Swimming types - The sidestroke and the breaststroke

The Sidestroke

The sidestroke is a relaxing swimming technique, probably best for long-distance swims and for rescue work. As the name implies, the swimmer lies in the water on whichever side is more natural and comfortable. With one ear in the water, he extends his underarm ahead of him along the surface of the water, and the upper arm alongside the top leg. At the beginning of the stroke, the reaching hand is cupped slightly and swept down to the front of the breast. At this point it meets the other hand which meanwhile has been slowly brought up in front of the chest, the hand moving edgewise to reduce water friction. At the meeting position, the force of the pull is transferred to the other cupped hand, which pushes down along the body to the top of the upper thigh. As this motion is being performed, the lower hand is returning to its extended position. The position of the “start” is held during the glide portion of each stroke.

The leg action, a scissors kick, is started with the feet together. They are moved toward the hips. When they are up as far as they can come comfortably, the feet are separated, the top leg moving forward, the lower leg backward. After the legs are separated as far as possible, they are snapped

together from this spread position in one continuous motion -in effect as i a pair of scissors was being closed. Breathing is usually effected by inhaling as the legs come together and exhaling as they separate.

The Breaststroke

This is another valuable long-distance stroke. In it, both hands must be pushed forward together from the breast, on or under the surface of the water, and brought backward simultaneously and symmetrically. The body should be kept perfectly on the breast and both shoulders in line with the surface of the water. The feet should be drawn up together, knees bent and open. The movement is a continued rounded and upward sweep of the feet, bringing the legs together. In competition, up and down movements of the legs in the vertical plane are prohibited. One part of the head should always break the surface of the water. There are 2 forms of leg action which may be utilized in the breaststroke-the whip kick and the frog kick.

In the whip kick, the stroke starts with the legs fully extended. Then the heels are drawn up toward the hips, and the knees separated just about the width of the hips. When the knees are drawn up just below the hips, the feet are turned outward, toes toward the knees, and are moved to the side until they are separated beyond the width of the hips. In a continuing motion, the feet are pressed back and down, making a circle, until the feet return to the starting position.

The frog kick starts with legs extended and feet together. Then the feet are drawn toward the body, knees spread. The legs are extended until they are in line with the thighs, and are then snapped together with a motion originating at the hips. The action of the knees and feet must always be on a level plane, with no up and down motion.

The arm action starts with arms extended overhead, palms down, and hands together. Palms are pressed outward and back slightly down until the hands are in line with the shoulders. Elbows are brought to the side, and the forearms and hands under the chest and neck. In a continuous motion, the hands are extended forward beneath the surface to the starting position. The face may be kept up at all times in this stroke, or if it is submerged on each stroke slightly, one should inhale as the head comes up when the hands are pressing down and back.

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