Built by hand in British Columbia
Backstroke flags,
made for your team.
We have been building premium backstroke flags for teams across Canada for years. Everything is thought through with pool water in mind — materials that stand up to the conditions and stay looking sharp.
What backstroke flags are for
Backstroke flags are the pennant line strung across a competition pool 5.0 m from each end wall. Swimmers racing on their back cannot see the wall, so they count strokes from the flags to time the turn. Swimming Canada and World Aquatics both set the position, height and flag dimensions for sanctioned competition.
Sources: Swimming Canada, Facility Rules & Guidelines · World Aquatics, Pool Certification
Competition dimensions
- 5.0 m
- From each end wall
- 1.8 m
- Above the water
- 0.40 m
- Flag triangle sides
- 0.25 m
- Gap between flags
Before you order
- Buying backstroke flags in Canada
What to specify in metric, how many flags your pool width needs, and what to send for a quote.
- How to measure your pool
Where to take the width measurement for a flag line, and why a lane count is only an estimate.
- Swimming Canada facility rules
Where the flags go for sanctioned Canadian competition, in metres, with the rulebook cited.
- Pools across Canada
The governing body and the principal competition pools in each of the 13 provinces and territories.
Recent work
Every set is built for one pool and one team.
Common questions
- Do you build backstroke flags for teams outside British Columbia?
- Yes. The workshop is in Port Coquitlam, BC, and we have been building backstroke flags for teams across Canada for years. Send your pool width and artwork from anywhere in the country and we will quote it.
- Can our team's logo go on the flags?
- Yes. Every set is hand built with your team's own logo and colours applied, and designs can be printed on both sides so they read from either end of the pool.
- How many backstroke flags does a pool need?
- One flag every 0.45 m across the width of the pool, which is 0.20 m of flag plus a 0.25 m gap, with a line at each end. A 25 m wide pool takes 56 flags per line and 112 in total. The flag line calculator works it out for any width.
- How do I get a quote?
- Call (604) 354-0226, Monday to Friday 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM, or use the quote form, which opens a message in your own email program with your pool width, lane count and artwork details filled in.
Tell us about your pool.
Send the pool width, lane count and your team’s artwork, and we will quote it.