1938-39

SWIMMING
Learning and Practice
The stroke should be learnt by executing the arm and leg move-
ments separately, and afterwards combining them. Out of the
water the leg action can be performed by lying across a stool or
form, and in a bath by holding the rail, with elbows pressed to
the side, and later by supporting the hands in front of the chin on
a water polo ball.
The first attempt at co-ordinating arm and leg actions can be
made out of the water as above. Whilst learning the stroke the
swimmer should practice it very slowly, and when the movements
can be made in the correct order and with reasonable accuracy,
long distances should be swum slowly. No attempt should be made
at first to get speed ; this will follow naturally.
The swimmer may at first experience stiffness in the muscles
which are called upon to perform unusual movements, but this
should be only temporary if the stroke is being executed correctly.
BACK CRAWL
In learning the back crawl it is best to master the leg action before
proceeding further, and this part of the stroke will, therefore, be
dealt with first.
Leg Action
There is no prescribed number of beats in the leg thrash of the
back crawl and the swimmer can employ six, eight, ten or even
more, according to his natural tendency. The length of each beat
is equal but the actual measurement depends on the height of the
swimmer and the number of beats which he finds most suitable to
employ whilst the arms are making a complete revolution each.
The length varies, according to these circumstances, between 6 and
16 ins.
When one leg is moving upwards, the other should be moving
downwards, and vice versa, with similar speed and energy ; the
legs should be controlled from the hip (most of the leg work being
done by the thigh muscles), and should be kept fairly straight with
a slight bending at the knee. The feet should be straightened in
line with the leg. There should be a little play at the knee and
plenty of action at the ankles.
In carrying out the thrash, lower the leg from the hip ; when it
has nearly reached the end of the downward movement, the knee
should be bent slightly, so that the toes are still a little lower in
the water; at this moment—when the foot is at the lowest extremity
of the downward beat—the toes of the other foot should be just
breaking the surface. The upper leg is then lowered without any
pause, and the lower leg kicked upward with equal force and speed
till its toes just break the surface. The knees should not break the
surface.
Poise
The body should be kept straight, the head being lifted just
high enough to enable the eyes to see the toes when they break
the surface ; the neck muscles must, however, be kept relaxed all
the time.