Rules for the Breaststroke

As with any swimming style, the breaststroke requires swimmers to follow a specific set of techniques, or rules, in order to execute the stroke properly. While recreational swimmers have every right to change out kick patterns and ignore rules regarding two-hand touches at the wall, competitive swimmers can be penalized or even disqualified for infractions. Rules are put in place by FINA---the Fédération Internationale de Natation---which oversees competitive diving, swimming, open water swimming, water polo and synchronized swimming throughout the world.

  1. Position and Movement

    • In the breaststroke, the swimmer begins on his chest, arms and legs extended straight out from the body. With the exception of each wall turn in between lengths, FINA rules require breaststroke swimmers to stay on the breast; rolling onto the back goes against proper technique. Movement of the arms must take place along the same horizontal level and must be concurrent, rather than alternating. Similarly, leg movement must also take place along a singular horizontal level, and must be simultaneous rather than working in an alternating sequence.

    Stroke Cycle

    • According to FINA, one complete breaststroke cycle includes "one arm stroke and one leg kick in that order." This means the two main components of the cycle are not completed in unison---rather, one follows the other. Going by FINA rules, hands must be pushed forward in unison from the chest; they can be at the water's surface, under it, or they can come out of the water during the motion.

      During the arm stroke---outward sculling followed by inward sculling---the elbows must remain beneath the surface of the water. At the extent of the reach in the outward scull, hands must not reach past hips. The only exception to this reach limit is during the first arm stroke at the start and the first arm stroke after each turn.

      During the breaststroke, the swimmer's head is always underwater with the exception of one point in each stroke when, according to technique rules, "some part of" his head must come out of the water. This must happen before his hands turn inward during the inward scull, or second portion of the arm stroke.

      After an arm stroke, the swimmer executes a kick to complete one full stroke cycle. A breaststroke kick (informally known as a "frog kick") is comprised of two parts, much like the arm stroke. It begins with legs fully extended. Knees are held together as they're brought in and slightly downward in an effort to get the feet into position near the posterior. There, the feet must rotate to point outward as the legs thrust back into the first, extended position. The swimmer's kick may break the water's surface as long as it's not followed by a downward butterfly kick, which is only allowable after the very first arm stroke. Scissor and flutter kicks aren't allowed.

    Turning

    • FINA regulations state that both hands must touch the wall at the same time during a turn or at the finish. Hands can be anywhere relative to the surface of the water: below, on or above. In the last stroke before a turn, rules allow elbows to come out of the water. After the last inward arm pull just prior to a wall touch, the swimmer's head may still be underwater, but only as long as it breaks the surface before the touch. After each turn, swimmers are allowed to take their hands past the hips and to the legs during the first arm stroke off the wall.