Ask the Coaches

Q. What is the difference between a 50m and an Olympic sized pool?

A. An Olympic Swimming Pool must be 25m wide with a minimum depth of 2m at all parts of the course and must be 50m in length - between touch panels if they are used. The width, 25m is to allow for 8 lanes to be 2.5m wide minimum with 2 spaces of 2.5m wide outside lane 1 and 8. Thus, 2.5m x 8 lanes = 20m + (2.5m x 2) = 25m in total.

What this means is that only few of the swimming pools can truly be called Olympic swimming pools. The rest can be called 50m or long course swimming pools but are not strictly Olympic pools.

Q. I have won a silver trophy, how should I look after it?

A. There are many things that need to be taken into consideration.

If silverware is stored in a location close to a heat source, next to a window, in an environment with dirty air circulation or in a room used for smoking it will speed up the tarnishing process. Try to display in a cabinet, this will restrict air circulation and minimize dirty air and will slow down the tarnishing process.

Clean monthly if possible using a silver cloth only, this will minimize tarnishing. If heavy tarnishing has affected the product you will need to use a silver polishing cream. Always clean silverware using correct polishing solutions and polishing clothes. Never use abrasive cleaners such as Duraglit. With correct care your silver based trophy will last for many generations.

Q. What are the rules for the swimming strokes?

A. Below are extracts from the ASA Handbook on the RacingTechnical Rules that define the four competitive strokes. See the ASA website for full details.

Freestyle

• A swimmer may start with a plunge or jump, or in the water holding the rail or side of the pool or other starting place with one or both hands.
• Freestyle means that in an event so designated, the swimmer may swim any style, except that in Individual Medley or Medley Relay events, Freestyle means any style other than Backstroke, Breaststroke or Butterfly.
• Some part of the swimmer must touch the wall upon completion of each length and at the finish.
• 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 metres after the start and each turn. By that point, the head must have broken the surface.

Breaststroke

• A swimmer may start with a plunge or jump, or in the water, facing the course, and holding the rail or side of the pool or other starting place, with one or both hands.
• From the beginning of the first arm stroke after the start and after each turn the body shall be kept on the breast. It is not permitted to roll onto the back at any time.
• All movements of the arms shall be simultaneous and in the same horizontal plane without 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 for the final stroke at the finish.
• The hands shall be brought back on or under the surface of the water. The hands shall not be brought back beyond the hip line, except during the first stroke after the start and each turn.
• All movements of the legs shall be simultaneous and in the same horizontal plane, without alternating movement.
• The feet must be turned outwards during the propulsive part of the kick. A scissors, flutter or downward dolphin kick is not permitted. Breaking the surface of the water with the feet is allowed unless followed by a downward dolphin kick.
• At each turn and at the finish of the race, the touch shall be made with both hands simultaneously at, above, or below the water level. 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 the last complete or incomplete cycle preceding the touch.
• During each complete cycle of one arm stroke and one leg kick, in that order, some part of the swimmer’s head shall break the surface of the water, except that after the start and after 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.

Butterfly

• A swimmer may start with a plunge or jump, or in the water, facing the course, and holding the rail, or side of the pool or other starting place, with one or both hands.
• From the beginning of the first arm stroke after the start and after each turn, the body shall be kept on the breast. Underwater kicking on the side is allowed. It is not permitted to roll on to the back at any time.
• Both arms must be brought forward together over the water and brought backward simultaneously throughout the race, subject to the provisions of ASA Technical Rule 516.6 (start & turns).
• All up and down movements of the legs and feet must be simultaneous. The position of the legs or feet need not be at the same level, but they shall not alternate in relation to each other. A breaststroke kicking movement is not permitted except by a swimmer in a Masters race.
• At each turn and at the finish of the race, the touch shall be made with both hands simultaneously, at, above or below the water surface.
• At the start and at turns, a swimmer is permitted one or more leg kicks and one arm pull under the 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 15 metres 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.

Backstroke

• Prior to the starting signal the swimmers shall line up in the water facing the starting end holding the starting grips with both hands or, in the case of a swimmer in a Masters race, with one or both hands. The feet, including the toes, shall be under the surface of the water. Standing in or on the gutter or bending the toes over the lip of the gutter is prohibited.
• At the signal for starting and after turning, the swimmer shall push off and swim upon his back throughout the race, except when executing a turn as set out in ASA Technical Rule 517.4.(turns) The normal position on the back can include a roll movement of the body up to, but not including 90 degrees from the horizontal. The position of the head is not relevant.
• Some part of the swimmer must break the surface of the water throughout the race, except that 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 metres after the start and each turn. By that point, the head must have broken the surface.
• During the turn the shoulders may be turned over the vertical to the breast, after which a continuous single arm pull or a continuous simultaneous double arm pull may be used to initiate 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. The swimmer must have returned to a position on the back upon leaving the wall. When executing a turn there must be a touch of the wall with some part of the swimmer’s body.
• Upon the finish of the race the swimmer must touch the wall while on the back. The body may be submerged at the touch.
• Wherever possible backstroke turn indicators shall be provided by means of flagged ropes suspended across the pool at a minimum of 1.8m and at a maximum height of 2.5m above the water surface from fixed supports or stands set 5m from each end wall of the pool.

Medley Swimming

• In Individual events, the swimmer covers the four swimming strokes in the following order: Butterfly, Backstroke, Breaststroke, Freestyle.
• In Medley Relay events, swimmers cover the four swimming strokes in the following order: Backstroke, Breaststroke, Butterfly, Freestyle.
• Each section must be finished in accordance with the ASA Technical Rule which applies to the stroke concerned.