If you are a swimmer that would like to participate in competitions, you need to learn how to do the breastroke. While it really is a very complex stroke to learn, it is important to learn how to do it properly. If you can be more efficient at the breastroke, you will learn how to improve your times and win a lot more races.
The best place to start is to find out whether or not you are doing a proper breastroke. Check out the breastroke for beginners article on our site. It’ also very helpful to work with a coach or swimming teacher to guarantee that you’re performing the breastroke correctly. They’ll be able to pinpoint any small mistakes which might be hindering your progress.
We spoke with Emily Emily of Lapeer, Michigan, who is a competition swimmer and sixteen years old. Emily currently holds the school’s record when it comes to the 100M breastroke. She related the fact that most swimmers aren’t as efficient as then can be as they swim. “Keep your elbows out whenever your arms are moved towards your chest. This movement can help you maintain your momentum for your next stroke forwards.” This should push your shoulders above the water. Also, Emily mentioned that some swimmers don’t use their feet effectively. “The better you do this, the faster you will be.”
The main force forward during the breaststroke swim is generated by gliding. At this point, the arms and legs of the swimmer should be held together tight at the end of each stroke. In order to have a more powerful glide, it is essential to strengthen the legs for a more powerful kick. Emily often stretches her legs in order to make them stronger. She says you should hold each leg for a period of 10-seconds, release and then stretch the other leg. For each subsequent stretch, try to stretch further and for a longer amount of time.”
Stretch bands can also be helpful to increase strength and speed. Conduct your stretching exercises with these wrapped around your legs. For example, tie the ends of the band together and then wrap it around the ankles. If working outside the pool, sit down and try stretching your legs apart. You can continue to repeat this exercise as long as it is still comfortable to do so. These bands can be used while in the water as well. Tie each end of these bands together, and the other end around the thighs or ankles. Use a kickboard to practice the leg motion. The beauty of doing these exercises in the water is that not only will they strengthen your legs; it will also help you perfect your kick.
As you learn breaststroke in swimming, your legs will learn these motions more effectively if you kick widely. Competitive swimmers at the intermediate level, however, do not use a wide kick because it can add resistance as they move to the next stroke. When your kick is more narrow, each subsequent stroke will have less resistance working against it. The strength of your legs is critical to making your breastroke better, as Emily stated. You can also exercise by performing the lunge to improve leg strength. Stand up straight, and then move forward with one leg until your forward knee is bent at an angle of ninety degrees, moving your body downwards. Hold the position, then rise up and return again to the tall standing position. Repeat on your left leg. These exercises should be done at least three times a week, and you should do as much as 25 lunges per leg in order to strengthen your legs. Lunges should be immediately followed with leg stretches.
Other exercises should be used to help strengthen and stretch the arms, especially the triceps muscles. Triceps dips are excellent exercises to do just that: Sit on the floor with your legs in front of you. Now, lean your body backwards and extend your arms backward, resting your body’s weight on them. Lift your bottom off the floor simply by using your arms. Hold each lift before releasing for a count of 10.
Some experts believe, however, that the best exercise you can do that will help you to improve your breastroke is the breastroke. Every day, Emily swims with her team for at least two hours. Half of this time focuses on the breastroke. The more you do anything, the better you will be at it, she said. You can break down your practice to concentrate on various components. For example, try doing 10 length of just the kick (using a kickboard) or four lengths of the pull (the arms) can help strengthen weak spots while giving the other extremity a rest. Another area that Emily says her competitors need more work on is to practice the breastroke turn at the end of each length of the pool. During the breastroke, it’s vital that both legs and hands make contact with the wall. At that point, the swimmer should pull one arm back immediately in the other direction as the swimmer pushes off against the wall. At the point of the “push off”, the swimmer’s body should be streamlined and straight in order to achieve a powerful glide motion.
Just remember that while a strong push off is good, too much can be bad. Many swimmers have injured their knees during the breastroke while overdoing the push off segment of the stroke. The outer angles of your knees receive the greatest amount of force during your kicks. You need to learn how to listen to your body and if it begins to hurt you need to learn how to take a break from doing the breastroke all together, even if that means quitting it for 1-2 months while you heal. In the interim, do stretches and strengthening exercises. You can always practice alternate strokes as well.
While you are competing against others, it is important to put your focus on your own efforts during a race. Prior to the race, be certain to stretch, and don’t lose your confidence or calm. Once you’re in the water, don’t pay attention to what’s going on elsewhere. Never look to see how your competition is doing, and focus entirely on your own movements.
The best way that you can improve your breastroke is to focus your time and energy on the basic fundamentals of the stroke. If you learn how to practice and build up your strength and stamina wisely, listen to your body and take breaks when you need to, you could become an advanced breastroke swimmer.