Effective February 21, 2023, World Aquatics, formerly known as FINA, implemented a change to the Backstroke finish rule, allowing the swimmer to fully submerge prior to reaching for the finish.
Here is the revised World Aquatics Rule 6.3:
“6.3 Some part of the swimmer must break the surface of the water throughout the race, except that once some part of the head of the swimmer has passed the 5 metres mark immediately prior to reaching for the finish, the swimmer may be completely submerged. It is also 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.”
Effective March 10, 2023, Derek Paul, Chair USA Swimming Rules & Regulations Committee implemented the same rule revision as follows:
- USA Swimming Rule USA Swimming Rule 101.4.2 (pp 24) – To Comply with World Aquatics SW6.3
With NCAA Division III and Division I Championship meets upcoming this week and next week, CSOA President Brian Day reached out to Greg Lockard, NCAA Swimming and Diving Rules Committee Secretary-Rules Editor, to obtain an NCAA position regarding these rule changes. Mr. Lockard stated that a rule change will not be implemented before the upcoming championship meets. Mr. Lockard contacted the respective Referees for the upcoming championship meets to inform them of the NCAA Rules Committee position on this recent World Aquatics and USA Swimming rule change. It is expected that the Backstroke finish rule will be revised in the upcoming NCAA rules change process.
If interested, use the following link for the World Aquatics Competition Regulations
If interested, use the following link for USA Swimming Rules and Policies information: