why head above the water when kicking with kick board?

That is truly funny...I would love it if my son's coach would do something like that. Funny story. A coach told me that when in college, her coach at the time got irritated that the swimmers were doing more socializing than kicking, so he asked them to hand him their boards, and he proceeded to break them in half and give half a board to each swimmer. With half a board, more work and less talking was required.

I always choose the oldest, most waterlogged kickboard with the least buoyancy. Those firm, new ones push my shoulders up too high and put too much strain on my lower back. I only place my hands lightly on it and usually have my face in the water most of the time. It is really just a little prop. Something to form the smallest amount of resistance against when I want to lift my head to breathe. Having said that, it probably isn't a good prop to have at all because it encourages lifting of the head as opposed to a rolling of the body initiated from the hips. I am guessing the best way to kick would be without a board at all. Arms stretched out in front, eyes to the bottom of the pool with a roll to the side when a breath is needed. This way, however, is definitely more tiring.

All the kickboards were being used by a kids' team my last workout. I grabbed a solid pull bouy and used that...MUCH easier on the neck and back because you can submerge it a little.

Haven't used a kick board for years. I do crawl kick on my side, fly on my back. seated back kick my head is out of the water my waist is bent usually called Krazelburg kick, or do regular back kick or one leg, and *** I hold on to pull buoy or just have hands in front. this is so much easier on my neck and lower back. I also don't use a pull buoy for pulling. I just cross my legs and let them drag. It is create on your butt because you have tokeep your butt muscles flexed in order to keep you legs up.