What makes a breaststroke stroke legal?
B · Beginner · The stroke · 2 of 6A breaststroke cycle is one arm stroke and one kick, in that order. The arms move together and the legs move together, with no alternating movement. The hands push forward from the breast and come back no further than the hips. The feet turn outwards in the kick. Part of the head must break the surface in every cycle.
How it works
- On the breast: "From the beginning of the first arm stroke after the start and after each turn, the Athlete's body must be on the breast."
- The cycle: "the stroke cycle must be one arm stroke and one leg kick in that order".
- Arms together: "All movements of the arms must be simultaneous without alternating movement."
- Hands forward: pushed forward together from the breast. They may travel on, under or over the water.
- Elbows: under water, except for the final stroke before a turn, during the turn and for the final stroke at the finish.
- Hands back: brought back on or under the surface, and not beyond the hip line, except in the first stroke after the start and each turn.
- The head: "During each complete stroke cycle, some part of the Athlete's head must break the surface of the water."
- Legs together: "All movements of the legs will be simultaneous without alternating movement."
- The feet: "must be turned outwards during the propulsive part of the kick".
- Banned kicks: alternating movements and downward butterfly kicks, apart from the one allowed after the start and each turn.
- Feet at the surface: breaking the surface with the feet is allowed unless it is followed by a downward butterfly kick.
Tricky cases
One foot turns in during the kick, giving a scissor action. Is that legal?
No. The feet must be turned outwards in the propulsive part of the kick, and the legs must move together.
Can the hands come out of the water as they go forward?
Yes. The hands may be pushed forward on, under or over the water. The elbows must stay under.
Can the hands pull right back to the thighs on every stroke?
No. The hands may not go beyond the hip line, except in the first stroke after the start and after each turn.
A breaststroker's heels break the surface as the legs draw up. Is that a fault?
No. Breaking the surface with the feet is allowed unless a downward butterfly kick follows.
Why the rule exists
Almost every one of these lines closes off a faster way of moving. A flutter or dolphin kick is quicker than a breaststroke kick. Arms recovered over the water would turn the stroke into butterfly, which is how butterfly began. The rules keep breaststroke as the stroke in which everything moves together and stays near the surface.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| World Aquatics rules | As above | SW 7.2 to 7.6 |
| After the start and each turn | One arm stroke back to the legs and one butterfly kick are allowed | SW 7.1 |
| Butterfly | Arms recover over the water, and a breaststroke kick is banned | SW 8.3; SW 8.4 |
| The last stroke before the wall | An arm stroke without a kick is allowed | SW 7.7 |
From the rule book
World Aquatics, Competition Regulations, Part Two: Swimming Rules (in force as from February 2026), Articles 7.2 to 7.7. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: World Aquatics Competition Regulations (PDF).