How to Get Disqualified Swimming Freestyle

Freestyle events allow swimmers more stroke freedom than other competitive events. However, most swimmers choose to use the front crawl to complete freestyle events. No matter how you choose to swim a freestyle event, there are definite rules that must be followed to avoid disqualification.

Instructions

1. Remain submerged under water past 15 meters. After you dive, head first, at the start of the race, you must emerge before the 15-meter mark and swim on the top of the water for the rest of that lap.

2. Walk on the bottom of the pool. A freestyle race allows you to use different swimming techniques. However, you must swim the entire race without touching the bottom.

3. Push off the bottom or side of the pool. Not only can you not stop and rest on the bottom of the pool, you cannot utilize the bottom or side of the pool to push yourself forward.

4. Pull on the lane line. Lane lines become very tempting to tired swimmers, but grabbing a lane line to help move you along in the water will get you disqualified.

5. Make a turn without touching the wall. Turns must include a hand or foot touching the wall, or you techically have not completed the lap.

6. Stop swimming before the race is over. All laps must be completed without stopping on the wall, lane line or bottom of the pool.

7. Finish the race without touching the wall. You must touch the wall to complete the race and stop the clock.

Tips & Warnings

• If you miss the wall during a turn, go back and touch the wall before continuing the race to avoid disqualification.

• You can slow down or float if you become exhausted, but you must not use anything to move yourself forward except pulling with your hands and kicking with your feet.