Synchronized Swimming

History

Synchronized swimming which is also known as water ballet is first inspired from one of the founding father of USA, Benjamin Franklin and while he was swimming in The Thames river he performed a certain type of a swim which he called "ornamental Swimming" for the entertainment of observers (History of Synchronized Swimming, n.d.). 

However later on the first water ballet was held in Berlin in 1891 and the credit for inventing the today well known sport, 'Synchronized Swimming" is given to an Australian born actor and swimer Annette Kellerman where she was a champion swimmer, diver and practiced ballerina (History of Synchronized Swimming, n.d.). 

What is Synchronized Swimming?

Synchronized swimming which have close relationship with swimming mainly combines elements of swimming, dance and gymnastics and it will help to develop special water skills, strength, flexibility, timing and team work (Synchronized Swimming, 2012).

Retrieved from https://www.google.com.my/search?tbm=isch&hl=en&source=hp&biw=1280&bih=675&q=synchronizes+swimming&gbv=2&oq=synchronizes+swimming&aq=f&aqi=g-sS1&aql=&gs_l=im

The Sport

When consider it as a sport synchronized swimming, the athletes who compete are trained and choreographed to music and usually a team consist of 8 members (Synchronized swimming, n.d.). There are solo, duet and team events and the swimmers are graded on a scale of 0 to 10 on their performance and during a routine swimmers will do a list of elements, combination of figures and different swimming strokes (Synchronized swimming, n.d.).

  One of my first performance did for
school swimming pool opening.
Me  at the right

A bit of my experience

During my school years i have participated in several synchronized swimming group performances. I followed synchronized swimming more as a hobby than a sport and personally not mastered as much as swimming. However synchronized swimming is some thing i enjoyed doing and it helped me to improve my rhythmic skills apart from my music lessons. I participated in several water ballets done by my school team for openings of pools and swimming meets for entertainment. In my opinion synchronized swimming is not a easy sport to do but a very good one to polish your team work skills and relax your mind. 

Last performance me and my team did
for school inter-house meet.
Me in the right standing.

Me in the right corner 

  

Reference list

History of Synchronized Swimming. (n.d.). Retrieved from 

         http://synchroswim.isport.com/synchronized-swimming-guides/history-of-synchronized-swimming

Synchronized swimming. (n.d.). Retrieved from

         http://library.thinkquest.org/J002862/swimming.htm

Synchronized Swimming. (2012). Retrieved from

         http://www.coquitlamsharks.org/synchronized-2

Fear of Swimming

Why some fear swimming?

When it come to swimming some people fear even to get in to the water and this fear of swimming is a natural psychological reaction to many people because humans are land occupants swimming doesn't come naturally to many (Ireland, 2011). Moreover the main reason to fear swimming is not enough confident or doesn't know how to swim very well. However this situation can be deadly if you find your self in deep water without the ability to swim. 

Therefore it is called Aquaphobia, where some one suffering from an abnormal and persistent fear of water (Bailey, 2009). Furthermore people who suffer from aquaphobia go through anxiety when ever they see water in such places like sea, pools and lakes and they generally avoid  activities like swimming or boating (Bailey, 2009). However some may be able to be in shallow water but fear when the water is above their neck.

How to overcome the fear?

To overcome this fear of water first of all you need to build confidence. This is Important to do before starting to take swim lessons. According to Bailey (2009), it is advice to spend some time around the water or in the water so that it will help to reduce and slowly remove the panicky feelings and make it easier when taking swimming lessons later on. Furthermore one of the best way to get in to the water is to find a partner who is good in swimming or not suffering from the same problem because then you will feel less anxious or scared to go deeper (Bradley, 2012). When their is another person with you in the water you will be confident and aware that there is a helping hand next to you if any thing goes wrong. 

Retrieved from http://www.examiner.com/
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According to Bradley (2012), one of the important thing is water can support the body weight and it allow you to float but you need to know how to hold your self in water. Basically you can spend some time near the wall of the pool and walk along the edge of the pool. so then comes the swimming lessons where you can learn how to hold your body in a floating position. 


Therefore in my opinion and experience each and very person try swimming for the first time will face some fear. During my first lessons of swimming the coach was training us how to float and i took many weeks than all my friends just to put my face in the water. However i was lucky that i didn't had to go through major fear like aquaphobia since from very young age i use to pools. 

Reference list

Bailey. E. (2009). Aquaphobia: The fear of water. Retrieved from     

       http://www.healthcentral.com/anxiety/c/22705/71074/aquaphobia-water

Bradley.M.(2009). How to overcome your fear of swimming.

        Retrieved from http://www.healthguidance.org/entry/12947/1/How-to-Overcome-Your-Fear-of-   

        Swimming.html

Ireland.J.(2011). Fear of swimming. Retrieved from http://www.livestrong.com/article/467043-fear-of-    

        swimming/

Swimming and Health

Swimming is a sport that benefits in many ways and helps a person in any age to enjoy, relax and exercise at the same time. Furthermore it is a healthy activity that can be carried out for a life time and it works all the muscles in the body with out much pain. Swimming can develop the strength, cardiovascular fitness and stamina (Luebbers, 2012).

