ASCA Swimming Technique & Stroke Development 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is 'active streamline' and how does it differ from a passive streamline?
- Active streamline uses muscle engagement to squeeze arms and body tightly together, while passive relies on gravity alone (Correct answer)
- Active streamline allows arm movement, while passive keeps both arms still
- Active streamline is used only during starts; passive is used during turns
- Active streamline means breathing; passive means holding breath
Correct answer: Active streamline uses muscle engagement to squeeze arms and body tightly together, while passive relies on gravity alone
An active streamline requires deliberate muscle contraction to squeeze the arms, head, and body into the tightest possible position, minimizing frontal drag more effectively than a relaxed passive position.
Question 2: In competitive butterfly, what is the legal breathing pattern regarding breath frequency?
- Swimmers must breathe every stroke cycle
- Swimmers may choose any breathing pattern but must breathe at least every two strokes
- There is no restriction; swimmers may breathe as frequently or infrequently as they choose (Correct answer)
- Swimmers may only breathe during the last 10 meters
Correct answer: There is no restriction; swimmers may breathe as frequently or infrequently as they choose
There is no FINA/World Aquatics rule restricting how often a butterfly swimmer may breathe; breathing frequency is a tactical and physiological choice.
Question 3: What does 'stroke tempo' refer to and how is it measured in coaching?
- The angle of the arm entry into the water
- The time in seconds for one complete arm stroke cycle, often measured with a stroke rate watch or counting strokes per minute (Correct answer)
- The depth of the underwater kick
- The speed of the flip turn
Correct answer: The time in seconds for one complete arm stroke cycle, often measured with a stroke rate watch or counting strokes per minute
Stroke tempo is the rate of the arm stroke cycle, measured as cycles per minute or seconds per cycle, and is a key variable in optimizing swimming speed.
Question 4: Which anatomical structure is most commonly stressed in swimmers due to the overhead pulling motion and internal shoulder rotation in freestyle and butterfly?
- Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)
- Supraspinatus tendon of the rotator cuff (Correct answer)
- Achilles tendon
- Medial collateral ligament (MCL)
Correct answer: Supraspinatus tendon of the rotator cuff
The supraspinatus tendon is frequently impinged or stressed in swimmers because of repetitive overhead pulling and internal rotation, leading to 'swimmer's shoulder.'
Question 5: A swimmer consistently drops their elbow during the freestyle pull, resulting in a 'sculling' or 'pawing' motion. What is the primary consequence?
- Increased propulsion due to a wider sweep
- Reduced propulsive force because the forearm and hand cannot push directly backward (Correct answer)
- Improved stroke rate at no cost to efficiency
- Better body rotation on each stroke
Correct answer: Reduced propulsive force because the forearm and hand cannot push directly backward
A dropped elbow means the hand pushes downward rather than backward, losing the large forearm surface area needed for an effective catch and reducing overall propulsion.
Question 6: In breaststroke, what is the 'outsweep' phase and what does it initiate?
- The final phase of the kick where legs snap together
- The initial widening motion of the hands from a streamlined position, which sets up the insweep and pull (Correct answer)
- The arm recovery above the water
- The head movement during inhalation
Correct answer: The initial widening motion of the hands from a streamlined position, which sets up the insweep and pull
The outsweep is the outward separation of the hands from the streamlined position, widening to shoulder-width to set the catch angle before the powerful insweep begins.
Question 7: What is the recommended strategy when a swimmer's stroke count per length increases significantly in the final 25 meters of a race?
- Encourage the swimmer to increase stroke rate to compensate
- Address aerobic conditioning and stroke efficiency under fatigue in training (Correct answer)
- Switch to a two-beat kick to conserve energy
- Reduce breathing frequency in future races
Correct answer: Address aerobic conditioning and stroke efficiency under fatigue in training
Rising stroke count at the end of a race indicates technique breakdown under fatigue, which is best addressed by improving aerobic capacity and practicing stroke-count control during race-pace sets.
ASCA Swimming Technique & Stroke Development 5
What is 'active streamline' and how does it differ from a passive streamline?