Swimming in Writing

Freestyle

Here are the basics for swimming freestyle.

  • Rotation is important; picture body rotating on an axis. Shoulders should go from pointing to the floor to the ceiling.
  • Eyes should stay looking at the bottom of the pool (head should not move/rotate.

    • Freestyle 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 back.
  • Keep feet toward surface. I tell my swimmers to make white water.

    • Freestyle stroke (arms) specifics

  • Always keep a high elbow. When pulling underwater, keep elbow on surface of water and sweep hand down toward bottom of the pool, then push water toward feet.
  • Brind hand out of the water (keeping a high elbow) and bring it forward, almost dragging fingertips on the surface, then placing it in the water arm's length away from head.

    • Breathing

  • Turn head to side to breathe.
  • Think about keeping one eye in the water and one eye out of the water.
  • DO NOT PICK HEAD UP.