YMCA of the USA Competitive Swimming and Diving Fo: Backstroke Finish

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Paddylast
New Member

Joined: Feb/04/2011
Posts: 3

Topic: Backstroke Finish
Posted: Feb/04/2011 at 10:06am

Rules allow the swimmer to be completely submerged at the finish. Does that mean at the point they actually touch or from the time they make their final reach for the wall?

Also at the finish they must be "on the back". Does this mean past vertical or is it stricter than that?

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Ed Miller
Moderator Group

Moderator - Officials

Joined: Apr/29/2006
Location: United States
Posts: 159

Posted: Feb/04/2011 at 10:17am

The finish is defined in the Glossary of the 2011 Rulebook as "the instant that a swimmer touches the wall at the end of the prescribed distance".

On the back is also defined in the Glossary of the 2011 Rulebook as "position of the body when the shoulders are at or past vertical towards the back".

Hope that answers your questions.

Ed Miller

National Officials' Committee Chair

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Paddylast
New Member

Joined: Feb/04/2011
Posts: 3

Posted: Feb/04/2011 at 11:06am

Call of being fully submerged will be fairly difficult to call if part of final lunge/reach for wall but assuming procedure will be to look for fully submerged then look to see if touch has been made thereby giving swimmer benefit of doubt?

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Ed Miller
Moderator Group

Moderator - Officials

Joined: Apr/29/2006
Location: United States
Posts: 159

Posted: Feb/14/2011 at 5:32pm

You are absolutely correct as to the difficulty of making this call, particularly because when the swimmer approaches the wall, your focus shifts from the whole body to the upper torso to determine the position of the shoulders before the touch. Thus, the swimmer will have to be completely submerged some distance from the wall so that you can see the whole body and your focus has not yet shifted to the upper torso. Nonetheless, as a referee, I have seen the call made and actually observed the swimmer myself and recognized it was a good call. However, as in all cases, the benefit of the doubt has to go to the swimmer.

Ed Miller

National Officials' Committee Chair

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Rules and Officials
YMCA of the USA Competitive Swimming and Diving Fo :YMCA of the USA Competitive Swimming - General :Rules and Officials

Author	Message
Paddylast New Member Joined: Feb/04/2011 Posts: 3	Topic: Backstroke Finish Posted: Feb/04/2011 at 10:06am
	Rules allow the swimmer to be completely submerged at the finish. Does that mean at the point they actually touch or from the time they make their final reach for the wall? Also at the finish they must be "on the back". Does this mean past vertical or is it stricter than that?

	IP Logged

Ed Miller Moderator Group Moderator - Officials Joined: Apr/29/2006 Location: United States Posts: 159	Posted: Feb/04/2011 at 10:17am
	The finish is defined in the Glossary of the 2011 Rulebook as "the instant that a swimmer touches the wall at the end of the prescribed distance". On the back is also defined in the Glossary of the 2011 Rulebook as "position of the body when the shoulders are at or past vertical towards the back". Hope that answers your questions. Ed Miller National Officials' Committee Chair
	IP Logged

Paddylast New Member Joined: Feb/04/2011 Posts: 3	Posted: Feb/04/2011 at 11:06am
	Call of being fully submerged will be fairly difficult to call if part of final lunge/reach for wall but assuming procedure will be to look for fully submerged then look to see if touch has been made thereby giving swimmer benefit of doubt?
	IP Logged

Ed Miller Moderator Group Moderator - Officials Joined: Apr/29/2006 Location: United States Posts: 159	Posted: Feb/14/2011 at 5:32pm
	You are absolutely correct as to the difficulty of making this call, particularly because when the swimmer approaches the wall, your focus shifts from the whole body to the upper torso to determine the position of the shoulders before the touch. Thus, the swimmer will have to be completely submerged some distance from the wall so that you can see the whole body and your focus has not yet shifted to the upper torso. Nonetheless, as a referee, I have seen the call made and actually observed the swimmer myself and recognized it was a good call. However, as in all cases, the benefit of the doubt has to go to the swimmer. Ed Miller National Officials' Committee Chair
	IP Logged