L4: Aquatics: Swimming

Swimming

in recreation and sports, the propulsion of the body through water by combined arm and leg motions and the natural flotation of the body.

Swimming

popular as an all-around body developer and is particularly useful in therapy and as exercise for physically handicapped persons. It is also taught for lifesaving purposes.

Swimming

for everyone no matter what age or level of fitness.

Swimming

is the sport or activity of propelling oneself through water using the limbs. Any age can learn to swim and there is no age limit on when you can no longer ____.

Swimming

a lifelong skill that could save your or another's life. It is never too late to learn to ____.

Swimming

is an excellent way to keep fit and most ________ pools cater for all.

Competitive swimming

is an activity which involves swimming as its primary mechanism in competing which can either be individual or team based.

Recreational swimming

occurs when learning swimming and water safety is the main objective of the activity. It is often less structured than sessions designed to teach swimming and water safety,and may occur in a wider than usual range of environments.

Five Basic Skills in Swimming

1. Water Comfort

2. Breath Control

3. Floating

4. Kicking

5. Strokes

Water Comfort

The most basic and essential swimming skill is simply becoming comfortable in the water. Although humans are born with innate water skills, many people develop a fear of the water. To become more comfortable in the water, spend time in a shallow pool or wading in the ocean. Never enter the water alone, especially if you are not a strong swimmer.

Breath Control

begins with simple exercises such as drawing a breath, submerging, blowing bubbles and then resurfacing for another breath. As your swimming skills improve, you will learn specific breathing techniques for different strokes.Work with a swimming coach or a friend or relative who is a strong swimmer.y

Floating

or keeping your body in a horizontal position in the water, is a basic water skill. If you accidentally fall in the water, you may be able to float until you are rescued, even if you are not strong enough to swim to safety. Get lessons from a coach or a competent friend or relative.

Kicking

provides propulsion through the water. It is also used in treading water, which is the process of remaining in one place while keeping your head above the water line.

Strokes

are the arm movements used to pull the body through the water. The front crawl, sidestroke, breaststroke, backstroke and butterfly are the five most common. Each ______ uses different body positioning, techniques and arm breathing movements.

Different Strokes

1. Freestyle

2. Back Stroke

3. Breast Stroke

4. Butterfly Stroke

Freestyle

The _________ stroke is typically used for speed, as it allows for a streamlined movement that helps the body glide through the water. Also referred to as the"forward crawl", the body stays in the water during this stroke, while the arms and legs work in tandem to provide forward motion.This is often one of the first strokes taught in lessons, as it is easy to learn and is a good way to build up the upper body strength for strokes like the butterfly.

Back Stroke

The __________ is one of the most wellknown swimming strokes. Also referred to as the "racing backstroke", this is done by swimming on your back and swinging one arm at a time up over your head and back down behind your back,while kicking backward in a flutter kick.

Breast Stroke

is done on the stomach,with both arms in the water while the body is pulled backward. The arms then move in an arc shape in the front of the body while the legs do a frog kick. Out of all the swimming strokes, this may be one of the oldest.

Butterfly Stroke

is another stomach-position stroke, in which the arms move forward in a circle motion going above the head and directly into the water. Once the arms hit the water, the legs are kicked backward at the same time in what is known as a dolphin kick. It is known as the hardest swimming stroke to master.

Equipments for Swimming

1. Goggles

2. Fins

3. Kick Boards

4. Swimming Attire

5. Bathing Cap

Goggles

protect your eyes from chlorine (and anything else that may be in the water), and they help you keep your eyes open while you swim so that you can see where you're going.

Fins

fit on your feet and add propulsion to your kicks (think of a duck's webfoot). They are great training for your legs and will help you swim faster. They come in long fins for beginners who want to work on their stroke and build up leg strength and ankle flexibility and short fins to help you go faster without overworking your legs.

Kickboards

are devices made of foam or other materials that float, and they come in a variety of shapes and sizes. The main purpose is for you to hold on and stay afloat while your legs do all the work. It's good exercise for coordinating your kicking, and it gives your arms a rest.

Swimming Attire

Technology has entered the swimsuit arena as well. Fabrics are designed for minimal resistance through the water, they tend to last a long time, and they resist fading even when used repeatedly in chlorinated pools.

Bathing Cap

This can serve several purposes. Some pool managers will require individuals with long hair to wear caps to keep hair from getting into the pool, and some people just like to protect their hair from the chlorine in the water. You may also decide to wear a ___________ to cut down on resistance in the water. This really works, and so if you're looking to increase your time a bit, a ___________ might help.