An illegal stroke occurs when a swimmer fails to follow the technical requirements of an event. This includes improper arm movements or failing to stay on the correct body position. For example, backstroke swimmers must remain on their backs until they begin a turn. Breaststroke swimmers must move their arms simultaneously and in the same horizontal plane at all times. An official raises a hand because a swimmer used an asymmetrical butterfly arm pull. These rules maintain a fair playing field by ensuring everyone uses the same mechanics. Swimmers must practice perfect form to avoid being removed from the results of a meet. Correcting these errors in training is a top priority for competitive swimming coaches.
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