How may a backstroker turn?
I · Intermediate · The stroke · 2 of 7At a turn the backstroker must touch the wall with some part of the body. On the way in, the shoulders may turn past vertical onto the breast. From that moment the swimmer may take one continuous arm pull, with one arm or both, to begin the turn at once. They must be on the back again when they leave the wall.
How it works
- The touch: when turning, the athlete must touch the wall with at least one part of the body.
- Rolling over: "During the turn the shoulders may be turned over the vertical to the breast".
- One pull: after that "an immediate continuous single arm pull or immediate continuous simultaneous double arm pull may be used to initiate the turn".
- Immediate and continuous: once on the breast the swimmer must go straight into the turn. There is no swimming on the front.
- Off the wall: "The Athlete must have returned to the position on the back upon leaving the wall."
- The flags: lines of flags hang across the pool 1.8 m above the water, 5 m from each end, so that a swimmer on the back can count strokes to the wall.
- Under water: the swimmer may be submerged during the turn and for up to 15 m after it.
The somersault is a flip turn.
Tricky cases
A backstroker rolls onto the front too early and has to glide to reach the wall. Is that a fault?
Yes, as the rule is applied. Once the shoulders pass vertical the pull and the turn must follow immediately and continuously. A glide or a kick on the front before the turn breaks that.
Can the swimmer take two arm pulls on the front before flipping?
No. One single arm pull, or one double arm pull, is allowed.
Does the backstroker have to touch the wall with a hand at the turn?
No. Any part of the body may touch. In a flip turn it is the feet.
A swimmer pushes off the wall on their side and then rolls onto the back. Is that legal?
It depends on the angle. The swimmer must be back in the position on the back on leaving the wall, and that position allows a roll of less than 90 degrees.
Why the rule exists
A backstroker cannot see the wall, and touching it by hand on the back and then turning is slow. The rule lets swimmers roll over and somersault as freestylers do. The words "immediate" and "continuous" keep the roll as part of the turn and stop it becoming a few strokes of front crawl into the wall.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| World Aquatics rules | As above | SW 6.4; SW 15.9 |
| The finish | No roll onto the front. The touch must be on the back | SW 6.5 |
| The end of the backstroke section of a medley | Treated as a finish, so the touch must be on the back | SW 9.4 |
From the rule book
World Aquatics, Competition Regulations, Part Two: Swimming Rules (in force as from February 2026), Articles 6.2 to 6.4 and 15.9. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: World Aquatics Competition Regulations (PDF).