NCAA Announces New Guidelines for Backstroke Ledges
The NCAA has announced a handful of changes that will take effect during the 2026-27 season, including mandatory adjustability of the backstroke ledge in Division I, Division II and Division III competition. The backstroke ledge must be adjustable to four centimeters above to four centimeters below the water level, and cannot be used outside of this range. The Division II and III Playing Rules Oversight Panel made the approval last week, following Division I’s prior approval.
According to the NCAA website, backstroke ledges must be a minimum of 60 centimeters in legnth, eight centimeters in height and two centimeters in width, with 10 degrees of slope.
In addition to the change in backstroke ledge guidelines, the NCAA added new language for the finish to butterfly races. The new language reads: “Additionally, once some part of the head of the swimmer has passed the final five-meter mark (long course and short-course meters) or five-yard mark (short-course yards), immediately prior to reaching for the finish, the swimmer may be completely submerged.”
The new language was also added – with identical wording – to the rule for finishes to freestyle races, and goes hand-in-hand with the butterfly guidelines.