Backstroke Flip Turn

Swimming for leisure and swimming in competitions are two different things altogether. It requires a lot of practice of all the moves and swimming strokes. In addition to this, if you have to compete at a reasonably higher level, knowing how to change directions is absolutely essential. If a swimmer is lacking on that front, well, then it might be difficult for him or her to do well in swimming competitions. One of such is the back stroke flip turn, used to turn by a swimmer, while doing a round of a stroke. A swimmer cannot be said to have been well equipped in his or her arsenal without this. Coming up is a text on exactly that!

How to Do a Backstroke Flip Turn

Splash #1
Considering that those reading this know how to do a backstroke, let us take it from there. To begin with, swim towards a wall doing a backstroke. Several swimming pools have indicators which aid in gauging how far are you from the wall.

Splash #2
After you find the wall, lean your head back, then follow it up by drawing your knees to your chest. Once you do that, tuck your body while rolling into a back flip in the water, till you have completely turned over, facing the water, down.

Splash #3
After the step 2, stretch your body and push off the wall with your feet. What you need to do is to get your body in a line, streamline it.

Splash #4
When you streamline your body, extend your arms above your head and keep your shoulders against your ears. Then start kicking at that instant for the backstroke flip turn.

Splash #5
Roll over on your back then begin doing your strokes and break the surface of the water.

Congratulations - You have done it! However there are a few things which need to be remembered. Here they are -

• In the initial stages, it is important to have your elbows, hands and arms narrow and parallel. This will reduce the resistance as you push off the wall.
• Blowing air through the nose all the while during the backstroke flip turn is absolutely essential.
• Flip a full 180 degrees prior to pushing off the wall.
• In any case if you are doubtful about if a move is valid or not in a competition, talk to the officials before doing it.

Backstroke Flip Turn Rules
The following are the rules laid down for the backstroke as far as the Olympics are concerned.

Rule No 1
Backstroke swimmers have to start in water, feet against the wall. They have to hold the starting grip. The swimmers have to be rotated in the 'belly up' direction, when the feet leave the wall.

Rule No 2
Those swimmers who do the backstroke have to end it with the belly up position and have to touch the wall while finishing with their hands.

Rule No 3
The head of a swimmer in a backstroke has to break the surface before or at 15 meters from the start and from each turn wall.

Rule No 4
The swimmers should have an alternating arm action as well as an alternating leg action.

Rule No 5
Till the swimmers finish the race, backstroke swimmers doing a backstroke flip turn have to stay on their back till they touch the wall, preferably with one hand.

Normally, for a backstroke and consequently back flip turn 15 meters underwater in a relaxed stage and then 5 kicks at every turn thereafter, is comfortable. But the swimmer has to be in a real good shape to do the last few turns.

Backstroke flip turn is all about impeccable underwater breathing and perfect swimming technique. Once a swimmer has that, he or she is all set to conquer the water world!

That's it! I hope this information about back stroke flip turn 'turns' out to be useful! All the best!