World Swim Coaches Association Urges No Vote on Proposed FINA Rules Changes

To: All FINA delegates
From: L A. "Buddy" Baarcke
Date: May 1, 2013
Subject: Proposed FINA rule changes.


I ask all FINA delegates to vote NO to the proposed rule changes on breaststroke and backstroke:

Rule No. SW 7.1: Allowing multiple butterfly kicks after the start of a breaststroke race would completely change breaststroke into a hybrid butterfly-breaststroke, which would not be any better for our sport than the old pre-1953 frog-fly (butterfly arm stroke with a breaststroke kick). This would destroy breaststroke, blurring the distinction between butterfly and breaststroke.

FINA has already made the concession of allowing one butterfly kick after the start and after each turn. Do not change this. Just enforce the rules as now written. If officials claim they can't see someone violating the one-butterfly kick rule, they just need further training.


Rule No. SW 7.6: What does it matter if a breaststroke finish is made with the hands together or separated? Wouldn't this put an undue burden on officials to determine if hands are a millimeter apart or are together?


Rule No. SW 6.3: Backstrokers (like breaststrokers) should be allowed to submerge their heads at the finish of a race. If it is legal to submerge the head on every turn before touching the wall, why shouldn't backstrokers be able to dive for the finish on the final stroke with the head perhaps submerging a few centimeters?

Breaststrokers are allowed to submerge their heads when finishing - why not backstrokers?

If the rule is changed and submersion at race's end is not allowed, there will be many disqualifications and a great number of problems for officials.


Rule No. SW 6.4: This rule change would unnecessarily complicate the job of officials and put an undue burden on swimmers. Unless a backstroke swimmer - who cannot see the wall - begins his turn at exactly the right time, he may have to glide a few centimeters on his stomach before somersaulting and putting his feet on the wall.

If an immediate continuous single-arm pull or an immediate continuous simultaneous double-arm pull is required, even a slight error in judging the distance to the wall may put the swimmer too far from the wall.