Learning to swim freestyle or the front crawl is not as difficult as learning to swim other competitive swimming strokes. It doesn't require as much timing or rhythm as the butterfly and breastroke, and it is a more natural movement than the backstroke. The technique of freestyle swimming can be compared to other sporting movements such as throwing a baseball and kicking a soccer ball. Before you try to learn freestyle, make sure that you are comfortable in the water and know how to float or tread water in case you can't execute the stroke properly.
Step 1
Watch other people swimming freestyle so you know what you are trying to emulate. Look at pictures and videos of freestyle swimming. Focus on the head position, and pay attention to the movement of the feet and legs. Notice how the swimmers take breaths by turning their heads to the side, and note how the swimmers are constantly moving their arms.
Step 2
Learn how to do the kick that is paired with the freestyle stroke. The kick is a simple fluttering of the legs and feet. It is similar to kicking a soccer ball, but it originates from the hip and the knee remains straight. The kick is constant, with no pauses. Try to do the kick in the water while holding onto the edge of the pool. Allow your legs to float to the surface of the water, and try to create a splash behind you by alternating your legs.
Step 3
Learn the freestyle arm stroke. The arm stroke is done by alternating your arms one at a time. Move your arms similar to the way you would move them in throwing a baseball. Your arm moves in a full circle from above your head in line with your shoulder to down and fully extended in front of the shoulder. The hand exits the water by your hip and reenters the water fully extended from the shoulder.
Step 4
Put the entire stroke together. The arms and legs both alternate, but not at the same time. The feet are constantly kicking and the arms are constantly pulling through the stroke. When one hand enters the water, the other is exiting the water. When the feet stop kicking, your body will start to sink, so it is important to keep them moving. When you need to breathe during the freestyle stroke, turn your head slightly to the side so your mouth is out of the water. You should not lift the head at all but just rotate your chin to your shoulder. The breath should be taken when one arm is pulling over your head and the other is pulling under your body.
Tips and Warnings
- The freestyle stroke is the core of most swimming workouts, and once you have mastered it, your swimming can move to the next level.
- Never swim alone or without a lifeguard watching you.
Member Comments