What are the breaststroke rules?
Rule- South Africa
- Swimming South Africa
- World Aquatics rules
- Stroke and turn judges
- All ages
- 2025/26
- Officials
Under World Aquatics rules (Part Two, Article 7):
Start and turns
- After the start and each turn, one arm stroke completely back to the legs is allowed while submerged.
- A single butterfly kick is allowed at any time before the first breaststroke kick.
- The head must break the surface before the hands turn inward at the widest part of the second stroke.
During the race
- From the first arm stroke after the start and each turn, the body must be on the breast. No rolling onto the back, except at the turn after the touch.
- The cycle is one arm stroke then one leg kick, in that order.
- All arm movements are simultaneous, with no alternating.
- Hands push forward together from the breast, on, under or over the water. Elbows stay underwater, except on the final stroke before a turn, during the turn and on the final stroke at the finish.
- Hands come back on or under the surface, and not beyond the hip line (except on the first stroke after the start and each turn).
- Part of the head must break the surface in every cycle.
- Leg movements are simultaneous; feet turn outwards during the propulsive part of the kick. No alternating or downward butterfly kicks (apart from the one allowed off the start and turns). Feet breaking the surface is fine unless followed by a downward butterfly kick.
Added 22 Oct 2026