When it comes to swimming, crawl is usually meant. This is the fastest and easiest style for swimming in both indoor and outdoor pools. However, the simplicity of the crawl is rather arbitrary.
What is a crawl?
A crawl is a way of swimming on the chest and back. Alternate swing-strokes are performed with the hands, as well as the shifting and spreading of the legs. If we make comparisons, then the arms will resemble the wings of a mill or the impeller of a steamer, and the legs will resemble ordinary scissors.
When swimming with a crawl on the back, almost the same thing happens - swinging arms and movements with "scissors" - legs. However, here the hands move from under themselves behind the head (on the chest, the opposite is true).
Leg movements
When crawling, the body should be stretched and located near the surface of the water. The pelvis is immersed in such a way that the feet remain submerged. The head is lowered into the water, the gaze is directed forward and downward. Since the swimmer needs to do rowing movements and breathe in air, he vibrates his body along the longitudinal axis to the right and then to the left.
Move your legs up and down (if you take a vertical plane). The beginning of these movements occurs in the hip joint, the continuation - in the lower leg, and they end with a lashing blow of the foot against the water, thanks to which the swimmer moves forward. In this case, the leg is extended first at the knee joint, and then at the ankle. All leg movements should be performed rhythmically, but freely.
Hand movements and breathing
As for the arm movements, they can be divided into two phases. First, a stroke is made in the water, then a sweep over the water. The hand is lowered into the water, slightly bending at the elbow and turning the palm down. In this case, the hand should fall in front of the shoulder.
Crawl swimming is following the sequence of diving: hand - forearm - shoulder. After almost completely straightening the arms in the water, they switch to rowing movements. The swimmer captures the water with the hand, and with the arm bent at the elbow, forms a rowing surface. When the main part of the stroke comes, the elbow is brought to the body, and the hand is quickly moved back. In the final stage, the arm is straightened, the hand passes next to the thigh.
Carrying your hand over the water plays an important role. First, the elbow is raised, then the shoulder and hand. The arm bent at the elbow joint is freely carried over the water. The stroking movements with the hands themselves are done in turn - when the stroke ends with one hand, the second enters the water.
To crawl correctly also means to breathe correctly. Air is inhaled when the head is turned to the right or left, at the end of the stroke with the hand. After inhaling, the head must be returned to its original position. The exhalation is done when the face is lowered into the water.
