Swimming: No.3 Dive Entry

Following the leg kick after the hands have recovered forwards the body will be stretched out and lying flat in the water in a streamlined position with feet and toes pointed, hips are held high with your face in the water, hands are together with palms facing slightly outwards to keep a hold of the water; At this point of the stroke cycle the pull commences, the head and shoulders will lift and a large breath is taken. The body will rise and fall in relation to the kick, pull breathing patern creating a wave like undulating flow through the stroke cycle.

From the stretched streamlined position lift your heels up to your costume and turn out your ankles as they reach the highest point. On full recovery of the feet ensure the knees are behind the line of your hips. (Lift of the knees underwater towards the body should be avoided). Both feet then kick back, round and slightly downwards with the soles pressing and pushing on the water. Develop and execute total symmetry and balance and finish the kicking action with both feet whipping together and toes pointed. The kick builds with speed throughout and is ofetn refered to as a whip kick.

Reach for the wall following the leg kick. Touch the wall with both hands and immediately lift the knees towards the chest and plant both feet on the wall. Push one hand forwards cutting underwater and point this arm in the direction you wish to swim as soon as the knees start to lift. The trailing arm will move over the water surface and cuts into the water with the hand to meet up with your leading arm, at which point you will start to push off the wall with your legs. With both hands underwater hold a streamlined position following the push off. Stay underwater to execute one arm stroke and pull back past your hips, the hands are then pushed forwards close to the chest to the front of the stroke. As the hands recover under the body the kick is executed and sends the body to the water surface in the stretched position, allow the head to break the surface before you resume full stroke swimming.

Stand firmly on the starting block with toes rapped around the front edge. Place hands to the side or front of the strating block; Fingers will secure starting position with body weight slightly forwards. Dive out down the pool to full stretch; Pike at the highest point within the dive whilst in the air by droping your head towards the water surface. The whole body then travels through the same point of contact which the hands have made for a streamlined entry into the pool. Never dive into shallow waters.