Notes on Swimming Style

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5384, 6 February 1929, Page 4

Notes on Swimming Style

CORRECT METHOD TO ADOPT.

The following information on style and procedure in swimming may be Cjf benefit to enthusiastsFEET.

The legs should work from the thigh, with the knee kept straight. They should be straight, but not taut. Thq muscles must be relaxed. The feqt. should be slightly pigeontoed and the legs, kept together, as close as possibly The time, for the kick is three beats to one arm movement, and the time should be counted while summing — one-two-threje, four-flversix. The one beat and the four beat should be major kicks, and the twothree and fivers ix should be minejr kicks, merely balancing the body.. Therefore it is perhaps better to count major-minor-minor, major-minor-minor, instead of one-two-three, four-five-six. The for.ee of the major kicks should 'not be too powerful, thus tiring the legs—the heel should just break the water. For the minor kicks the surface of the water should nc;t be brokepi. The kick should be practiced, holding on to the side of, the bath, for five minutes every day. Start very slowly, always counting one-twh-three, four-flve-six, or majer-minor-minor, major-minor-minor. If there) ar® several learning at the same time, pair them ctff, and while one kicks, holding on to the side, the other holds the feet and works thej legs correctly to the proper time. Do, not let the movement of the legs rock the body; from the thigh upwards keep as still as possible. ARMS. The arm should epter the watei> stretched to fujl length, on about a level with the nose. All fingers of the hand; and thumb must be close together and the hand stretched out flat. Pressure should-then be applied and the arm drawn in a straight line down under the body. When the hand reaches they leg relax pressure, turn the hand round palm. outwards and

draw the arm low, sikimming the surface of the Water until it again reaches the starting position—straight out, op a line with the nose., The relaxing of pressure when the arm has completed the movement under the water is most important. It is equally important, however, to that, pressure is applied with the other arm the exact moment the arm is relaxed. If the pressure is applied to, the second; arm a fraction too late the body dropts and. time is lost; and if the pressure is applied a little too soon the aijms lose their time and pressure is wasted. Water-wings should be used, or something to keep the body floating of itself when practicing this. All tlhq attention can then be given to tjhe correct movements of the arms. When learning the foot movements together with the arm movements it is also necessary to. use water-wings. The pressure of the major kick of the right leg should be applied; a t the same time; that the pressure is applied with the left arm, and vice versa, thus, balancing; the body. BREATH ING. The breathing, shot ild first be pr.ac.tiqed at thej side it i shallow water. Inhale through the J mouth, and with the eyes closed exk tale through the' nose under the water. Repeat with thq eyes open. The mistake is often made by beginners * jf taking too big a breath, and thus loeing unable comfortably to exhale- ' through the nose. The breath should be just a little (Semper than the c,Td inary breath when walking. It should th<in be decided which side it is most, natural to turn the head for breat’h whien swimming. The instructor, stranding at the side of the bath, c.au usi xally seje which side it is easiest. M' jst people turn to the right, but i ,t may be easier for some to turn to/ the left. When the side has beep. - determined, practice the breathing r together with the kicking, holding on to the side Cjf the bath. To the heats of one-two-three, inhale throughfc the mouth, thq head turned sidewa rds; and to the beats of fbur-flve-si x exhale through the nose with the 1 ieadi facing the front, with the watejr coming to. just below eyCj-level. Wh en swimming, the breath should be Snhaled when tihe right arm is out c,r Z the water and exhale)! while ’right arm is applying pressure, if the head is to turn to the right. POSITION OF BODY. The phrase ifo ramember with regard to position is, “Keep a canoeshaped body.” This means that thq Shoulders and feet must be obi a level with the centre of tflie body forming an inward curve, The correct position can be Dpuxid by standing against a wall with tjhe.' head) and heels touching the wall. The chest is thrown out and the ‘back of the body is slightly cv,rved« The cur.ve of the body must not be too pronounced. When inhaling, the head only should 'move. Keep the shoulders steady, rphe head! is the heaviest part of the body, and must not. be dropped into the wattsr when, exhaling. The position for 1 (he head when exhaling is for the water to be just below eyelevel. when > inhaling and exhaling, just 'turn, th # head and do not dip into 1/he wate r. The jr.s should not move, and must not dro p down into the water with the arms ! when swimming. They show la be kept; above water-level. The idea, is to ain i L at skimming over the surface of tl te water, and; this can onfly be done whe n the shoulders, are iMfell back an< 1 the head straight. When a sb joke is being acquired no fast swimrnu ag shot#.hl be indulged in. Fast swiinm jng shou hl be triejd only after practic ».