Swimming: Frontcrawl - Technique

Breathing.

The breathing action is a regular and controlled turning of the head to either side. Ensure full and quick intake of breath and exhail into the water as the face returns to its central position. Bilateral breathing to the left and right of every third arm stroke will help develop good balance and rhythm.

Dive Entry.

On entering the water the body immediately stretches out into a streamline position with hands and feet together. The head is kept between the arms to cut back on resistance through the water. Execute a frontcrawl kick action or dolphin kick action (butterfly) to maintain speed for approximately four seconds. Ensure the leg kick drives the body to the water surface, maintain speed as you break the water surface with your head to execute full stroke swimming. It is possible to find greater speed whilst underwater due to good streamlining and momentum. Never dive into shallow waters.

Dive Start.

Stand firmly on the poolside or starting blockwith toes wrapped around the front edge. Place hands to the front or side of the starting block; Fingers will secure starting position with body weight slightly forwards. Dive out down the pool to full stretch; Pike at the highest point of the dive whilst in the air in order to enter the water surface, the whole body enters through the same point of contact on the water surface as if you were diving through a hoop; Snap out of this position and into a streamlined position on immediate entry into the water in order for the body to follow through the same point of entry. If you dive too flat speed through the water and momentum from the poolside or starting block will be lost. Never dive into shallow waters.

Hips.

When swimming frontcrawl the hips stay high and close to the water surface with your costume just breaking the surface. There is slight rotation of the hips to the left and right as you reach forwards with every arm stroke.