Lukef555's guide to competitive swimming!

Lukef555’s Guide To Competitive Swimming​

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Table Of Contents​

I.Intro​

II.Strokes​

A.Freestyle
B.Backstroke
C.Breaststroke
D.Butterfly​

III. Turns​

A.Flip Turn (freestyle)
B.Flip Turn (backstroke)
C.Breaststroke Turn
D.Butterfly Turn​

IV. Tips for reducing times​

V. Glossary​

VI.Events​

VII. Credits​

I.Into​

Hi its Lukef555 here, but you can call me Luke. Iv been swimming competitively for 6 years now for 3 teams; 1 summer team (private pool) and 2 winter teams (high school team, club team).I know there is another guide to swimming on sythe but I think it’s a little outdated and that I could write a better one (no offence to the writer). Every single word in this guide was written by me using my own experiences. I used no sources and I didn’t even watch the videos I have linked you all too. This is my first guide so no flaming please just c&c. Also if anyone has found any grammar/speling mistakes in my guide please let me know immediately. So without further ado I give you Lukef555’s guide to competitive swimming​

II.Strokes​

Freestyle: Freestyle is the “main” stroke used in competitive swimming; it is done by using the arms to pull your body forward while doing a flutter kick to push your body forward. Breathing is done when taking a stroke by lifting your head up above the water to the side of the arm in which you are taking the stroke.

How-to video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AInQMmn-0Nw&feature=related

*I do not claim this video to be mine or take any credit for the video*​

Backstroke: Backstroke is pretty much freestyle on your back with a couple differences. One difference is that when your arms are out of the water they should be straight pointing up in the air.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CmM_Z3Zt5U

*I do not claim this video to be mine or take any credit for the video*​

Breaststroke: Breaststroke is the slowest and some say it is the easiest stroke but if you’re really good at it it can be the fastest, most tiring, and most exercising stroke of them all. It is done by clapping the hands together and pushing them forward then pulling them back; pulling the body forward. All this is done while doing a frog-like kick pushing the body even more forward. The breathing is done while pulling the arms back by lifting the head out of the water.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMoJVla31tc

*I do not claim this video to be mine or take any credit for the video*​

Butterfly: Butterfly is without a doubt the most tiring of all the strokes. It is done by lifting the upper body out of the water and moving both arms forward, then as the upper body and arms go back down (the arms are going to pull underwater) the legs give a powerful dolphin kick behind the body.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fd4qTl6cOck

*I do not claim this video to be mine or take any credit for the video*​

III. Turns​

Freestyle turn: (flip turn): The freestyle turn or “flip turn” is done by simply flipping your body when you are close enough to the wall (by your height/opinion) and kicking off the wall,1 to 2 dolphin kicks are highly recommended before breaking water, also you should kick off the wall right after your feet touch and turn over while your moving. It is also recommended that you do not breathe on your first stroke and your dominate hand should break the water first.

Backstroke turn: (flip turn): A backstroke flip turn is done the same as a freestyle turn with a couple differences. One main difference is that before you flip you need to turn over your body, once you turn over you are allowed one freestyle stroke to reach the wall. Also; to know when to flip over flags are placed above the pool a few yards/meters from the wall, it is important to practice in the pool before you swim there so you know your stroke count using the flags.

Breaststroke turn: The breast stroke turn is fairly simple but there is a lot to do before it is perfected. I have illustrated it below since its hard to explain.

*these works of “art” are made completely by me and are not to be used without my permission*



-After gliding into the wall you should move into this position



-Then after being in position 1, you should move to position 2 (note that I have the dominate hand in a different color



- At this point you should be on your side and pushing off the wall with both hands in a streamline position,in this part for breaststroke you maybe want to be a little bit deeper in the water



-At this point you should be leaving the wall
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Butterfly turn: Once both hands have touched the wall the butterfly turn is the same as the breaststroke turn

IV. Tips​

1.Practice,Practice,Practice-Practice is the most important thing when it comes to swimming, if you want to be good I recommend practicing or at least exercising every day of the week, I currently practice using this schedule:

Sunday: day off
Monday: morning practice (weight room), practice for high school team
Tuesday: Practice for school, practice for club team (back to back)
Wednesday: School practice
Thursday: Tuesday’s schedule
Friday: Monday’s schedule
Saturday: Morning swimming for school​

2. Diet; its really simple guys, just watch when you eat (especially in the weeks leading up to a big meet!)

3. Perfect your dives and turns, that’s what’s going to win every event guys, definitely put a lot of time into your starts and turns

V. Glossary​

Flutter Kick-a kick alternating both legs making small, fast kicks (used in freestyle and backstroke)
Dolphin Kick- a kick used in the butterfly stroke done by kicking your legs in a “wave” motion from the knee down, some people prefer to do it from the thigh down
Streamline-the position of your hands being together above your head used when diving in or pushing off the wall

VI. Events​

A list of all the events can be found Here, this is the list of events used at the 2008 summer Olympics

VII. Credits​

List of events: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swimming_at_the_2008_Summer_Olympics#Events

Videos: www.youtube.com

 

Butterfly is the second fastest stroke although it is tiring

 

It is tiring but speed depends on the person, for instance im alot faster in 50 fly then 50 breast but in the 100 my breast time is alot better.

 

Good guide, divided well into categories, good illustrations, never knew anything about competitive swimming even though I was a lifeguard. Well done, looks nice!

 

Thanks plznate .