Back Crawl Swim

Back Crawl Swim  #

Introduction  #

The Back Crawl Swim skill primarily develops Propulsion CompetencyPropulsion CompetencyPropulsion Competency is the knowledge, skill, and experience necessary to travel through the water using the movement of limbs in a controlled and efficient manner. Physical abilities associated with this competency include being able to perform gross and fine motor control patterns necessary to swim using different techniques in more than one body position. Cognitive abilities include determining which body position and technique is best suited for the conditions and circumstances of the task at hand, and an awareness of energy expenditure to regulate pace or speed. and contributes to the development of Breath Control CompetencyBreath Control CompetencyBreath Control Competency is the knowledge, skill, and experience necessary to breathe effectively in a controlled manner without using excessive energy, interfering with other movements, or compromising body position while in the water. Physical abilities associated with this competency include the physical exchange of air and keeping the body in a position at the surface so that the exchange of air can occur. Cognitive abilities include determining when to breathe and when to hold the breath. Affective abilities include responding to stimuli and situations in a calm manner with the face both above and below the surface of the water. . Back Crawl is a method of traveling through the water in a supineSupineSituated on the back, or dorsal, surface of the body with the face and chest upward. position (i.e., positioned on the back) and is characterized by the use of alternating arm actions and alternating leg actions that provide consistent propulsion, with each arm and each leg moving nearly in opposition to the other. Swimming on the back, in most situations, provides continuous access to air which allows for unrestricted breathing. Back Crawl is recognized as the fastest method of travel on one’s back and is used in situations when swimming on the back is desired due to less restricted breathing, but speed is also needed. It can also be modified for situations that require one to survey their surroundings in the opposite direction of travel by lifting one’s head while swimming.

Description  #

The Back Crawl Swim skill is defined by the following body posturePostureThe particular way the body is held while doing an activity. Mobility specialists define posture as the way you position your body or arrange your limbs, such as “to stand up straight with your shoulders back and your chin up.” , arm formsFormThe visible shape or configuration of something. Mobility specialists define form as an arrangement of the elements in a composition; the way something (or someone) is shaped or arranged. , leg forms, breathing, and timing characteristics and features.

Fundamental Back Crawl Swim Description  #

Body

  1. Body positioned on back
  2. Chest and hips at or near surface
  3. Head, neck, and spine in line
  4. Face above surface

Arms

  1. Arms move alternately and continuously; as one arm presses back the other arm returns to overhead position

Stroke cycle

  1. Start with arm extendedExtendFor limbs – to fully straighten and reach towards or away from something. For joints – to straighten, not flex.
    at side and palm facing hip
  2. Lift arm out of water to initiate movement to overhead position; arm remains straight
  3. Rotate arm so that palm faces out before hand re-enters; arm is straight and inline with body during re-entry
  4. Lower shoulder as arm reaches overhead so that arm is pointed slightly down
  5. Initiate backward arm movement by bending elbow and wrist, and by rotating upper arm at shoulder, so that forearm and palm face toward feet
  6. Press forearm and palm straight back; adjust bend in wrist as arm moves so that palm continues to face back
  7. Straighten elbow and wrist to finish with arm and palm near side

Legs

  1. Legs continuously alternate vertical movements within hip width; as one leg moves down the other leg moves up with minimal lateral movement
  2. Legs mostly straight and inline with upper body; hips mostly extended
  3. Ankles loose with feet mostly pointed

Kick cycle

  1. Press leg down with knee straight until top of foot slightly deeper than back of hip
  2. Start upward leg movement from hip allowing knee to bend slightly
  3. Straighten knee to accelerate upward motion of lower leg and press with top of foot
  4. Finish upward leg movement when knee straight and toes reach or just break the surface

Breathing

  1. Forward travel not halted to breathe

Timing

  1. Perform one or more kick cycles per stroke cycle

Assessment  #

Scoring  #

The following scoring rubricScoring rubricA guide that includes rating scales and descriptions of one or more criteria used to evaluate the performance of a skill. lists the gradients of key requirements and deficiencies that provide an overall description of different competence levels. A single score is assigned based on the instructor’s judgment of the student’s performance.

