What stroke mistakes most often get young swimmers disqualified?
Rule- USA
- USA Swimming
- 10 and under
- Age group swimming
- 2026 rules
- Parents
These are the rules young swimmers most often break (Article 101):
| Stroke | Key rules |
|---|---|
| Breaststroke | Arms and legs move together (no alternating). The cycle is one arm pull then one kick. Feet turn outward on the kick (no flutter or scissor kick). Only one butterfly kick is allowed after the start and each turn. Two hands touch together at every turn and the finish. |
| Butterfly | Both arms recover over the water and pull together. The legs kick together (no flutter or breaststroke kick). Two-hand touch at every turn and the finish. |
| Backstroke | Stay on the back except during the turn, and be back on the back when leaving the wall. Touch the wall on your back at the finish. |
| Freestyle | Any stroke is allowed. Standing on the bottom isn't a disqualification, but walking or pushing off the bottom is. |
| Individual medley | The order is butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke, freestyle. Each changeover follows the finish rule for the stroke just completed. |
In every stroke, swimmers must finish in the lane they started in, and pulling on the lane ropes isn't allowed. Standing on the bottom in any stroke other than freestyle is a disqualification.
Added 21 Oct 2026