Guide to becoming a competative swimmer

We will be going threw 4 basic steps of becoming a competitive Swimmer!
Note: To get the full comprehension of this guide, first know the basics of swimming

Table of Contents
Step 1 - Know the 4 basic strokes
Step 2 - Starting the 4 basic strokes in a race
Step 3 - How to turn during a race
Step 4 - Knowing the rules of a race and the types of races

Step 1 - Know the 4 basic strokes
Freestyle Stroke
This is the most basic of all strokes. It is a simple stroke and used in alot of competitions.

Learning the Freestyle Stroke by JimmyDShea

Competitions that involve freestyle stroke in the highschool competitions
50 Yard Freestyle
100 Yard Freestyle
200 Yard Freestyle
500 Yard Freestyle

Breast Stroke
Break stroke involves alot of upper body strength and leg strength. Now 50% of it is probably technique, learn it, live it, love it!

Learning the Breast Stroke by JimmyDShea

Competitions that involve the breast stroke in highschool competitions
100 Breast Stroke
200 Breast Stroke
200 Medley Relay
200 Individual Medley

Butterfly Stroke
Butterfly stroke involves alot of upper body strength. In my opinion one of the most tiring on your body strokes. It can be one of the hardest if you don't use the correct technique.

Learning the Butterfly Stroke by JimmyDShea

Competitions that involve the Butterfly Stroke in highschool competitions
100 Butterfly
200 Butterfly
200 Invdividual Medley
200 Medley Relay

Back Stroke
Back stroke can be a hard stroke. Also can be one of the easiest to swim competitivly. In my opinion this is my favourite stroke out of the 4 basic strokes.

Expert Village how to swim the backstroke

Competitions that involve the Back Stroke in highschool competitions
100 Back Stroke
200 Back Stroke
200 Individual Medley
200 Medley Relay

Step 2 - Starting with the 4 Basic Strokes in a race

Back Stroke
Back stroke start is completely different from all the other stroke starts. This start involves starting in the water while holding onto the bar located at the bottom of the block (block - is the starting point of a race, it is the small diving block located above the water)

Expert Village how to start a Back Stroke race

Breast Stroke
Breast Stroke, Butterfly, and freestyle strokes start all the same. From the top of the diving block. The differences involve once your body makes contact with the water, which is key to getting a good head start in a race. This is usually what can make or break a swimmer.

Expert Village how to start a Breast Stroke race

Butterfly Stroke
Butterfly stroke start is one of the MOST important starts in getting that speed from the start. The butterfly stroke is more a flow, the speed starting at the beginning can effect how fast you go for the rest of the race.

Expert Village how to start a Breast Stroke race

Freestyle Stroke
Freestyle stroke, the basics stroke. This start is also a important stroke to start competativly. You want to make sure that you get good length and height off the blocks on the start.

Expert Village how to start a Freestyle Race

Step 3 - How to turn during a race
Freestyle Stroke
Freestyle Stroke turn is essential in a race. It is definatly the most crutial step in a race to make sure you get that wanted win you have been striving for. This involves a flip turn type turn.

Guide on Freestyle Stroke Turns

Back Stroke
Back stroke turn is a type of flip turn like freestyle, but this stroke involves turning over to your stomach at exactly the right time to execute the turn that is needed.

Guide on Back Stroke turns

Butterfly Stroke
Butterfly Stroke involves a open turn. It is used in races, completely different from freestyle stroke or back stroke but much like the breast stroke open turn as well. Every second counts in a race!

Guide on Butterfly Stroke turns

Breast Stroke
Much like the Breast Stroke turns it is crutial in a race. To be honest though, everything! is crutial in a race. This turn happens fast, you have to be ready as soon as you touch the wall to make this turn.

Guide on Breast Stroke turns

Step 4 - Knowing the rules of a race and the types of races
Basic Rules
1. Don't start before the bell has been rung to start the race.
2. Don't make any distractions during the diving session of the competition.
3. Stay in your own lane (of course) and be sure before the start of the race to remain quite and move as little as possible while on the blocks.
4. Don't touch the bottom of the pool, meaning, NEVER STOP!
5. Make sure to touch the wall during your turns.
6. Always start off with the correct stroke during the race, I know this sounds funny but suprising people mess this up!

Types of races
50 yards - 2 laps
100 yards - 4 laps
200 yards - 8 laps
500 yards - 20 laps
1 mile - 63 laps​

Individual medley - which involves doing all 4 strokes during a race. This is one of the most tiring races in my opinion.

Relay race - involves more then one person. Usually consists of four other people. These are good races to start out with, they help you receive the support of your team, and you know you aren't alone.

Medley Relay - Involves all four strokes, each stroke performed by a different person.

 

Not bad. You did put effort in on the organization part, which is a plus. But, the guide is pretty basic and doesn't have much depth. It would help someone though but, if you could have provided more of a description it would have been better. You did break down the different types of relays and such, which is another plus. Overall the guide is pretty decent.
My rating: 6.5/10

 

I've never personally swam competitively, but this seems to have covered all of the basics in regards to those 4 types of strokes. I enjoyed the fact that you included supplemental videos teaching how each stroke was done. The guide flowed and was very easy to read as well.

My only suggestions would be to include a table of contents at the top, and maybe change the color of the headings "Step 1, 2, 3, etc." This will make it easier for readers to find the sections they want to read quicker.

Fantastic guide. 9/10.

 

I have many videos in the guide. They go far in depth. If you went threw and watched some of the videos, you would understand more where the guide is coming from, but that is your opinion, and I won't hold ya to iy >_<

I added this to the guide, thanks for the suggestion, this is only my second guide! more to come!!!

 

9/10 from me as welll and keep it up dude

 

Thanks, I might start working on another guide today!

 

not a bad guide,being a breast stroker and butterflier myself i like how you explained what the needed and how they worked,maybe a little more on how they look and how you do them would be nice

ps:another rule make sure you touch with BOTH arms when turning during breast and butterfly

 

Very nice guide. Videos are pretty in depth too.
9/10

 

I think you should change the title, to becoming a swimmer, to be a competitive swimmer, you must put in at least 2 hours a day, or around 15 hours a week, I do about 17-18 hours a week. real basic, not really discribing any stokes, but you are the best and only one so 7/10

 

9/10 very helpful, however I can't be a competitive swimmer, cause not fit enough.