Here you'll learn the proper technique for the breaststroke
The Breaststroke is the most technically difficult stroke to perform; therefore,it has the most rules related to it. The primary rules that define the Breaststroke are:
Arm and Leg Movements:
All movements of the arms are to be done simultaneously and in the same horizontal plane.
The hands may not go past the hips except for the first arm stroke of each length.
The hands must be pushed forward from the chest ( between the points of the shoulders ) simultaneously below, at or above the surface water.
Except for the last pull prior to touching the wall, the swimmer's elbows must remain in contact with the water.
All movements of the legs are to be done simultaneously.
Propulsion from the legs must come from the sole or instep of the foot; pushing water with the top of the foot is prohibited.
Body Position and other rules:
The swimmer must leave the wall on their breast ( shoulders at or past 90* toward their breast ).
From the time the hands come apart on the first pull until the final pull before the swimmer touches the wall, the swimmer's hands must pull in the same horizontal plane.
Some part of the swimmer's head must break the calm surface of the water once every complete cycle of the arms and legs.
The swimmer is allowed one complete pull ( past the hips ) and one complete kick ( in that order ) prior to surfacing at the start of each length. They are allowed to begin the second pull ( up to the widest point of the pull ) prior to the head breaking the surace of the water.
Breaststroke is the only stroke that requires a " cycling " of the arms and legs in a specific pattern; the swimmer must begin each length with a pull and their must be only one pull followed by one kick in each stroke cycle.
The swimmer must touch the wall simultaneously with BOTH HANDS at the end of each length.
