Specification
Buying backstroke flags in Canada
In short
A&T Precision Works builds custom backstroke flags by hand in Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, for swim teams across Canada, quoted from your pool width and artwork. Whoever you buy from, specify the Canadian figures in metric: lines 5.0 m from each end wall, 1.8 m above the water, with 0.20 m flags spaced 0.25 m apart.
- 56
- Flags per line, 25 m pool
- 0.45 m
- Line length per flag
- 5.0 m
- From the wall, not 5 yards
- 2
- Lines per pool
SourcesSwimming Canada, Facility Rules & GuidelinesWorld Aquatics, Pool Certification — Swimming
Where to buy backstroke flags in Canada
A&T Precision Works is a small workshop in Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, that builds backstroke flags to order for swim teams across Canada. Each set is hand built for one pool, with the team's own logo and colours applied. The pennants are triangular and printed, with a sewn hem along the top edge, strung on braided line, and designs can be printed on both sides so they read from either end of the pool.
Orders start with a quote. Call (604) 354-0226, Monday to Friday 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM, or send your pool width, lane count and artwork through the quote form. Teams outside British Columbia order the same way.
What to specify, in metric
Swimming Canada's Facility Rules & Guidelines and World Aquatics set the position of the line and the size of the flags for sanctioned competition. These are the figures to put in front of any supplier.
| What | Canadian figure | Common American figure |
|---|---|---|
| Line distance from each end wall | 5.0 m | 5 yards (4.57 m) |
| Line height above the water | 1.8 m where possible | 7 feet (2.13 m) |
| Flag width along the rope | 0.20 m | n/a |
| Flag triangle sides | 0.40 m | n/a |
| Gap between flags | 0.25 m | n/a |
The difference between 5 yards and 5.0 metres is 43 centimetres, roughly a stroke, at the exact point where a swimmer is counting down to the wall.
How many flags your pool needs
Each flag takes 0.20 m of rope and is followed by a 0.25 m gap, so every flag after the first adds 0.45 m to the line. The table below works that through for common pool widths. Measure your own pool at the water surface, because community and school pools are often not a standard width.
| Pool width | Flags per line | Flags for both ends |
|---|---|---|
| 10 m | 22 | 44 |
| 12.5 m | 28 | 56 |
| 15 m | 33 | 66 |
| 20 m | 45 | 90 |
| 25 m | 56 | 112 |
For any other width, the flag line calculator gives the count, the length the flags cover and what is left over at the walls.
What to send for a quote
- Pool width at the water surface, measured at both ends
- Distance between the existing stanchions and their height above the water, if the pool has them
- Number of lanes
- Your team's logo or artwork, and the colours you want
- Whether the design should be printed on one side or both
If you are not sure where to measure, the pool measurement guide covers it, and a photograph of the existing stanchions usually settles any question without a site visit.
Common questions
- Where can I buy backstroke flags in Canada?
- A&T Precision Works in Port Coquitlam, BC builds custom backstroke flags by hand for swim teams across Canada, with the team's logo and colours. Call (604) 354-0226, Monday to Friday 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM, or send your pool width and artwork through the quote form.
- How many backstroke flags does a 25 metre pool need?
- 56 flags per line, and 112 for the two lines at either end. Each flag is 0.20 m on the rope with a 0.25 m gap, so every flag after the first adds 0.45 m.
- What should I ask a backstroke flag supplier for?
- The metric competition figures: lines 5.0 m from each end wall and 1.8 m above the water, with flags 0.20 m wide on the rope, 0.40 m sides and 0.25 m apart. Five yards is only 4.57 m, so imperial specifications are short for a Canadian pool.