Stroke Mechanics and Analysis Flashcards

A Water Safety Instructor observes a swimmer whose head lifts excessively high during every breath in the front crawl, causing their hips to drop. Which of the following is the most effective cue to correct this error?

Answer: "Keep one eye and one ear in the water when you breathe."

Lifting the head to breathe causes the hips and legs to sink, creating significant drag. The correct technique involves rotating the head to the side with the body, keeping the head in line with the spine. The cue "Keep one eye and one ear in the water" encourages this rotation rather than an inefficient lifting motion.

During a breaststroke, the power phase of the kick should ideally be timed to occur:

Answer: as the arms are extending forward into the glide.

The correct sequence for the breaststroke is often described as "Pull, Breathe, Kick, Glide." The propulsive force from the whip kick occurs as the arms are recovering and extending forward, driving the body into the streamlined glide phase.

Which of the following describes a common mechanical error in the back crawl that reduces propulsion?

Answer: The elbow bends and drops deep in the water during the pull.

In the back crawl, dropping the elbow during the pull (power phase) reduces the effective surface area of the hand and forearm pushing against the water. A correct pull maintains a high elbow position, allowing the swimmer to "catch" more water and generate greater force.

You are analyzing a swimmer's butterfly stroke. You notice their timing is off, and they appear to be struggling to get their arms out of the water for the recovery. What is the most likely cause of this issue?

Answer: The swimmer is performing only one kick per arm cycle.

The butterfly stroke requires two kicks for each arm cycle. The first kick occurs as the hands enter the water, and the second, more propulsive kick occurs during the finish of the arm pull. This second kick provides the lift needed to help the upper body and arms clear the water for recovery. A single kick per cycle removes this critical lifting force, making recovery difficult.

A key component of an efficient freestyle (front crawl) is body roll. What is the primary purpose of this action?

Answer: To facilitate a more powerful pull and an easier arm recovery.

Body roll, originating from the hips and core, is crucial for an efficient freestyle. It allows the swimmer to engage larger back and core muscles during the underwater pull, increasing power. It also helps the recovering arm to clear the water more easily and facilitates a lower-profile breath.

When analyzing the arm action of the elementary backstroke, what is the correct sequence of movements?

Answer: Arms bend, bringing hands to the shoulders, then extend to the side before pressing down to the hips.

The elementary backstroke arm motion is a resting stroke with a distinct sequence. The hands are brought up the sides of the body to the armpits/shoulders (like a chicken), extended out to the sides (like an airplane), and then pressed down towards the feet to provide propulsion. This is often taught with cues like "Chicken, Airplane, Soldier" or "Tickle, T, Touch".