Front Crawl Swim

Front Crawl Swim  #

Introduction  #

The Front 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. . Front Crawl is a method of traveling through the water in a proneProneSituated on the front, or ventral, surface of the body with the face and chest downward. position (i.e., positioned on the front) 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 front, in general, provides visibility to avoid hazards, determine one’s bearings, and orient to safe locations. Front Crawl, when mastered, is recognized as the fastest and most efficient method of swimming and is commonly used in situations that require speed or traveling for longer distances.

Description  #

The Front 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 Front Crawl Swim Description  #

Body

  1. Body positioned on front
  2. Shoulders and hips at or near surface
  3. Head, neck, and spine in line

Arms

  1. Arms move alternately and continuously

Stroke cycle

  1. Start with arm extendedExtendFor limbs – to fully straighten and reach towards or away from something. For joints – to straighten, not flex.
    overhead, at or just under surface
  2. Initiate backward arm movement by bending elbow so that forearm and palm face toward feet
  3. Press forearm and palm straight back alongside or under body
  4. Straighten elbow to finish with arm near side
  5. Bend elbow to initiate lifting arm out of water
  6. Return arm above surface to extended overhead position, at or just under surface

Legs

  1. Legs continuously alternate vertical movements within hip width; as one leg moves down the other 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. Start downward leg movement from hip allowing knee to bend slightly
  2. Straighten knee to accelerate downward motion of lower leg and press with top of foot
  3. Finish downward movement of leg when knee straight and heel slightly deeper than front of hip
  4. Raise leg up with knee straight until heel reaches or just breaks 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.

Front 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 back, on side, or under the surface
  • Keeps trunk angle, from shoulders to hips, more than 45 degrees

2

Performs all of the following:

Distance

  • Swims mostly on front for at least 3 yards

Body

  • Keeps shoulders 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 shoulders to hips, more than 30 degrees

Arms/Stroke

  • Does not use alternating arm movements
  • Does not start stroke cycle with hand overhead
  • Finishes stroke cycle before hand reaches chest level

Legs/Kick

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

3

Performs all of the following:

Distance

  • Swims mostly on front for at least 5 yards

Body

  • Keeps shoulders at or near the surface with trunk angled 30 degrees or less

Arms/Stroke

  • Uses mostly alternating arm movements
  • Starts stroke cycle with hand overhead
  • Finishes stroke cycle with hand at or past chest level
  • Returns hand to overhead position

Legs/Kick

  • Uses mostly alternating up and down leg movements

Exhibits any of the following:

Body

  • Rotates shoulders or hips past vertical to breathe

Arms/Stroke

  • Does not start stroke cycle with hand at or just under the surface
  • Does not press palm back toward feet
  • Finishes stroke cycle before hand is near or past hip level

Legs/Kick

  • Moves knee under or in front of hip during kick cycles; such as a bicycle kick
  • Does not finish downward leg movements with knee mostly straight
  • Does not finish upward leg movements with foot near the surface

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 front for 10 yards

Body

  • Keeps shoulders at or near the surface with trunk angled 30 degrees or less
  • Keeps shoulders or hips from rotating past vertical while breathing

Arms/Stroke

  • Uses alternating arm movements
  • Starts stroke cycle with hand overhead at or just under the surface
  • Presses palm back toward feet
  • Finishes stroke cycle with hand near or past hip level
  • Returns hand to overhead position

Legs/Kick

  • Uses alternating up and down leg movements
  • Keeps knee behind hip throughout kick cycles
  • Finishes downward leg movements with knee mostly straight
  • Finishes upward leg movements with foot near the 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
  • Keeps head positioned with face below the surface and back of head above the surface between breaths

Arms/Stroke

  • Uses continuous arm movements
  • Starts stroke cycle with arm overhead, at or just under surface
  • Presses forearm and palm straight back alongside or under body
  • Returns arm above the surface to overhead position

Legs/Kick

  • Uses continuous leg movements
  • Kicks with ankles loose and feet mostly pointed
  • Starts downward leg movement from hip
  • Finishes downward leg movement with knee straight
  • Keeps knee straight during upward leg movement
  • Finishes upward leg movement with foot near the surface; heels may break the surface

Breathing/Timing

  • Performs one or more kick cycles per stroke cycle

6

Performs score of 5 plus the following:

Body

  • Keeps shoulders at or near the surface with trunk angled 15 degrees or less
  • Keeps head positioned with ear or cheek on or just under the surface while head is rotated to breathe

Arms/Stroke

  • Starts stroke cycle with arm extended overhead, at or just under surface
  • Bends elbow so that forearm and palm face back toward feet
  • Straightens arm to finish stroke cycle with arm near side
  • Bends elbow to lift arm out of the water to initiate return of arm to overhead position

Legs/Kick

  • Kicks equally between legs
  • Allows knee to bend slightly at beginning of downward leg movement
  • Straightens knee during downward leg movement to press down and back with top of foot
  • Finishes downward leg movement when knee is straight
  • Finishes downward leg movement when or before heels are slightly deeper than front of hip

Breathing/Timing

  • Exhales below the surface
  • Turns head to side to breathe
  • Turns head to same side as stroking arm
  • Returns face below the surface before arm re-enters and returns to extended overhead position
  • Keeps a mostly consistent stroke while breathing; minimal deviation in body position, arm actions, and leg actions
  • Maintains a regular breathing pattern