Swimming strokes, IM, relays and events explained

The four strokes

Freestyle

Swimmers may use any stroke, but nearly everyone swims front crawl, with alternating arms and a flutter kick. It is usually the fastest stroke. In a medley race, freestyle means any stroke other than the other three.

Backstroke

Swum on the back with alternating arms and a flutter kick. Swimmers start in the water, holding the wall, and must stay on their back during the race except during the turn. A one-hand touch is allowed at the finish in standard rules.

Breaststroke

Arms and legs move together in a symmetrical pattern, with a frog-style kick. Arm and leg movements are simultaneous, with no alternating, and the kick must be symmetrical. It requires a two-hand touch at turns and the finish.

Butterfly

Both arms move together over the water, with a dolphin kick, where both legs move together. It also requires a two-hand touch at turns and the finish. Many swimmers find it the hardest stroke to learn.

A note on rule sets

Stroke rules are broadly similar everywhere, but details differ between governing bodies (such as USA Swimming, World Aquatics, school federations and summer leagues) and change over time. Your meet's rules are the final word.

Why stroke rules cause disqualifications

Most beginner DQs come from a short list of small errors, not bad swimming. Examples include an uneven kick in breaststroke, a one-hand touch in butterfly or breaststroke, or a flutter kick in a stroke that requires a dolphin or frog kick. Officials are trained to check these points, and coaches teach them in practice. If a swimmer is disqualified, ask the coach what the official saw. It is usually an easy fix.

The individual medley

The individual medley, or IM, is one race where a single swimmer uses all four strokes. In standard rules, the order is:

1. Butterfly
2. Backstroke
3. Breaststroke
4. Freestyle

Each stroke is swum for an equal portion of the distance. Swimmers must follow the stroke rules at every transition from one stroke to the next, which is why the IM takes practice. Many young swimmers use the IM as a way to find which stroke is their favorite.

Relays

In a relay, four swimmers on a team each swim a portion of the race and the team's time is the total. Relays are some of the most exciting events at a meet because families and teammates cheer loudly. There are two main kinds.

• Freestyle relay: all four swimmers swim freestyle.
• Medley relay: each of the four swimmers swims a different stroke. In standard rules, the order is backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly, then freestyle. This is different from the order of the individual medley.

The key rule for relays is the exchange. A teammate waiting on the block must not leave it until the swimmer in the water has touched the wall. Leaving early can disqualify the whole team. Relays are often practiced during the season for this reason. Learn more in swimming terms for new parents.

Events and distances

Events are named by distance and stroke, such as a 50 freestyle or 100 backstroke. The event list a swimmer can enter depends on age group and the meet. Younger swimmers swim shorter events, and the longest distance races are usually for older, more experienced swimmers. Some pools measure distance in yards, others in meters. Check each meet's information, and ask your coach which events are best for your child to try.

Starts and turns by stroke

Each stroke has its own habits at the start and the wall. Freestyle swimmers often use a flip turn, while breaststroke and butterfly swimmers must touch the wall with both hands at the same time before turning. Backstroke swimmers start in the water, facing the wall, and push off on their backs. After a start or turn, many swimmers glide in a tight streamline and kick underwater before surfacing. How far a swimmer may travel underwater depends on the stroke and the rules for the meet, so ask your coach.

These details are why practice includes so much wall work. A smooth turn can save a surprising amount of time, and it is one of the easiest skills for a young swimmer to improve.

Choosing events as a beginner

• Let your child try every stroke early on. Preferences change as swimmers grow.
• Do not worry about specializing. Coaches usually decide the event lineup, especially for relays.
• Celebrate improvement in any event, not only wins.
• Ask your coach which events build skills for others. For example, strong freestyle helps nearly every other event.

For the bigger picture of how meets run, read swimming rules for beginners.