Strokes
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Strokes
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| There are four main strokes in swimming. Backstroke, Breast stroke, Butterfly and Freestyle. This is also the order of the 200 and 400 medley relay, in which each person does a different stroke. The order for the Individual medley, which is when a person does a race with each of the strokes in it, is Butterfly, Backstroke, Breaststroke and Freestyle. | |
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The backstroke is the only swimming stroke swum on the back. When swimming backstroke the swimmers head should be looking up, and tilted slightly back. When swimming the backstroke the swimmer must extend their right arm out of the water, while pulling with the left arm underneath the water. The extended arm (right arm) should have the palm facing away from the swimmer, with pinky finger entering the water first. At the same time the swimmer moves the other arm (left arm), below the surface towards their body. The swimmer should rotate arms while doing so, and flutter kick the whole time. |
| The competitive breaststroke, is found to be be one of the most complicated strokes, because in order to swim it fast and efficiently, timing and stroke technique must be perfect. To swim the breaststroke the swimmer must enter the water with their body in the streamlined position, looking at the bottom of the pool, with legs and arms fully extended. To begin the stroke the swimmer must sweep the arms outward. While doing so, the hands should be faced palms out, and the wrists slightly bent. The elbows remain at the surface of the water, while the hands and forearms sweep inward, underneath the chin. Next, the swimmer shrugs their shoulders, looks down, and arches their back, as the sweep moves the body forward. Then, the swimmer raises their feet, bends their knees, and spreads their legs, only to snap them back into the extended position again. The breaststroke kick is also known as the "froggy kick". The stroke should be done fast, long, and strong. | |
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When swimming butterfly
you want to begin in a basic streamlined position. The swimmers arms then
swing outward as their upper chest follows. At this point the swimmer
takes a kick that is directed downward using both legs, and feet, in a
"stuck together" position. To finish the butterfly stroke you
want both arms pulling you you underwater until they swing forwards once
more. You want to do this repetitively to swim the correct butterfly
stroke. Also, while swimming butterfly, the swimmers head should barley
come out of the water to take a breath, before it is submerged under the
water again. The breath should be taken as the arms are swinging forward.
The swimmers head should begin to enter the water when they are in a so
called "zombie position", or when both arms are extended in
front of you, and before you begin another arm stroke.
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| Freestyle is the fastest of the four strokes. When swimming freestyle the swimmers head and chest should be facing the bottom of the pool. The legs should move in a flutter kick motion, which is when one leg is kicking up, while the other is kicking down. While swimming freestyle the arms move in a spinning motion, beginning with one arm facing the front of you, and one arm facing behind you. When your arms reach the surface of the water they should enter clean and crisp. The head should stay still, because while swimming freestyle the swimmers body always follows their head. When your arm is under the water you should pull it toward your body by your belly button. The swimmer should continue the arm stroke until the arm is above surface again. |
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