick-off that his position is still on back upon leaving the wall.. There will will be a different position if the turning is made in semi-half turn wherein there is a possibility that will result to a position of the body on his/her side. A swimmer cannot change the body into breast position immediately while in the wall unless he/she leaves the wall. It becomes intentional when after leaving the wall or the legs has stretched and execute other than the flutter kick
I’m with those who back its full revocation. I’ve always felt “freestyle” meant “anything you wanted to do” — even if you wanted to do dog paddle or another leg of butterfly.
This may seem silly, but if you can’t kick on your back after the turn in freestyle during an IM–why can you utilize the dolphin kick (which belongs to butterfly) off the turn on the underwater of the backstroke, breaststroke and free turns?? Someone please explain
Seriously, if being on your back constitutes backstroke why doesn’t dolphin kick equate to butterfly? Inane
Seems at first glance this interpretation of the Lochte rule will be harder, not easier, to judge and lead to even more unhappy swimmers. I can observe the moment a swimmer’s feet leave the wall and then look to see if the angle of the shoulders is at or past vertical toward the breast. But now I have to instead determine the exact moment when a kick begins before looking to see the angle of the shoulders. Much more complicated movement.
And I’m really interested in how FINA will define “on the breast” as distinct from “on the side” in Fly because the current rule book uses only the terminology “at or past vertical toward the breast.” In breaststroke, arm… Read more »
Now will have freestylers being disqualified if they are not on their breast? Due to rotation you are only momentarily on your breast between arm pulls. Rotation from almost being on your side in some casses
Today was a good day
Way to go Fina. Thanks for setting the sport of swimming back another 10-15 years.
Seems like this Lochte rule adjustment will be set like High School Swimming. The rule has now changed to allow some wiggle room on the turns: “In medley swimming, on the freestyle section, the “swimmer must be on the breast except when executing a turn. The swimmer must return to the breast before any kick or stroke”. Moreover, each of the strokes must cover one quarter of the distance.”
I recommend that each butterfly sendoff has to get an approval from an official with a raised hand. There would be the requirement of one additional new official for “butterfly sendoff approvals”. Only the fastest hands would qualify for this new officiating position that would require a minimum of 2 years apprenticing. The swimmer could acknowledge said raised hand with their own raised hand while, of course, staying on breast before said sendoff. Makes perfect sense to me! 🙂