Swimming: Basic swimming skills, basic swimming
Strokes
Table of Contents
Swimming stroke is the method of moving the arms and legs to push against the water, and propel the swimmer forward. We shall further learn the basic skills in swimming. T
hese are:
1 Butterfly stroke
2 Breaststroke
3 Freestyle
4 Crawl
5 Backstroke
Basic skills in swimming Butterfly
1 This is the most difficult and exhausting stroke.
2 The body is in a prone position
3 It involves the dolphin kick with a windmill-like movement of both arms in unison.
Breaststroke
1 The body is in a prone position.
2 It involves frog kicking alternated with movement of the arms at the same time from a point in front of the head to shoulder level.
3 In a swimming competition, the swimmer’s head must be kept above the surface of the water at all times.
Freestyle
1 This is the style in swimming where any kind of stroke is used.
2 During a swimming competition, only 15 metres may be spent underwater from the start or from each turn.
Crawl
1 The body is in a prone position.
2 It involves alternating overarm strokes and the flutter kick.
3 The head remains in water, the face alternating from side to side.
Backstroke
1 It involves alternate over-the-head arm strokes and a flutter kick in a supine position.
2 During a swimming competition, only 15 metres may be spent underwater from the start or from each turn.
Strategies & Activities
Step: Teacher revises the previous topic
Step 2: Teacher introduces the new topic.
Step3: Teacher endeavors to explain all the points to the pupils thoroughly.
Step 4: Teacher welcomes pupils’ questions.
Step 5: Teacher evaluates the pupils.
Assessment & Evaluation
1 List five basic swimming strokes.
2 Describe the ways to perform the freestyle.
3 Demonstrate the following swimming strokes:
- a) The freestyle
- b) The crawl
- c) The breaststroke
- d) The backstroke
- e) The butterfly stroke
See also