1935-36

SWIMMING.
the palm of the hand being kept downwards. Carry the hand
forward again, until the arm is straight and ready to enter the
water. When the right hand begins to pull, the left should
be leaving the water on its own side and should then perform the
same movements as the right. The movements of both arms should
be made smoothly, without any jerk or pause and at the same rate.
Breathing.
One full breath should be taken with each stroke, inhalation
(breathing in) beginning when one hand or the other, as the
natural tendency of the swimmer dictates, is entering the water.
Supposing the swimmer finds it most convenient to turn on his
r, ght side to inhale, he should turn the head to the left, so that
the chin is parallel with the left shoulder, at the moment when
the right hand is entering the water; any water which may be in
the mouth or nose should be blown out and a full breath taken
through the mouth. The head is then returned to its normal
position and exhalation (breathing out) begun with the face under
water; the lungs are thus nearly empty when the right arm is
being recovered and inhalation begins again as the right hand
enters the water.
Leg Action.
In the leg thrash the movement is from the hip, the leg being
kept straight, but not stiff, the toes being in line with the leg and
slightly turned inwards. While the downward beat is being made
by one leg, the other should be brought to the surface with
equal force and speed; the foot of the former leg should be given
a flick at the ankle on making the downward beat.
The standard crawl stroke is a six-beat crawl, that is to say,
the legs make six beats—(one major beat, followed by two minor
beats, another major beat and two further minor beats)—while the
arms are making one revolution each. The length of the beat
varies according to the height of the swimmer, but as an average
the major beat may be taken as approximately twelve inches and
the minor beat eight' inches. The soles of the feet should just
break the surface, but the feet should not be lifted out of the
water.
Rhythm must be maintained throughout by co-ordinating
correctly the leg and arm actions. The first major beat is made
when one hand enters the water, and the second major beat when
the other hand enters; between each major beat are two minor
beats.
Learning and Practice.
The stroke should be learnt by executing the arm and leg
movements separately, and afterwards combining them. Out of
the water the leg action can be performed by lying across a stool
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