I know their are many factors why some people are freestylers or breastrokers or flyers or backstrokers. Body type is one factor and interest is another. I wonder about the influence of first coaches as a kid, my first coach ran a swim school and she was on the Dutch National team in the early 1940's. She was a breastroker and seem to emphisized the kick in the stroke.So she practice the kick with me and of course breastroke was one of my beststrokes during the age group period and in masters its my best stroke as an adult when I returned in my 40's. So does anyone else agree that first coaches in either age-group or novice swimming or masters swimming influences the strokes we tend to be better at.
Parents
Former Member
I'm don't think it has everything to do with coaching at an early age. It sounds like a cop-out to say that there are as many reasons as there are swimmers, but I think that's true. I swim fairly competitive workouts now, and I did in high school and college, but I never swam competitively. I'm probably best at freestyle, though backstroke is my favorite. Breaststroke used to be my favorite back when I was young and foolish and thought it was easier.
I'd guess that many non-competitive swimmers would be better at freestyle, because it's the most common stroke. But it depends a great deal on past experience, current enjoyment, and frequency of practice. My butterfly is my worst stroke, but if I worked at it enough, even at the old age of 33, I'd probably turn it into my best stroke.
Just my humble $.02.
Adam
I'm don't think it has everything to do with coaching at an early age. It sounds like a cop-out to say that there are as many reasons as there are swimmers, but I think that's true. I swim fairly competitive workouts now, and I did in high school and college, but I never swam competitively. I'm probably best at freestyle, though backstroke is my favorite. Breaststroke used to be my favorite back when I was young and foolish and thought it was easier.
I'd guess that many non-competitive swimmers would be better at freestyle, because it's the most common stroke. But it depends a great deal on past experience, current enjoyment, and frequency of practice. My butterfly is my worst stroke, but if I worked at it enough, even at the old age of 33, I'd probably turn it into my best stroke.
Just my humble $.02.
Adam
