Swimming technique in general

According to the Swiss Federal Sports Commission (ESK) teaching materials for swimming, swimming technique is defined as follows: “A theoretically justifiable and practically tested way of performing a swimming movement.”

There are currently 4 classic swimming styles in the competitive discipline of swimming:

• Freestyle (swimming style free / mostly crawl)
• Back (back crawl)
• Dolphin (dolphin or butterfly)
• Chest (breast stroke)

In order to learn a specific swimming technique, it is an advantage to be familiar with the water, and representatives of the SSCHV, IVSCH and J&S have developed the Technical Core Model Swimming with the help of Arturo Hotz’s ideas. It says that grasping the four core elements leads to learning the core movements. These in turn can be further developed into a large number of target shapes (Figure 1). (From the inside to the outside)

Figure1

Gunther Frank (2002) explains the technical core model of swimming as follows:

The starting point in the technical core model of swimming is buoyancy and resistance, the essential properties of water for swimming. Any kind of movement in the water requires resistance to be met and overcome. Every use of buoyancy requires controlled (in)breathing. Any movement against static buoyancy is only successful with a streamlined body position.

Core elements:

All the core elements can be combined with each other and are primarily used for getting used to and mastering the water. -> Laying the foundation for the feeling of water.

• Breathing: As a natural process (process) also in water
• Float: For a good – primarily static – water position.
• Gliding: With a streamlined body position at and below the water surface (diving).
• Propulsion: Search for, use and overcome water resistance when moving.

Core movement:

Which complex movement structures resulting from these elements are essential for efficient swimming.

• Core movement arms: An in and out movement of arms and hands with elbows forward.
• Core movement-legs: A punching movement from the hips with the feet turned loosely inwards.
• Core movement-body movement/posture: A whole-body movement or stretch with the associated head control (also for diving down and up).
• Core movement breathing: Timed exhalation and inhalation (technique-specific timing).

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