Question

Explain the teaching stages of back crawl stroke.

Answer 1

1. Body position: The swimmer lies flat on the back in a streamlined supine position. Extend both arms over the head beside the ears and both legs behind, with toes pointed. Keep the face out of the water and the hips just below the surface.
2. Arm action: Practise alternating arm strokes. Each arm pulls and pushes through the water from back to front, while the other arm recovers above the water with a straight arm. Teach the sequence of entry, catch, pull, push, release and recovery.
3. Leg action: Move the legs alternately up and down from the hips. One leg kicks downward while the other recovers upward. During the upbeat, the knees are flexed and the toes pointed; during the downbeat, the legs are kept straight and the toes relaxed.
4. Breathing: Since the mouth and nose are usually above the water, breathing is relatively easy. Practise taking a breath once during each arm cycle while maintaining a steady stroke.