Pueblo West High School Guys Swimming

Backstroke, Breaststroke, Butterfly, Freestyle

Descriptions

Breaststroke:

One of the four main strokes in competitive swimming. When swimming the breaststroke the swimmers arm and leg actions are symmetric. The swimmer breathes in at the beginning of each arm stroke and exhales quickly before their head goes into the water again. During this stroke it is important to glide. Glideing is also known as holding your body in stream line. Stream line is where you hold your body straight and steady through the water. This makes the swimmer faster by having the them glide through the water in a straight line which makes them like a bullet in the water.

Backstroke:

The only competitive swimming stroke when you are not staring at the black line. Also loved amongst swimmers because you are able to breathe much easier is the backstroke. When swimming backstroke the swimmer starts on the back and must maintain balance. The swimmer must kick their legs and move their arms insync with eachother. The swimmer must also find a good rhythm with their breathing. To break off the wall and begin swimming the swimmer will push off the wall, on his back, in a streamline position. After your initial burst of speed from the push off, while the swimmer is still underwater in a streamline position, they will begin to execute small, the surface begin to flutter kick. As you emerge from the water pull your bottom hand through the backstroke pull pattern as quickly as possible. The swimmer will most likely Follow the break-out stroke with three rapid stroke cycles.

Butterfly:

The butterfly stroke, used only in competition, differs from the breaststroke in arm action. In the butterfly the arms are brought forward above the water. To kick the swimmer holds his legs together tightly and doesn't seperate them when he is swimming.He moves his legs up and down in sync in the water. If the swimmer seperates his leg he will get disqualified!

Freestyle:

To swim this stroke you must keep your legs straight, with your toes pointed out. You have to kick up and down. continue kicking the entire time Move your arms in a windmill motion opposite each other. While one arm is extended completely out, the other should be all the way back, almost against the side of your body but not totally. Keep your hands flat, this will give you more push. To breathe in this stroke you can breathe as many times as you want. You breathe to the side not the front. Freestyle is mostly the easiest stroke to swim.