Swimming
Introduction
Swimming is one of the most healthful of sports. Nearly every muscle of the body is used and regular practice helps a person develop coordination and strength. Millions of people swim regularly in rivers, lakes, and oceans all over the world. Indoor-pools have made swimming a year round sport.
Beginner
The best place to learn swimming is in a pool, where supervision and coaching are easiest. The first thing a beginner should learn is how to float and thread water. Floating allows a swimmer to stay on top of the water with little or no effort, and it is necessary when swimming long distances. Treading water is something like walking in deep water.
Strokes
After the beginner has learned to float, the exciting part of swimming--learning the strokes--begins.
Breaststroke
This is the easiest stroke to use for long distances. It allows you to take a breathe during each stroke as you lift your head above water. In breaststrokes, your arms and legs bend deeply and then straighten out quickly to propel you forward.
Backstroke
Learning how to float on your back helps you to learn the backstroke, which is restful and useful in distance swimming its movements are similar to those of the crawl except that you are lying faceup in the water, so breathing is not difficult. Because you are on your back, your arms move in a backward circularmotion to help propel you forward.
Sidestroke
In sidestroke, your body is turned slide ways to whichever side is more comfortable, and your lower arm sweeps through the water in a forward circular motion. Using scissors kick, your legs separate, knees bent, and then come together and straightened out qickly to propel you forward.
Crawl/Freestyle
You can use the fluter kick as your arms alternate moving in and out of the water in a forward circular motion. You breathe as you lift your head above the water and exhale when your head is under water.
Butterfly stroke
Although classified as a breaststroke, the butterfly has arm movements similar to those used in the crawl, except that both arms make the stroke at the same time. You use what is called a dolphin kick--your feet move up and down in the water at the same time--during each stroke. The butterfly is used mostly in competition.