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.
Former Member
But... It is the arms and where they enter and how they finish that makes the legs come up. Make sure each shoulder clears the water as you recover your arms and over reach with your hands, it surprising how your legs will come to the surface with ease.
I have noticed a lot of backstroke swimmers clenching their teeth, relax the jaw it helps.
George Park www.swimdownhill
I agree, calling it backstroke does not help !
The very first thing that i tell new swimmers in my club is not to think of the stroke as swum on your back.
The only time that you are fully on your back is when pushing off the wall underwater in the start or turn at all other times your body is rolling from one side to the other.
Here, in the learn to swim programs, teach the kids to stay flat on the back and kick up and down ( leg kick ) and flat on back, circle arms. Then they expect the kids to make the leap to good body rotation linked with arm action.Their drill progressions are all wrong.
Most every young kid i get Hates backstroke. I have to spend a few weeks teaching them to get on their sides and rotate well. Eventually they learn to love the stroke.
Have you tried using a half filled cup of water balanced on your forehead ? With a bit of practice you can keep it in position when swimming full stroke and when swimming 1 arm only, and body roll drills with arms at sides.
If the cup spills, you have allowed your head to move. I swim this myself and i will do all the drills with the cup balanced and then work on speed development to where i am sprinting at max.
It is great fun especially for the kids.
:)
What have you put on your forehead for "the balance drill"????
Try a steaming cup of McDonald’s coffee. This way, even if you fail at the drill, you can sue for million$$.
And I’m with Gareth on this one; I’d like to see this balancing act of a duck, in a cup, on a board on a buoy!!!
"Have you tried using a half filled cup of water balanced on your forehead ? "
OK here is a backstroker's game...
What have you put on your forehead for "the balance drill"
Myself: cup of water, a rubber duck, 1/2 pullboy, kickboard...
feel free to add on...
I once saw a guy balance a glass of Coca Cola on his forehead while he was on his back, he tipped it and it drained into his mouth and he drank it, no hands. I am going to search my old programs from the Hamilton Christmas swim program and find his name. He had another glass on his stomach and one in each hand and he drank them all...
George Park www.swimdownhill.com
