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The Principles of Movement in The Water

The document outlines the principles of movement in water, emphasizing the importance of understanding buoyancy, gravity, and resistance for effective swimming instruction. It details various types of resistance swimmers face, such as profile, skin, and eddy resistance, and highlights foundational skills like breath control, balance, and body position. Key takeaways include mastering these principles and skills, minimizing resistance, and committing to continuous improvement through practice.

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Zephaniah Grace Rayo Carias
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255 views10 pages

The Principles of Movement in The Water

The document outlines the principles of movement in water, emphasizing the importance of understanding buoyancy, gravity, and resistance for effective swimming instruction. It details various types of resistance swimmers face, such as profile, skin, and eddy resistance, and highlights foundational skills like breath control, balance, and body position. Key takeaways include mastering these principles and skills, minimizing resistance, and committing to continuous improvement through practice.

Uploaded by

Zephaniah Grace Rayo Carias
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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The Principles of

Movement in the
Water
A basic understanding of how the body moves in water is needed for
teachers to be able to plan effective activities for their swimmers.
Buoyancy and Gravity

Buoyancy Gravity
Buoyancy can be described as the Gravity can be described as the force
power of a fluid to exert an upward that attracts objects towards the
force on a body placed in it. earth.
Resistance in Water
Water creates more resistance to a person than air does. It is very important that every effort is made by teachers and their
swimmers to minimize resistance when swimming.

Profile resistance (frontal) Frontal or Lateral Resistance


(form / wave drag)
This resistance is influenced by the shape of the body, a
swimmer with a large cross-sectional area will create This resistive force acts where the air and water meet
more resistance. and has a large impact on the overall resistance
experienced by the swimmer.

Skin Resistance (surface/viscous Eddy Resistance (tail drag)


drag)
Movement of water has a tendency to create eddy
As the body moves, the water exerts a frictional force currents which are caused by the water filling in behind
on the layer of fluid next to the body which slows it the swimmer as they move forwards, this tends to pull
down. the swimmer back.
Examples of Resistance

Profile Resistance Frontal or Lateral Resistance


A swimmer with a poor body position in any stroke presents A swimmer performing front crawl enters the hand palm
a very large surface area to the water, causing greater down, and presses straight down, instead of thumb, first
resistance. finger first with the arm extended forwards.

A swimmer who performs a push and glide with one hand on


top of the other, elbows straight and body horizontal will be
subject to only a small amount of resistance.

Skin Resistance Eddy Resistance


A swimmer wearing long baggy shorts will experience more A swimmer performing front crawl with the face out of the
viscous drag. water creates a large hole behind the body and legs causing
eddy currents to work in opposition to the swimmer.
Foundational
Principles of
Swimming
With buoyancy, there are also other foundational principles that help
swimmers develop a successful range of swimming strokes: breath
control, balance and body position.

Breath Control Balance

Body Position
Breath Control
BREATH CONTROL during swimming means inhaling when the face is either
raised or titled, just breaking the surface, and holding your breath or blowing
bubbles while your face is submerged in the water. Rhythm while doing this is
key. One runs the risk of taking water in through the nose or mouth during
swimming. While this is a risk, it's not dangerous but just unpleasant.

1 Inhale
Face raised or tilted, breaking the surface

2 Hold Breath
Face submerged in water

3 Exhale
Blow bubbles underwater
Body Position
BODY POSITION while swimming means maintaining length by keeping the body and limbs long. Think
about reaching for the opposite ends of the pool, and about keeping your body just below the water's
surface. Develop your core strength with dry land training.

Maintain Length
Keep body and limbs long

Reach
Aim for opposite ends of the pool

Stay Just Below Surface


Keep body positioned near the water's surface

Develop Core Strength


Use dry land training to improve body position
Balance in Swimming
A stronger core will improve your ability to BALANCE is an essential foundation for efficient swimming. This skill means being
in total control of the head, torso, and limbs, and really thinking about where these body parts are in relation to each other.
When swimming on your front, think about pushing your chest and lungs "down" to keep your hips up. Think about your pull,
kick, and if your core muscles are engaged. maintain the correct body position.

1 Core Strength

2 Body Awareness

3 Proper Technique

4 Efficient Swimming
Reducing Resistance
There are a number of ways to reduce resistance:

Horizontal body Streaming Smooth controlled


position actions

Well-fitting swimwear Wave reduction


Key Takeaways
Understand Water Principles
1
Buoyancy, gravity, and resistance

Master Foundational Skills


2
Breath control, balance, and body position

Minimize Resistance
3
Proper technique and equipment

Continuous Improvement
4
Practice and refine skills

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