Swimming is a very complete sport that allows for the practice of different styles of swimming, each with its own specificity. The primary type, which is generally the first that swimmers perform, is the stroke called ‘crawl’. Likewise, it is the most practiced by athletes in freestyle competitions.
The ‘crawl’ swimming style is characterized by the coordination of arms and legs at the same time. To further perfect this swimming technique, some tips have emerged that can be put into practice, such as swimming with a float between the legs to have more control over the movement of the arms.
Besides this tip, there are more techniques to help improve a swimmer’s craft. So, if you are a group of athletes and wish to perfect the front crawl stroke, below are some tips worth noting:
How does a front crawl position work?
For this type of swimming, the recommended option is to perform a windmill movement with your arms, with one arm down and the other raised above water. Simultaneously, a similar action occurs with the legs: one leg goes up while the other leg goes down, the only difference is that the legs don’t break the surface.
With the crawl stroke, the body remains in a horizontal position throughout the stroke while breathing varies among athletes; some take a breath after every two strokes while others after three.
Why is front crawl swimming so popular?
There are three main reasons why this swimming modality is so popular among athletes: speed , ease and muscle strengthening . In general, the front crawl is the style that allows for the greatest speed due to the stroke style that provides more momentum and propulsion during the stroke.
Furthermore, this is a simple style, and is actually the first modality taught in swimming courses. Lastly, it is a style known for helping to strengthen several muscles in the body, as it also affects the arms and legs, as well as the shoulders. Now that we know some of the benefits, let’s look at some tips to improve the practice :
1. Stretching
One of the best things you can do to improve your front crawl technique is to stretch before and after each workout. This will help to improve mobility in your shoulder joints.
2. Breathing
Always pay close attention to your breathing to avoid getting out of breath while swimming. Ideally, you should try to maintain a pattern for inhaling and exhaling, but try to find what works best for you as you train. Some athletes feel more comfortable breathing every other stroke, while others prefer every third.
3. One-arm swimming
This type of training is good for swimmers to better understand how the stroke works and to understand, for example, which parts of the arm exert the most force and which movement is most efficient. Although it is a good tip, be careful not to force yourself too much in this type of training and always alternate arms every 25m.
4. Spine alignment
Just as it is important to have good posture in your daily life, it also helps improve your swimming technique in the water. Your torso should be kept straight and your head aligned with your body. For a more efficient front crawl stroke, always keep your eyes on the bottom of the pool!
5. Kicking the legs
Many people end up using the strength of their knees to kick their legs during the front crawl, but the correct thing to do is to use the strength of your hips at this point. You will know you are doing it right when you feel your hip muscles getting tired.
6. Bearing
The movement is not a complete roll, but it can be called that because of the movement made during swimming. With each stroke, the body rotates slightly to provide greater momentum and strength for the next stroke.
7. Relaxation
When you watch a professional swimmer, it looks like they may be not even seeking to go the pool from one facet to the opposite, right? The trick is to attempt to loosen up your body to get the most out of your motion, with out forcing yourself too much and searching like you are preventing the water.
These are some tricks that can be beneficial in your front crawl training. If you are looking for ways to improve your technique, consider the points you have just read and try to incorporate them into your training. The sooner you do this, the sooner you will have perfect and more professional technique!
