Entry For Skills--Competitive Swimming--August 07

Entry For Skills
Swimming Training For August

Participants: Thomas

Overview:
- Techniques for Freestyle

Venue: Geylang East Swimming Complex (Mon, Wed)

Date: 1/8, 6/8, 13/8, 15/8, 20/8, 22/8, 27/8,
Hours completed: 18 hrs

After the competition, we rested for about 2 weeks before returning back to the normal routine and training. As our results were not up to expectations, we needed to work even harder in preparation for the next competition. We had to push ourselves even further to achieve better results as compared to our current timings. Thus, the coach decided to start off by teaching us the correct techniques to our strokes as every little detail accounts for a great difference in our speed.

Starting off with freestyle, he begin with the techniques for the upper body. First of all, our arms had to stretch out straight and reach forward in order to stretch and glide well in the water. Secondly, our fingers had to be closed up at all times to ensure that we pull through the water with maximum force and thus result in a greater distance moved as we glide through the water. Thirdly, we had to ensure that our hands do not cut into the water surface when reaching forward as our arms enter the water to pull ourselves forward. It has to enter the water surface with grace and try to stretch forward. This is to also ensure that we glide through the water with a greater distance covered. As an indicator to whether we are performing the strokes with accuracy, there should be minimum splashing of the water when we sprint through a lap of 50m.

Going on to our lower body, our feet would have to be constantly kicking to ensure that we are still moving in the water when our arms are not pulling. In order to kick and move with maximum distance covered, our feet would have to move like a dolphin or in a wave motion to push us forward and cover an extra distance. We would also have to ensure that our feet does not bend inwards as it would instead cause the swimmer to be pulled backwards and slowed down tremendously.