Swimming: Frontcrawl

Body Position
Lying flat and streamlined with your face in
the water in a horizontal position.

Elite Body Position
The body position will be streamlined and horizontal lying flat with your face in the water looking slightly downward and forward. Hips slightly lower than your shoulders with rotation of the shoulders and upper body to allow more power throughout the pull. The shoulders should remain relaxed allowing the swimmer to create a small amount of roll in the body so as to cut through the water in a streamlined fashion. The hips should also roll in tune with the shoulders to eradicate any rigidity in the stroke. A common fault is snaking of the hips which swimmers should resolve as early as possible. Head is central and fixed turning to the left or right to breath. The head position should be firmly fixed on water surface with the eyebrows and forehead touching the water surface. The feet should break the surface, creating some white water splash from the turbulent mixture of water and air.

Elite Kicking Action
Alternate kick keeping in line with the body and close to the water surface. Do not kick too deep. Start the kicking action from your hip and use the whole of your leg kicking through to your feet and toes with feet and toes pointed. Never drive the kick from your knees. Knees will be slightly bent with legs and feet passing close to each other with your feet creating a small amount of turbulent white water splash. Increase the speed of kick for greater power over shorter distances by executing a six beat leg kick, (six leg kicks to every full arm cycle). The kick for distance swimmers is mainly used for balance. Always keep your hips high to the water surface.

Kicking Action
Constant alternating leg kick using the
whole of your leg pointing your feet and
toes and creating a small splash keeping
your legs in line with the body.