Aquatics

Swimming sports is a form of recreation or exercise or competitive sport in which propulsion of body is done through water combining arm and leg without using any mechanical aid. Swimming strokes that one do with his hands and legs help muscles to workout in coordination that helps the cardiovascular system.

As specified by FINA swimming instruction for various types of events are:

• Freestyle
1. Some part of swimmer should touch wall on completion of every length and at finish.
2. Some part of swimmer should break surface of water throughout race.
3. Swimmer can be submerged completely during turn and not more than for a distance of 15m.
• Backstroke
1. Before beginning of game, swimmer should line up in water, holding starting grips with both hands.
2. Bending of toes over gutter or standing on gutter is not allowed.
3. After the beginning of game swimmer should push off and swim on his back through out race exception is allowed while taking a turn.
4. A roll movement of body is allowed, 90 degrees from horizontal is prohibited.
5. Some part of swimmer should break surface of water throughout race.
6. Swimmer can be submerged completely during turn and not more than for a distance of 15m.
7. While turning there should be a touch with wall with some body part of swimmer.
8. While turning shoulders of swimmer might turn over vertical to the breast.
9. After finishing race swimmer must touch wall while on back.
• Breaststroke
1. As soon as first arm stroke begins and after each turn, body should be kept on breast. Rolling on back is prohibited.
2. Stroke cycle should be of one arm and one leg stroke.
3. Movements of arm should be simultaneous and in horizontal plane without any alternating movements.
4. Hands need to be pushed in forward direction from breast, under or over water.
5. Elbows should be under water exception is for final stroke before any turn.
6. Hands should be brought back on or under surface of water.
7. Hands can't be brought back beyond hip line, exceptions are there for first stroke after start and each turn.
8. After every complete cycle, some part of swimmer's head should break surface of water.
9. After start and turn swimmer might take one arm stroke back to legs.
10. Head must break water surface before hands turn inwards.
11. One downward dolphin kick followed by breaststroke is allowed only when one is wholly submerged.
12. Movements of legs must be simultaneous and in horizontal plane.
13. Feet must be outwards during propulsion.
14. Scissors, flutter, downward dolphin kick is prohibited.
15. Breaking water surface is allowed with feet.
16. After every turn and finish of race, touch should be made with hands above, or below water level.
17. Head can be submerged after last arm pull and before touch, but condition is it breaks surface of water during last complete or incomplete cycle.
• Butterfly
1. As soon as first arm stroke begins and after each turn, body should be kept on breast. Rolling on back is prohibited. Kicking on side is allowed.
2. Arms should be brought forward and backward together over water concurrently throughout race.
3. Up and Down movements of legs must be concurrent.
4. Its not necessary to have legs or feet on same level, but they should not get at alternate position any time.
5. Breaststroke movement is prohibited.
6. After every turn and end of race, hands should touch concurrently above, or below water level.
7. One or more leg kicks, one arm pull under water are permitted at start and at turns.
8. A swimmer can submerged under water for a distance less than 15m after start and every turn.
• Medley Swimming
1. Swimmers can have four swimming styles they are : Backstroke, Breaststroke, Butterfly and freestyle.
2. Rules of these styles are applied in accordance.

FINA Diving World Series 2007 will start from 1st September in Great Britain.