The Basics of Swimming













In competitive swimming there are four different strokes that both men and women train and compete in. Three out of four of the strokes are swum on a person's stomach and one on the back. The picture to the above shows the different phases of the four different swimming strokes. There are four main phases for each stroke. The sequence starts with the second photo from the left which is the catch, the third is the power phase, then the glide, and each stroke finishes with the recovery phase. As shown photo, from top to bottom, the four competative strokes are freestyle, breastroke, backstroke, and butterfly.

Figure 1: recovery-catch-power-glide

Photo from 2.bp.blogspot.com
Freestyle














The freestyle, commonly known as the front crawl, is the most common and typically the easiest and first stroke for people to master. It is defined by its alternating arm strokes on the stomach and alternating flutter kick while the swimmer faces the bottom of the pool.
Photo from livehealthy.chron.com

Breastroke



















The breaststroke is typically the hardest stroke to master because it requires simultaneous motion of the arms and legs with very specific timing. The hands press on the surface of the water to make a heart shape while the legs perform a frog kick. The kick starts with the legs straight, then bends at the knees so the feet touch the butt, and recovers with a circular motion.


Photo from images.theage.com.au

Backstroke


The backstroke is performed exactly like the freestyle except on the back looking up towards the sky or ceiling.

Photo from swimminglessonsideas.com

Butterfly



Butterfly can be the most beautiful of the four strokes, but also tends to require the most energy. It requires a simultaneous movement of the arms with a dolphin kick. The arms begin above the head and press on the water forming a full circle with the arms to recovery while the kick begins at the hips in a wavelike motion. The legs must stay together during the kick and cannot flutter, sissor, or breaststroke kick.

Photo from theswimmingexpert.com