ASCA Swimming Technique & Stroke Development 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When coaching breaststroke, what is the 'glide' position and how has modern racing technique modified its use?
- Full extension with both arms and legs streamlined; modern racing minimizes glide duration to maintain momentum (Correct answer)
- Arms extended overhead; modern racing eliminates glide entirely
- Head lifted with arms pressing down; modern racing emphasizes a longer glide
- Kick recovery phase; modern racing uses a wider glide
Correct answer: Full extension with both arms and legs streamlined; modern racing minimizes glide duration to maintain momentum
The glide is the streamlined full-extension position after the kick; modern elite breaststroke reduces glide time to avoid velocity loss while still achieving streamlining.
Question 2: What distinguishes a 'tempo' swimmer from a 'distance-per-stroke' swimmer in freestyle racing strategy?
- Tempo swimmers use a slower stroke rate but cover more distance each stroke
- Tempo swimmers rely on a higher stroke rate with shorter distance per stroke (Correct answer)
- Tempo swimmers breathe every stroke while DPS swimmers breathe every three
- Tempo swimmers use a two-beat kick while DPS swimmers use six-beat
Correct answer: Tempo swimmers rely on a higher stroke rate with shorter distance per stroke
Tempo swimmers maintain a high stroke rate with shorter distance per stroke, while DPS swimmers use a slower rate with greater distance covered per stroke cycle.
Question 3: In backstroke, where should the hand enter the water relative to the shoulder?
- Directly on the center line above the head
- Outside the shoulder line at about 11 o'clock and 1 o'clock positions
- At the shoulder line with a slight inward angle
- At the shoulder line with the pinky finger entering first (Correct answer)
Correct answer: At the shoulder line with the pinky finger entering first
The backstroke hand enters at the shoulder line with the pinky finger first, which correctly positions the arm for an effective underwater pull.
Question 4: What is 'skating position' in backstroke and what skill does it reinforce?
- A drill where the swimmer lies on their side with one arm extended, reinforcing body rotation and balance (Correct answer)
- A drill where both arms are at the sides to reduce drag
- A competition start position on the block
- A breathing pattern during backstroke
Correct answer: A drill where the swimmer lies on their side with one arm extended, reinforcing body rotation and balance
Skating position places the swimmer on their side with one arm extended, teaching the body rotation angle and balance essential to an efficient backstroke.
Question 5: Which of the following best describes the 'S-pull' controversy in freestyle coaching?
- Some coaches promote an S-shaped pull path while research shows a straighter high-elbow pull is more efficient (Correct answer)
- The S-pull is universally accepted as the most efficient path
- The S-pull refers only to the entry angle, not the pull path
- The S-pull is required for breaststroke, not freestyle
Correct answer: Some coaches promote an S-shaped pull path while research shows a straighter high-elbow pull is more efficient
Earlier coaching promoted an S-shaped pull path to use still water, but biomechanical research now supports a straighter pull with a high elbow (EVF) as more propulsively efficient.
Question 6: What is the correct foot position during the downbeat of the freestyle flutter kick?
- Dorsiflexed (toes pulled toward shin)
- Plantar flexed (toes pointed) (Correct answer)
- Neutral/flat
- Internally rotated with toes touching
Correct answer: Plantar flexed (toes pointed)
During the downbeat, the feet should be plantar flexed (toes pointed) to present the top of the foot to the water as a propulsive surface.
Question 7: A coach observes a swimmer crossing the centerline with each arm entry in freestyle. What common problem does this indicate?
- Insufficient hip rotation
- A dropped elbow during recovery
- Overreaching across the body's midline, which causes lateral body sway and inefficiency (Correct answer)
- Excessive kick width
Correct answer: Overreaching across the body's midline, which causes lateral body sway and inefficiency
Crossing the centerline during entry causes the body to sway side-to-side (snaking), which increases drag and disrupts the propulsive force direction.
ASCA Swimming Technique & Stroke Development 4
When coaching breaststroke, what is the 'glide' position and how has modern racing technique modified its use?