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Swimming Pool Information: Swimming Styles
Competition styles
There are four swimming styles commonly swum in competitions. Three of
them are regulated by the FINA. These three are:
Breaststroke
Backstroke
Butterfly stroke
A fourth competition is for unregulated styles and is called freestyle.
During freestyle, it is possible to swim any style on this list. Due to
the superior speed, most swimmers choose front crawl for freestyle
competitions. For medley swimming freestyle is any style except
breaststroke, backstroke, and butterfly.
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Recreational styles
There are a large number of different recreational swimming styles,
commonly known among swimmers as strokes. Some of them are swum on the
breast, some on the back, and some on the side. Of course, all the
competition strokes can be swum recreationally.
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On the breast
Front crawl is the fastest swimming style.
Trudgen (also known as trudgeon): The trudgen is similar to the front
crawl, except that it is swum with a scissor kick
Trudgen crawl: Similar to the trudgen, but with a flutter kick between
the scissor kicks
Double trudgen: Similar to the trudgen, but the sides of the scissor
kick alternate
Double trudgen crawl: Similar to the double trudgen, but with a flutter
kick between the scissor kicks
Dolphin crawl: Similar to front crawl, but with a dolphin kick. One kick
per arm or two kicks per cycle. This style is often used in training.
Catch up stroke: A variation of the front crawl where one arm always
rests at the front while the other arm performs one cycle.
Total Immersion is a version of front crawl in which body rotation is
emphasised to increase the propulsive effect of the arms.
Breaststroke
Heads-Up Breaststroke: Similar to the breaststroke, but the head stays
out of the water. This style is very popular for recreational swimmers
and also for rescue swimmers approaching a victim.
Butterfly
Slow butterfly (also known as moth stroke): Similar to butterfly, but
with an extended gliding phase, Breathing during the pull/push phase,
return head into water during recovery. This style uses four kicks or
more per cycle.
Dog paddle: face over water and paddling alternatingly with the hands,
often with the nose and mouth above the water.
Human stroke: Similar to the dog paddle, but the arms reach out more and
pull farther down.
Survival travel stroke: Alternating underwater arm stroke, one cycle for
propulsion, one for lift to stay on the surface. This style is slow but
sustainable.
Snorkeling: Swimming on the breast using a snorkel, usually in
combination with masks and fins. Any stroke on the breast can be used,
and there is no need to lift or turn the head for breathing.
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On the back
Backstroke (also known as back crawl)
Elementary backstroke: Both arms move synchronized with a small
synchronized kick. This is also sometimes known as the Lifesaving Kick
Inverted breaststroke: Similar to elementary backstroke, but with a
breaststroke kick.
Inverted butterfly: Similar to elementary backstroke, but with a dolphin
kick. This is often used for training.
Back double trudgen: Similar to the backstroke, but with a scissor kick
to alternating sides.
Flutter back finning: Symmetrically underwater arm recovery with flutter
kick.
Feet first swimming: A very slow stroke on the back where a breaststroke
movement with the arms propels the body forward feet first. This is
often used for training.
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On the side
Side stroke: Lying on the side with alternating underwater recovery and
a scissor kick
Overarm sidestroke: Similar to the side stroke, but with an over water
recovery of the top arm
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Other
Corkscrew swimming: Alternating between Front crawl and backstroke every
arm. This leads to a constant rotation of the swimmer. The stroke is
used mainly for training purposes
Underwater swimming: any style with underwater recovery can be swum
under water for certain distances depending on the need for air.
Underwater swimming on the back has the additional possibility of water
entering the nose. The swimmer can breathe out through the nose or wear
a nose clip. Some swimmers can close their nostrils with the upper lip.
Gliding: The swimmer is stretched with the arms to the front, the head
between the arms and the feet to the back. This streamlined shape
minimizes resistance and allows the swimmer to glide, for example after
a start, a push off from a wall, or to rest between strokes.
Turtle stroke: on the breast, extend right arm then pull, after pushing
with the left leg (while opposite limbs are recovering), then opposite
limbs repeat this process, i.e. left arm pulls after right leg pushes.
Uses muscles of the waist. Head can easily be above or below water: this
is a slow but very sustainable stroke, popular with turtles and newts.
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Special purpose styles
A number of strokes are only used for special purposes, e.g. to
manipulate an object (a swimmer in distress, a ball), or just to stay
afloat. (see also: Drowning)
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Manipulating objects
Lifesaving stroke: Similar to the side stroke, but only the bottom arm
moves while the top arm tows a swimmer in distress
Lifesaving approach stroke (also known as heads-up crawl): Similar to
the front crawl, but with the eyes to the front above the water level,
such as to observe the surroundings as for example a swimmer in distress
or a ball
Water polo stroke: This stroke is used for water polo and is similar to
front crawl, but with head above the water and a slightly inward curved
arm to keep the ball between the arms and in front of the head.
Pushing rescue stroke: This stroke helps assisting a tired swimmer: The
tired swimmer lies on the back and the rescuer swims a breaststroke kick
and pushes against the soles of the tired swimmer
Pulling rescue stroke: This stroke helps assisting a swimmer in
distress. The both swimmers lie on the back, and the rescuer grabs the
armpits of the swimmer in distress and performs a breaststroke kick (on
the back) for forward motion. The kick has to be not too shallow as
otherwise the victim will be hit.
Pulling rescue stroke (unconscious victim): Similar to the pulling
rescue stroke, except the rescuer holds the head by the cheeks and
underneath the chin, and ensures that the mouth and nose are out of the
water
Pulling rescue stroke (uncooperative victim): Similar to the pulling
rescue stroke, except that the victim is uncooperative, e.g. due to
panic. To reduce the danger to the rescuer, one arm of the victim is
twisted on the back to restrict movement and to bring the victim in a
favorable position for transport. The arm may be twisted with one or
both hands depending on the circumstances, and an eventual available
hand may pull the victim by his shoulders or his chin.
Shoulder pulling rescue stroke: Both swimmers are on the breast, and the
victim hangs from the shoulders of the rescuer. This stroke works only
with a cooperative victim, and has the advantages that the rescuer can
use both hands and arms for a forward motion using breaststroke. The
breaststroke kick should be very deep to avoid kicking the victim in the
stomach. The victim can also perform a breaststroke or flutter kick. The
victim must keep his shoulders in the water and must not push the
shoulders of the rescuer down.
Clothes swimming: The swimmer is wearing clothes that restrict movement
when wet, i.e. almost all clothes. This is done to practice situations
were the swimmer fell in the water dressed or the rescuer did not have
time to undress. Due to the restricted movement and the weight of the
wet clothes over water (weightless under water!) an overarm recovery is
not possible. Most swimmers swim breaststroke, but any stroke with
underwater recovery is feasible.
Rescue tube swimming: The lifeguard pulls a flotation device, which is
pushed forward when approaching the victim.
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Without forward motion
Back floating (also known as dead man float): Lying on the back with
minimal leg movement, and staying afloat with the natural buoyancy. Only
the face is over the water. This style is only to stay afloat and to
rest.
Survival floating: Similar to the back floating, except on the breast.
The head is raised periodically for breathing. This is very useful for
observing objects in the water using a mask or goggles. Often in
combination with a snorkel
Treading water: The swimmer is in the water heads up and feet down.
Different kicks and hand movements to stay afloat. This is useful to
keep the head out of the water for a better view or to catch an object
as for example in water polo.
Sculling: This is a figure 8 movement of the hands for forward motion or
upward lift. Use in surf lifesaving, water polo, synchronized swimming
and treading water.
Wikipedia Excerpt