Swimming in Writing

Backstroke

Here are the basics for swimming backstroke.

  • Backstroke is very similiar to freestyle, just flipped over. A lot of freestyle specifics are repeated on this page.
  • Rotation is still important; picture body rotating on an axis. Shoulders should go from pointing to the floor to the ceiling.
  • Eyes should stay looking at the ceiling (head should not move/rotate.

    • Backstroke Kick Specifics

  • Keep straight legs; avoid bending knees (should not look how it does to pedal on a bike).
  • Move legs up and down, pushing water behind body.
  • Keep feet toward surface. I tell my swimmers to make white water.

    • Backstroke (arms) specifics

  • When pulling underwater, keep fingertips just below water's surface and sweep hand down toward feet, pushing water that direction.
  • Brind hand out of the water near your thigh (keep elbow staight).
  • Make a rainbow, going from near the thigh and placing hand in the water arm's length away from head (rainbow direction should be from feet to head).

    • Breathing

  • Breathe in through mouth and out through nose.