What are the freestyle rules?
Rule- USA
- USA Swimming
- Stroke and turn
- Age group and senior meets
- All ages
- 2026 rules
- Officials
Under Article 101.5 (as amended for 2026):
- Start: forward start.
- Stroke: any style. Some part of the swimmer must break the surface throughout the race, except during turns and for up to 15 meters after the start and each turn. By that point the head must have broken the surface.
- Turns: the swimmer must touch the wall at the end of each length. Any part of the body counts.
- Finish: any part of the body touching the wall after the full distance. New: once some part of the head has passed the final 5-meter or 5-yard mark before reaching for the finish, the swimmer may be completely submerged.
- Bottom: standing on the bottom is not a disqualification, but the swimmer must not walk, spring from the bottom or leave the pool (102.21.6).
- In medley events, freestyle means any style other than butterfly, breaststroke or backstroke.
Added 21 Oct 2026