Backstroke Ledges to Be Allowed in High School Competition
State high school associations may adopt rules permitting the use of backstroke ledges during swimming competitions starting in the 2025-26 school year.
Rule 2-7-3 was approved by the NFHS Swimming and Diving Rules Committee during its annual meeting March 23-25 at The Alexander in downtown Indianapolis. All recommended changes were subsequently approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.
The new, permissive rule allows backstroke ledges in pools that maintain a 6-foot water depth, measured from the starting end wall to at least 16 feet, 5 inches (5 meters) from the end wall. It also specifies the acceptable dimensions for the ledges.
Under Rule 2-7-3, if backstroke ledges are used in a competition, identical ledges must be provided by the host team for all lanes. Even if the ledges are available, individual swimmers are not required to use them.
The change follows years of discussions regarding backstroke ledges in high school competition, with the committee making its final decision based on research focused on risk minimization and alignment with national and international swimming standards.
“I think the most important thing to consider about this rule passing is that it is a permissive rule,” said Rod Garman, chair of the Swimming and Diving Rules Committee and assistant executive director of the Kansas State High School Activities Association. “State associations will have the choice of whether to allow backstroke starting ledges in their state. We recognize this is a major change in high school swimming, so it may take time for some states to adopt it.”
A strongly recommended teaching protocol for backstroke ledges will be available through the NFHS in the future.
“I think it’s going to create an opportunity for swimmers to improve in backstroke events,” Garman said. “Swimmers sometimes slip when placing their feet along the wall or touchpad at the start of a backstroke race. These ledges will help prevent that, allowing for stronger and more consistent starts. I’m excited to see the positive impact this will have on our sport.”
The rules committee also approved clarifying language in Rule 8-3-4a regarding relay exchanges, addressing the concern that swimmers using deck starts could run to the pool edge and launch into the water, creating both significant momentum and serious safety risks.
The amended language states: “On starts from the deck, the second, third and fourth swimmers must assume a position with at least one foot stationary at the front edge of the deck. The remainder of their body may be in motion prior to the finish of the incoming swimmer.”
The original rule was not intended to penalize swimmers whose initially stationary foot engaged in slight movement for better balance or comfort.
A complete list of swimming and diving rule changes will be available on the NFHS website at www.nfhs.org. To access it, click on “Activities & Sports” at the top of the homepage and select “Swimming and Diving.”
According to the 2023-24 NFHS High School Athletics Participation Survey, swimming and diving is the 10th-most popular sport for boys, with 116,799 participants across 7,855 schools, and the ninth-most popular sport for girls, with 138,174 participants in 8,133 schools.
Online link to article: https://www.nfhs.org/articles/
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About the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS)
The NFHS, based in Indianapolis, Indiana, is the national leadership organization for high school sports and performing arts activities. Since 1920, the NFHS has led the development of education-based interscholastic sports and performing arts activities that help students succeed in their lives. The NFHS sets direction for the future by building awareness and support, improving the participation experience, establishing consistent standards and rules for competition, and helping those who oversee high school sports and activities. The NFHS writes playing rules for 18 sports for boys and girls at the high school level. Through its 50 member state associations and the District of Columbia, the NFHS reaches more than 19,800 high schools and 12 million participants in high school activity programs, including more than 8 million in high school sports. As the recognized national authority on interscholastic activity programs, the NFHS conducts national meetings; sanctions interstate events; offers online publications and services for high school coaches and officials; sponsors professional organizations for high school coaches, officials, speech and debate coaches, and music adjudicators; serves as the national source for interscholastic coach training; and serves as a national information resource of interscholastic athletics and activities. For more information, visit the NFHS website at www.nfhs.org.
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