Swimming flags serve many purposes at pools, but one of the most important functions is a safety measure for backstroke swimmers.
Because of their position in the water, backstroke swimmers cannot see where they are going. While the swimmers could conceivably tilt their heads back to see the wall, that action would also feel very unnatural and could be disorienting once the swimmers return to their normal swimming position.
Flags present an alternative to this form of sighting by allowing the swimmer to see when they are nearing the wall.
How Swimming Flags Work for Backstroke Swimmers
These flags hang over the pool, about six to nine feet above the water’s surface. Using the flags as a sighting method is an advanced skill, requiring that the athlete understands their stroke count and how far one stroke will take them in comparison to the flags.
When swimming flags are uniform across all pools that an athlete trains or competes at, the athlete can gauge when they are one stroke from the wall to begin their flip turn.
Swimmers face a great challenge in learning how to use these flags efficiently because the right point to turn can change based on how fast their pace is.
While flags are a crucial safety measure, swim teams will use a coach to stand on the opposite end of the pool telling athletes when to flip as they learn their physical placement in the water based on where they are in comparison to the swimming flags.
Why Swimming Flags are Crucial for Backstroke Swimming Competitions
While having a coach inform swimmers when to flip during practice works to keep athletes safe, it isn’t realistic during competitions. The pool will get loud with crowds and other teams during competitions and having a coach for every athlete can cause confusion because they might hear the coach for another lane say to flip and not realize that it is not the message for them.
Backstroke swimming athletes need an effective way to know when to flip without auditory cues. And that’s where the backstroke flags come in.
With time, athletes will build a sense of intuition to know the right moment for when to flip. Without auditory cues for when to flip, the competition is also fiercer because it requires that the athlete practice the skill. Flipping too early or late could be the difference between the winning time and last place.
How Swimming Flags Promote Safety
Swimming flags promote safety in several ways. Here’s a look at the injuries you can prevent when using this crucial swim equipment.
- Preventing neck injuries: Sighting during backstroking can lead to neck injuries. When an athlete tilts their head back to look for the wall, it puts them in an unnatural position. One wrong move, and the athlete could injure their neck.
- Reducing collisions with the wall: Because athletes approach the wall head first when swimming, a wall collision could be catastrophic. The athlete could hurt their arm if they hit the wall during a stroke or suffer a head injury from coming in fast toward the wall.
- Providing a high-contrast indicator: Swimming flags come in many colors, but when selecting your flags, make sure they are high-contrast to give athletes a clear indicator of where they are in the water.
- A visual indicator during noisy competitions: While athletes might get auditory reminders of when to flip during practice when they are getting acquainted with backstroking, this is not a realistic method for helping athletes during competitions because of the noise levels and natural distractions that competitions entail. And one coach might recommend an athlete flip sooner or later than another coach. Flags are an objective marker that won’t change based on personal opinion.
Purchasing Quality Backstroke Flags for Your Facility
When your facility features all the right tools and setup for swimming competitions, you’ll become a highly desired place to practice and compete.
Competitor Swim can help equip your pool with everything it needs to succeed and provide a competitive environment. Our backstroke flags come in many colors, including:
- Red
- Yellow
- Orange
- White
- Blue
- Green
- Purple
- Black
- Vegas gold
- Gray
- Burgundy
- Sky blue
- Navy
Customize your flags with letters, numbers or your logo to match your facility’s branding. Get started by downloading our color chart or getting in touch with your questions.
