Swimming: Hip Position.

Alternating circular arm action over and under the water with a straight arm recovery, brushing your ears and elbows locked straight. The hand entry into the water is controlled with the palm facing out and the little finger first to reducing resistance as it enters the water. The palm of the hand then presses down to catch position in the water. At the deepest point following hand entry and with good shoulder rotation, the elbow bends and drops to a deeper position than the hand, creating a lever to produce extra power as the hand pushes towards the feet. The arm starts to straighten as the hand presses downwards before sweeping towards the thigh; The arm then moves inline with the shoulder as the hand recovers out of the water close to the thigh with thumb first, elbow straight as the arm is taken past the head to entry point once again.

Continuous alternating kick in line with the body close to the water surface. The kick starts from your hips and using the whole of your leg, kicks through to your toes. Knees are kept underwater passing close to each other with feet and toes pointed. Do not drive the kick from the knee. Toes should just break the water surface creating some turbulant white water splash, producing speed and stability for the lower body. Do not kick too deep or too shallow, the depth of the kick action should be consistent and comfortable, alternating the feet to little more than the depth of your chest.

Create an arch of the back over the water surface in order to dive through the same point of contact in the water. Once the whole body is underwater execute a dolphin leg kick to a maximum of fifteen metres within the laws of swimming and ascend to the surface in a streamline position to resume full stroke. Never dive into shallow waters.

Start in the water and hold onto the poolside or starting block with both hands about shoulder width apart. Place both feet on the wall with one foot slightly higher than the other to stop any possible slip of the feet. Pull the body into the wall or starting block by creating a tight tuck. Drive the hands and arms backwards over your head allowing the head to follow through to create an arch of the back over the water surface in order to dive through the same point of contact in the water. Never dive into shallow waters.