Swimming: Stroke Development Breaststroke

Elite Pulling Pattern
From the stretch position press the water with your hands outwards and downwards pushing your upper arm, forearm, wrist and hand out sideways just wide of the shoulders and no more than twice shoulder width. The hands then lead the forearm in a downwards and inwards circling action bringing the hands close together under and in front of the chin on the water surface with hands facing each other, continue with immediate recovery of the hands forward to the starting position for the next stroke cycle. The palms of the hands must be continually fixed on the water as a continuous scull rather than a pulling action. The complex breaststroke pull has three main phases, Out-Sweep, In-Sweep & Up-Sweep and Recovery.

a) The Out-Sweep Phase will occur with the palms of the hands facing outwards at approximately 40 degrees and fixed in the water approximately 20 centimetres below the water surface. The hands are pushed outwards to no more than twice shoulder width. During the out-sweep, the hands will have a projection of outwards and slightly upwards towards the water surface.

b) The In-Sweep Phase is more powerful than the outsweep. Apply twice as much power during the in-sweep phase of the stroke. Do not pull the hands too far back during the in-sweep, simply change the angle of your hands from 'Out' to 'In' and bring hands together at approximately 40 degrees through the water once again. Hands, forearms and elbows are pressed in towards the chest with the pitch of the hands lifting up to the water surface. You will be lifted clear of the water surface by this action due to the generated power. The in-sweep produces the most propulsion within the stroke cycle. As the handsm come together during the in-sweep the breath is taken with the face well clear of the water surface. Hands, forearms and elbows will always remain in front of the chest. Do not allow the elbows to finish wide outside the body line.

c) The Recovery Phase. Following the in-sweep and simultaneously, the hands are pushed forwards at very high speed. This is called the 'Recovery Phase' and is executed with the hands starting almost on the water surface and travelling to approximately 20cm below the surface and rising again at the front of the stroke as you stretch forwards. The hands will finish at a 40 degree angle in the water with palms facing outwards and fixed in the water just below the surface, arms will be fully extended in a streamline position ready to start the out-sweep once again.

Turns
Always touch the wall with both hands. Lift the knees towards the chest and plant your feet on the wall as the hands make contact. Push one hand forwards cutting underwater and point this arm in the direction you wish to swim. The trailing arm will move over the water surface and start to cut into the water, at which point you will start to push off the wall with your legs. With both hands underwater hold a streamlined position following the push off. Stay underwater to execute one arm stroke and pull back past your hips, the hands are then pushed forwards close to the chest to the front of the stroke. As the hands recover the kick is executed and sends the body to the surface in the stretch position before you resume full stroke.

Dive
Stand firmly on the poolside with toes around
the front edge. Place hands to the side or front of
the legs; Hands & Fingers will secure body
position with body weight very slightly forwards
Dive out down the pool to full stretch; At the
highest point of the dive drop the head toward s
the water surface, the whole body then enters
through the same point of contact on the water
surface which the hands, arms and head has cut
as if you were diving through a hoop; Come out
of this position and into a streamlined position
following entry into the water in order for the
body to become streamlined; Hold a streamlined
position underwater and execute one
breaststroke arm pull past your hips and one full
leg kick as the hands recover forward s
underwater, the head then breaks the water
surface to breath, ensure the leg kick helps the
body to the water surface. It is possible to find
greater speed whilst underwater due to good
s t reamlining and momentum. A slightly deeper
dive is required for breaststroke giving depth to
achieve the pull and kick action. Never dive into
shallow waters.

Kicking Action
Recovery of the feet from the extended position is achieved with the knees bent drawing the heals up close to your seat and bringing the knees in line with the hips little more than hip width apart. Both feet then flatten and turn out into a frog like position, kicking back, round and slightly downwards with your soles pressing on the water until the legs are almost straight. The feet will be pointed as they finish together and the legs fully extended.