Specification
World Aquatics backstroke flag dimensions
In short
World Aquatics specifies backstroke flags measuring 0.20 metres along the rope, forming a triangle with 0.40 metre sides, spaced 0.25 metres apart. The flagged ropes hang 1.8 metres above the water from fixed stanchions 5.0 metres from each end wall. Any signage printed on the flags needs advance World Aquatics approval.
- 0.20 m
- Flag width on the rope
- 0.40 m
- Triangle sides
- 0.25 m
- Between flags
- 0.45 m
- Effective pitch per flag
SourcesWorld Aquatics, Pool Certification — SwimmingWorld Aquatics, Facilities Rules
The flag itself
World Aquatics fixes both the shape of the flag and its position on the rope. The flag occupies 0.20 metres along the rope and forms a triangle whose two remaining sides each measure 0.40 metres. Consecutive flags are separated by 0.25 metres.
| Dimension | Specification |
|---|---|
| Width on the rope | 0.20 m |
| Triangle sides | 0.40 m |
| Gap between flags | 0.25 m |
| Pitch, flag plus gap | 0.45 m |
The pitch is the figure that actually determines a purchase. Because each additional flag adds 0.45 metres to the line, the number of flags a pool needs is the largest whole number n where n × 0.20 + (n − 1) × 0.25 fits within the pool width.
The line and its position
The flagged ropes are suspended across the pool 1.8 metres above the water surface, from fixed stanchions placed 5.0 metres from each end wall. The stanchions are part of the specification: the rules describe fixed standards, not a rope tied off wherever is convenient.
- Two lines per pool, one at each end
- 5.0 metres from the end wall, measured from the wall
- 1.8 metres above the water surface
- Suspended from fixed stanchions
Logos and signage need approval
This applies to sponsor marks and advertising rather than to a team's own identity in the ordinary case, but if you are specifying flags for a facility that hosts sanctioned international competition, confirm the position before artwork is finalised.
Lane widths, and why they matter for flag counts
It is common to estimate a pool's width from its lane count. World Aquatics sets competition lanes at 2.5 metres wide. In a ten-lane configuration, lanes 1 through 8 are 2.5 metres, lanes 0 and 9 are 2.4 metres, and there are two spaces of 0.1 metres outside lanes 0 and 9 — which sums to exactly 25.0 metres.
That arithmetic is reliable for a purpose-built competition pool and much less reliable for anything else. Community and school pools were frequently built to different widths. Measure the pool rather than deriving it from the lane count.
Common questions
- What size is a backstroke flag?
- World Aquatics specifies flags measuring 0.20 m along the rope, forming a triangle with 0.40 m sides, spaced 0.25 m apart.
- How far apart are backstroke flags spaced?
- 0.25 metres between one flag and the next. Combined with the 0.20 m each flag occupies on the rope, every flag after the first adds 0.45 metres to the line.
- Can we put our team logo on backstroke flags?
- For club, school and municipal pools this is routine. World Aquatics requires that signage printed on or carried by the flags be approved in advance, which is a consideration for facilities hosting sanctioned international competition.
Ordering flags for a Canadian pool? Where to buy backstroke flags in Canada, and what to specify