I've been swimming all my life, but never proper strokes. Recently I've begun learning the correct strokes but I'm having trouble with my crawl stroke. I watch other swimmers go back and forth flip turning as they come to end. I can't do more than 50 yards before I'm completely out of breath. I know I'm in better shape than that because I can swim breaststroke back and forth just fine, so I assume I'm not breathing correctly. Does anyone have any suggestions on how I can breathe better and how to have enough air after the flip turn to continue?
Also, I feel like I don't go anywhere when I kick unless I have fins (I have the blue zoomers). Any suggestions for improving the crawl kick? I kick across the pool, but I go v e r y slow.
Feeling a little discouraged... :(
Thanks for any advice you guys have got!
Lisa
Parents
Former Member
I know kickboards are unpopular with 'technique coaches,' but I can think of two reasons to use them:
1) I can work my legs much harder when I don't have to worry about breathing. Non-kickboard breathing puts my mouth in a very risky position for choking, particularly when the water is rough. Is vertical kicking really a substitute, especially when times to complete a distance can by used to measure effectiveness of the kick, or progress in leg stamina?
2) Kickboards aid in socialization on easy kicking sets.
Finally, is this 'no-kickboard ever' advice also for swimmers who already have reasonably good form? Is there some fatal stroke flaw that will be introduced by occasional use?
I know kickboards are unpopular with 'technique coaches,' but I can think of two reasons to use them:
1) I can work my legs much harder when I don't have to worry about breathing. Non-kickboard breathing puts my mouth in a very risky position for choking, particularly when the water is rough. Is vertical kicking really a substitute, especially when times to complete a distance can by used to measure effectiveness of the kick, or progress in leg stamina?
2) Kickboards aid in socialization on easy kicking sets.
Finally, is this 'no-kickboard ever' advice also for swimmers who already have reasonably good form? Is there some fatal stroke flaw that will be introduced by occasional use?
