The breaststroke combines a frog kick with a circular arm pull. The International Swimming Federation, or FINA, serves as the governing body for the sport of swimming, diving, water polo and synchronized swimming. FINA provides specific rules regarding the execution of individual strokes such as the breaststroke. High-level swimming competitions, including Olympic swimming events, enforce FINA rules.
Body Position
You must keep your body face down in the water. You cannot roll onto either side or onto your back.
Head
You must lift your head above the surface of the water during each cycle of arm and leg movement. During the rest of the cycle, your head can remain submerged.
Order of Movements
You must maintain the same cycle of arm and leg movement throughout the race. A leg kick must follow each arm stroke. You cannot complete two arm strokes before completing a leg kick or two leg kicks before completing an arm stroke.
Arms
You must move your arms at the same time. You cannot pull one hand through the water ahead of the other. You must keep your elbows under the water except during turns. Your hands can only break the surface of the water at the point of the stroke closest to your chest. Your hands cannot pass behind your hips except on the first stroke at the beginning of each length.
Legs
You must move your legs at the same time. You cannot move one leg in advance of the other or at a different angle. Your feet must point outward as you push your legs away from you. You can only use a butterfly kick at the start of each length. Otherwise, you cannot move your legs in a scissor or butterfly motion.
Starting and Finishing
When you first enter the pool and with the start of each new length, you can make one arm stroke without lifting your head out of the water. You can also make one butterfly kick during this stroke.
You must touch the wall with both hands at the end of each length. Your head can remain underwater after your last arm pull as long as you have lifted it above the surface during the last cycle of arm and leg movement.
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