Does anyone have any suggestions on what I can do to prevent my legs from dropping as I attempt to backstroke? I learned how to swim last year, but I did a lot of faking it by not really using my legs that much. This year I want to do it right so I can't seem to make both my arms and legs move at the same time.
Parents
Former Member
Here is a radical concept --or not:
Despite having the name "backstroke" you don't swim it on you back...
Here is what I mean, you are rotating from one side to the other as you are propelling yourself down the pool. Very little of the stroke is preformed on one's back. The big thing to understand is that swimmers who are not comfortable swimming backstroke do not rotate enough on their sides --while really good/great backstrokers seem like they over rotate their bodies.
The secret to all this pretzel swimming is that the head stays stationary and everything from the shoulders downward is rocking and rolling. The arms should come to the midline of the body on recovery and enter in with a swish felt by the ear. The back is always slightly arched and hips pushed out of the water --this will bring the legs up.
All this will be very exhausting at times but keep trying and watch the Olympics and just keep noting how they do it and bring some pointers into the pool for yourself!
Good luck!
Ali
Here is a radical concept --or not:
Despite having the name "backstroke" you don't swim it on you back...
Here is what I mean, you are rotating from one side to the other as you are propelling yourself down the pool. Very little of the stroke is preformed on one's back. The big thing to understand is that swimmers who are not comfortable swimming backstroke do not rotate enough on their sides --while really good/great backstrokers seem like they over rotate their bodies.
The secret to all this pretzel swimming is that the head stays stationary and everything from the shoulders downward is rocking and rolling. The arms should come to the midline of the body on recovery and enter in with a swish felt by the ear. The back is always slightly arched and hips pushed out of the water --this will bring the legs up.
All this will be very exhausting at times but keep trying and watch the Olympics and just keep noting how they do it and bring some pointers into the pool for yourself!
Good luck!
Ali
