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
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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