Question

Explain the teaching stages of front crawl stroke.

Answer 1

1. Body position: Begin with a streamlined prone position. The swimmer lies flat on the stomach, arms extended in front beside the ears, and legs stretched behind with toes pointed. The waterline is around the hairline.
2. Arm action: Practise alternating arm strokes. One arm pulls and pushes through the water while the other recovers. Teach the components in sequence: entry, catch, pull, push, release and recovery.
3. Leg action: Teach the flutter kick, with the legs moving alternately up and down from the hips. One leg kicks downward as the other moves upward. Keep the toes pointed and use relaxed, controlled movements. The kick helps maintain a horizontal body position and reduces drag.
4. Lateral breathing: Turn the head to the side of the pushing arm to inhale through the mouth as the arm begins recovery. Return the face to the water and exhale, mainly through the mouth and partly through the nose. Practise breathing regularly, usually once during each arm cycle.
5. Body roll: Practise rotating the body around its long axis with each arm stroke. The shoulder of the recovering arm rises above the pulling arm’s shoulder, helping the pulling arm reach deeper and supporting a high-elbow recovery.