Back Crawl Swim Scoring Rubric  #

1

Exhibits any of the following:

Distance

  • Swims less than 3 yards
  • Achieves distance primarily due to a push-off or a jump

Body

  • Swims mostly on front, on side, or under the surface
  • Keeps trunk angle, from chest to hips, more than 45 degrees

2

Performs all of the following:

Distance

  • Swims mostly on back for at least 3 yards

Body

  • Keeps chest at or near the surface with trunk angled 45 degrees or less

Arms/Legs

  • Uses alternating arm and/or alternating leg movements

Exhibits any of the following:

Body

  • Keeps trunk angle, from chest to hips, more than 30 degrees
  • Keeps face mostly below the surface

Arms/Stroke

  • Does not use alternating arm movements
  • Does not bring hand up to or past shoulder level before starting pulls
  • Finishes pulls before hand passes chest level

Legs/Kick

  • Does not use alternating leg movements
  • Does not move legs down and up

3

Performs all of the following:

Distance

  • Swims mostly on back for at least 5 yards

Body

  • Keeps chest at or near the surface with trunk angled 30 degrees or less
  • Keeps face mostly above the surface

Arms/Stroke

  • Uses mostly alternating arm movements
  • Brings hand up to or past shoulder level before starting pulls
  • Finishes pulls with hand past chest level

Legs/Kick

  • Uses alternating down and up leg movements

Exhibits any of the following:

Arms/Stroke

  • Finishes pulls with arm away from side or before hand is near or past hip level

Legs/Kick

  • Bends hips with knee under or in front of hip
  • Does not straighten knee during upward leg movements
  • Does not finish upward leg movements with foot near the surface
  • Does not finish downward movements with hip mostly extended

Breathing/Timing

  • Does not breathe or halts forward travel to breathe
  • Does not use arms and legs at the same time

4

Performs all of the following:

Distance

  • Swims on back for 10 yards

Body

  • Keeps chest at or near the surface with trunk angled 30 degrees or less
  • Keeps face mostly above the surface

Arms/Stroke

  • Uses alternating arm movements
  • Brings hand up to or past shoulder level before starting pulls
  • Finishes pulls with arm at side and hand near or past hip level

Legs/Kick

  • Uses alternating up and down leg movements
  • Finishes upward leg movements with knee mostly straight and foot near surface

Breathing/Timing

  • Breathes without halting forward travel
  • Performs arm strokes and kicks at the same time

5

Performs score of 4 plus the following:

Body

  • Keeps head, neck, and spine in line

Arms/Stroke

  • Uses continuous arm movements
  • Recovers arm above the surface to bring hand up to or past head level before starting pulls
  • Finishes pulls with arm at side and hand near or past hip level

Legs/Kick

  • Uses constant leg movements
  • Kicks with ankles relaxed or with ankles and feet pointed
  • Flexes hip to press leg down and extends hip to raise leg to the surface; kicks primarily from hips
  • Keeps knee straight during downward leg movement
  • Finishes upward movement with knee straight and foot just under surface; toes may break the surface
  • Finishes downward movement with foot-depth between 1-2 times body thickness

Breathing/Timing

  • Performs one or more kick cycles per stroke cycle

6

Performs score of 5 plus the following:

Body

  • Keeps chest at or near the surface with trunk angled 15 degrees or less
  • Keeps face above the surface with ears below the surface

Arms/Stroke

  • Recovers with straight arms above the surface to 11 o’clock or 1 o’clock positions before starting pulls
  • Bends elbow during mid-pull
  • Straightens arm to finish pull with arm at side and hand at or past hip level

Legs/Kick

  • Kicks equally between legs
  • Bends knee slightly during initial upward movement
  • Extends knee to finish upward leg movement

Breathing/Timing

  • Maintains a regular breathing pattern