Swimming: Frontcrawl - Technique

The whole body enters through the same point of contact on the water surface as if you were diving through a hoop. Following full body entry into the water, the body levels out and into a streamlined position; Hold this position underwater and execute one breaststroke arm pull past your hips and one full leg kick as the hands recover forwards underwater and reach for the surface; The head then breaks the water surface to breath as you start your first swimming stroke. Ensure the leg kick helps the body to the water surface. It is possible to find greater speed whilst underwater due to good streamlining and momentum from the dive. A slightly deeper dive is required for breaststroke giving depth to achieve the underwater pull and kick action. Never dive into shallow waters.

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.

Dive Entry.

On entering the water the body immediately stretches out into a streamline position with hands and feet together. The head is kept between the arms to cut back on resistance through the water. Execute a frontcrawl kick action or dolphin kick action (butterfly) to maintain speed for approximately four seconds. Ensure the leg kick drives the body to the water surface, maintain speed as you break the water surface with your head to execute full stroke swimming. It is possible to find greater speed whilst underwater due to good streamlining and momentum. Never dive into shallow waters.