Therefore swimming can improve and benefits a person's cardiovascular system, when it improves the body's use of oxygen without overworking the heart (The lifescript editorial staff, 2006). According to the same article when the swimmer able to swim longer the heart rate and respiratory rate will be reduce and it make blood flow to the heart and lungs more efficiently. 

If a person training regularly swimming can helps a person release stress and if you having an injury then swimming can help to keep up your regular exercise. Lots of work out sessions specially kicking or water aerobics will help if a person having an injury because the weight of the body is not pounding directly on that person (Luebbers, 2012).  Moreover since swimming have a low risk of injury there's no stress on bones, joints or connective tissues. In addition low risk of  injury helps the older people to relax stiff muscles without weight carrying (The lifescript editorial staff, 2006).

Also spending some time in a group workout such as water aerobics or even swimming practices   is great for socializing and relax your mind and it will helps to focus more on rhythm making life more refreshed and active (Luebbers, 2012). 

Therefore as mentioned above and according to Health Benefits of Swimming (n.d.), some major benefits that helps a person's health can list as below. 

- It helps to maintain the blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

- Reduce the risk of stroke, heart attack and diabetes.

- Improves the flexibility and boost up physical activity.

- Good work out choice for pregnant woman and injured or people suffering from arthritis and back pain.

- It can be used as a warm-up and cool-down activity.

- With regulated breathing it can give a soothing effect on mind and body of a person. 

Reference list

Health Benefits of Swimming. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.iloveindia.com/fitness/swimming/index.html


Luebbers, M. (2012). What's Good About Swimming: Some of the health benefits of swimming. Retrieved from

         http://swimming.about.com/od/swimworkouts/a/swim_bnefit.htm

The lifescript editorial staff. (2006). The health benefits of swimming. Retrieved from

        http://www.lifescript.com/diet-fitness/articles/t/the_endless_health_benefits_of_swimming.aspx


WVUHealthcare. (2010, August 9). Swimming Benefits-WVU Health Report [Video file]. Retrieved from
         http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNyQHbV522k

Competitive Swimming tips

The Dive or the Start

When i started to swim most of us was beginners and learn  step by step basics of the four main strokes. One unforgettable memory that i have is my first dive from deep end of the pool. When we were ready to start lap swimming my coach ask us to try a start from the other side of the pool where it was not the comfortable side yet that time for many of us and some fear diving from the deep end. Therefore the coach's tactic was to push in to the water which ever kid who refuses to dive so that they wont be fear of deep waters and swimming any more in their lives. However we all mange to dive on that day due to fearing more the coach than the water and after i went through my first try i wanted over and over again and till today i enjoy diving in to a pool when ever i enter. 

In competitive swimming the start or the dive takes up an important place. There are two main types of starts namely the traditional grab start and the new track style start or the track start (Luebbers, n.d.). The grab start is where the both toes of the swimmer together and forward on the block and some swimmer tend to get a grip using their toes. This style of starting is an easier way for the beginners and it will gets off the swimmer quicker from the block. On the other hand the track start is where the swimmer place one foot forward and one foot back and this start may gets the swimmer off the block little slower but it will gets you out further (Luebbers, n.d.). When it comes to backstroke the dive is a bit different. You get in to the water first and start the dive while you are inside the water. First place you toes together on the wall and hold up the bar on the block to get a starting grip, then pull up your body as much as you can while your toes on the wall pointing out from water. If your back slightly touches water and body is above the water when you pull up it's perfect, then bring the head forward and tucking as much as you can between your legs and push off from the legs and when takes off stretch the body push the head backwards with the body and arms and enter with your hands first ( Britt, 1993). 

The track strart
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The grab start
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Backstroke dive
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Backstroke start
http://www.featurepics.com/FI/Thumbs300/
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Few rules to remember

During competitive swimming events rules and regulations are also important. So i will share some most common rules that you should follow when doing the events. When swimming freestyle swimmers may not push or stand on the bottom of the pool or pull on the lane ropes and when finish have touch the wall with one hand (iSport, n.d.). According to the same article when swimming backstroke swimmers must be on their backs till the race ends and they touch the wall with one hand. In breaststroke swimmers are not allowed to pull their hands down pass the hips and end the race with touching the wall with both hands together and the in butterfly also the finish is with both hands together on the wall (iSport, n.d.). The other common disqualification rules that meets will follow according to Competitive Swimming Rules and Regulations (2010), are as below, 

- Start before the starting signal

- Swimmer did not cover the whole distance

- No contact with the wall when turning

Reference list

Britt, C. (1993). The Backstroke Start. Retrieved from htttp:// www.usms.org/

          articles/articledisplay.php?a=96

Competitive Swimming Rules and Regulations. (2010). Retrieved from

          htttp://247swim.com/category/competitive-swimming-rules-and-regulations/

iSport Swimming. (n.d.). Swimming Rules and Regulations. Retrieved from

          http://swim.isport.com/swimming-rules-regulations/

Luebbers, M. (n.d.). Swimming start technique for a masters swimmer. Retrieved from

          http://swimming.about.com/od/startandturntechnique/qt/track_grabstart.htm