What are the freestyle and backstroke rules?

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Freestyle: you may swim any style (in an individual medley or medley relay, any style other than backstroke, breaststroke or butterfly). At least one part of your body must touch the wall at the end of each length and at the finish. Some part of your body must break the surface throughout, except that you may be fully submerged during the turn and for no more than 15 metres after the start and each turn. By the 15 metre mark your head must have broken the surface. Once your head has passed the 5 metre mark before the finish wall, you may be fully submerged. Backstroke: Before the start signal you line up in the water facing the start end, both hands holding the starting grips. Standing in or on the gutter, or bending the toes over the lip of the gutter, is prohibited. At the start and after each turn you push off and swim on your back, except when turning. Your normal position on the back may include a roll of the body up to but not including 90 degrees from horizontal. The position of the head is not relevant. The same 15 metre and surface rules as freestyle apply. At the turn you must touch the wall with some part of your body. The shoulders may turn over the vertical to the breast, after which an immediate continuous single-arm pull or simultaneous double-arm pull may start the turn. You must be back on your back when you leave the wall. At the finish you must touch the wall while on your back. Source: Masters Swimming Australia Swimming Rules, June 2026, SW 5 and SW 6 (https://mastersswimming.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/MSA-Swimming-Rules-inc-Multi-Class-Rules-June-2026-1.pdf).