Swimming: Stroke Development Frontcrawl

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.

Pulling Pattern
Alternating arm action placing your hand
in front pushing it back towards your thigh
close to your body past your hip and lifting
your elbow and hand out of the water to
recover the arm forward.

Frontcrawl Shoulder Touch Drill. Touch your
shoulder with one hand before it enters the
water. Keep your legs kicking strong as your arms
move slowly forward. This will ensure the elbows
are always higher than the pitch of the hands.

To improve your Breaststroke, hold the top of a small float and kick Breaststroke down the pool whilst on your back. Concentrate on keeping your knees underwater. Always turn your ankles and feet out sideways creating symmetry and balance in the stroke. Feet come together and meet up at the end of every kick.