Changes in the USS Stroke Rules currently in effect. Changes are denoted in underline, strikethrough and red.

USA SWIMMING

RULES & REGULATIONS COMMITTEE

CHANGES TO CONFORM TO FINA TECHNICAL RULE CHANGES
Approved by the Rules and Regulations Committee
in accordance with Article 514.1

Effective on FINA Effective Date (approximately September 20, 2001 )

ARTICLE 101
INDIVIDUAL STROKES AND RELAYS

101.1 BREASTSTROKE

.1 Start - The forward start shall be used.

.2 Stroke - From the beginning of the first arm stroke after the start and after each turn, the body shall be kept on the
breast. The arms shall move simultaneously and in the same horizontal plane without any alternating movement. The
hands shall be pushed forward together from the breast, on, under, or over the water. The elbows shall be under the
water except for the final stroke before the turn- during the turn and the last stroke at the finish of the prescribed
distance. The hands shall be brought back on or under the surface of the water. The hands shall not be brought beyond
the hipline, except during the first stroke after the start and each turn. Some part of the swimmer's head shall break the
surface of the water at least once during each complete cycle of one arm stroke and one leg kick, in that order, except
after the start and each turn the swimmer may take one arm stroke completely back to the legs and one leg kick while
wholly submerged. The head must break the surface of the water before the hands turn inward at the widest part of the
second stroke.

.3 Kick- All vertical and lateral movements of the legs shall be simultaneous. The feet must be turned outward during
the propulsive part of the kick movement. A scissors, flutter, or downward butterfly kick is not permitted. Breaking
the surface with the feet shall not merit disqualification unless followed by a downward butterfly kick.

.4 Turns - At each turn, the touch shall be made with both hands simultaneously at, above, or below the water surface.
The head may be submerged after the last arm pull prior to the touch, provided it breaks the surface of the water at
some point during any part of the last complete or incomplete cycle preceding the touch. Once a touch has been made,
the swimmer may turn in any manner desired. The shoulders must be at or past the vertical toward the breast when the
swimmer leaves the wall and the form prescribed in .2 above must be attained from the beginning of the first arm
stroke.

.5 Finish- At the finish, the body shall be on the breast and the touch shall be made with both hands simultaneously at,
above, or below the water surface. The head may be submerged after the last arm pull prior to the touch, provided it
breaks the surface of the water at some point during any part of the last complete or incomplete stroke cycle preceding
the touch.

101.2. BUTTERFLY

.1 Start - The forward start shall be used.

.2 Stroke - After the start and after each turn, the swimmer's shoulders must be at or past the vertical toward the breast.
The swimmer is permitted one or more leg kicks, but only one arm pull under water, which must bring him to the
surface. It shall be permissible for a swimmer to be completely submerged for a distance of not more than l5 meters
(16.4 yards) after the start and after each turn. By that point, the head must have broken the surface. The swimmer
must remain on the surface until the next turn or finish. From the beginning of the first arm pull, the body shall be kept
on the breast the swimmer’s shoulders shall be in line with the water’s surface. Both arms must be brought forward over
the water and pulled back simultaneously.

.3 Kick - All up and down movements of the legs and feet must be simultaneous. The position of the legs or the feet
need not be on the same level, but they shall not alternate in relation to each other. A scissors or breaststroke kicking
movement is not permitted.

.4 Turns - At each turn the body shall be on the breast. The touch shall be made with both hands simultaneously at,
above, or below the water surface. Once a touch has been made, the swimmer may turn in any manner desired. The
shoulders must be at or past the vertical toward the breast when the swimmer leaves the wall.

.5 Finish - At the finish, the body shall be on the breast and the touch shall be made with both hands simultaneously at,
above, or below the water surface.

101.3. BACKSTROKE

.1 Start

A The swimmers shall line up in the water facing the starting end, with both hands placed on the gutter or on the

starting grips.

B Prior to the command "take your mark" and until the feet leave the wall at the starting signal, the swimmer's

feet, including the toes, shall be placed under the surface of the water. Standing in or on the gutter or curling the

toes over the lip of the gutter is not permitted at any time before the start. A backstroke starting block may not be
used.

.2 Stroke - Standing in or on the gutter or curling the toes over the lip of the gutter immediately after the start is not
permitted. The swimmer shall push off on his back and continue swimming on the back throughout the race. Some
part of the swimmer must break the surface of the water throughout the race, except it shall be permissible for the
swimmer to be completely submerged during the turn, at the finish and for a distance of not more than 15 meters (16.4
yards) after the start and each turn. By that point, the head must have broken the surface of the water.

.3 Turns - Upon completion of each length, some part of the swimmer must touch the wall. During the turn the
shoulders may be turned past the vertical toward the breast after which a continuous single arm pull or a continuous
simultaneous double arm pull may be used to execute the turn. Once the body has left the position on the back,

any kick or arm pull must be part of the continuous turning action there shall be no kick or arm pull that is independent

of the continuous turning action. The swimmer must have returned to a position on the back upon leaving the wall.

.4 Finish - Upon the finish of the race, the swimmer must touch the wall while on the back. The body may be
submerged at the touch.

101.4. FREESTYLE

.1 Start - The forward start shall be used.

.2 Stroke - In an event designated freestyle the swimmer may swim any style, except that in a medley relay or an
individual medley event, freestyle means any style other than butterfly, breaststroke or backstroke. Some part of the
swimmer must break the surface of the water throughout the race, except it shall be permissible for the swimmer to be
completely submerged during the turn and for a distance of not more than 15 meters (16.4 yards) after the start and
each turn. By that point the head must have broken the surface.

.3 Turns - Upon completion of each length the swimmer must touch the wall.

.4 Finish - The swimmer shall have finished the race when any part of his person touches the wall after completing the
prescribed distance.