CCSB 3212

SWIMMING SKILLS 2

SEM 1 2020/2021

THE FREESTYLE

(FRONT CRAWL)

NAME: MUHAMMAD AKIFF IEZAT BIN MOHD SHUKRY

MATRIC NO: 1729125

PHONE NO.: 017-2483453

SECTION: 1

TRAINER: MUHAMMAD AKRAM B. ABDUL RAHIM

RECEIVED BY: TOTAL MARKS:

SUBMITTED ON: 23/12/2020

WHAT IS THE ‘FREESTYLE’

In swimming, there are many types of swimming style or techniques such as

the backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly stroke and lastly the front crawl or freestyle.
However, for this assignment, we are only going to discuss on the freestyle or front
crawl technique. Freestyle is the most popular swimming style since the style itself is
the fastest technique in swimming compared to other swimming styles due to the
technique uses a combination of alternating arm strokes and leg flutter-kicks. 1

Furthermore, freestyle is referring to the style of swimming that the swimmer

can choose any of their own stroke when swimming. In addition, the freestyle
technique is the most efficient way of swimming since when performing this
technique properly, a longer distance can be covered during swimming without
taking too much energy due to the style require less body movement in performing
the said style. Moreover, since the freestyle technique allows the swimmers to swim
in any style that they wanted and gave the swimmers faster speed in swimming,
freestyle is the most popular style for amateurs and professional swimmers.

To add, the front crawl or freestyle is based on a swimming technique called

‘Trudgen’ in which evolved from the sidestroke technique. Furthermore, the front
crawl technique was further improved by an Australian swimmer, Richmond Cavill
that had used this stroke during the 1902 International Swimming Championship in
England in which he had set a new world record in swimming by completing a 100
yard swimming in 58.4 seconds.2

COMMON ERRORS IN FREESTYLE

In performing the freestyle or front crawl technique, most amateur swimmers

tend to make errors. The most common errors in performing the freestyle or front
crawl technique is the swimmer is looking forward during executing the technique in
which when looking forward, the spine of the swimmer is not aligned correctly in
which the hips of the swimmer will drop in the water and this forces the swimmer
spine to curve that can add more resistance in the water. From this, the swimmer
1
What is Freestyle Swimming? (2014, August 22). Retrieved from https://www.gogglesnmore.com/blog/what-
is-freestyle-swimming/
2
How to Swim: What is The Freestyle Swimming Technique? (n.d). Retrieved from
https://bluebuoy.com/swim-freestyle-swimming-technique/
can look down or looking forward at an certain angle during swimming in which can
help the swimmer hips to rise up to the water and this can help enable the swimmer
to swim without experiencing drag resistance during swimming.

Next, another common error that can be seen in swimmers during performing
freestyle or front crawl technique is swimming flat or the swimmer stomach always
faces the bottom of the pool during performing the said style. From swimming flat, it
can lead to serious shoulder injuries. From this, the swimmer can rotate their body
during taking each stroke by extending their arms until their body are rotating to the
side.

Moving on to the next common errors in performing the freestyle or front crawl
technique is the swimmer tend to bend their knees during swimming in which it will
cause the swimmers to be unable to propel or moves efficiently in which can cause
exhaustion to the swimmer. From this, the swimmer can instead, kick from their hips
and keeping their legs straight by executing small kicking and fast which will make
the swimmer legs straight during swimming.

For the next common errors are the swimmers tend to pull crooked or out of
shape in which the swimmers tend to weave their hand under their belly and point
their fingertips toward the wall of the pool. Moreover, this error always happened
when the swimmer breathes. From this, the swimmer needs to watch their hand
during pulling and their fingertips need to point straight down toward the bottom of
the pool.

Furthermore, when the swimmer breath, they need to think of pulling straight
and execute the pulling during swimming in which the said pulling must be straight.
For the last common errors, the swimmers often breathing late in which can affect
the stroke made. Most swimmers start their breath after their hand are outside the
water. From this, it can cause the swimmer to be unable to maintain balance during
swimming and can cause the swimmer to swallow water during swimming. However,
the swimmer can avoid this error by trying to breathe early when the swimmer hand
enters the water and during the start of the pull.

From these common errors during freestyle or front crawl, the swimmers can
try to avoid these errors by performing the said steps that had been mentioned in
which can help the swimmers to be better in performing the freestyle or front crawl
technique and also in swimming.

FREESTYLE KEY POINTS & IMPROVEMENT

For the freestyle technique, there are several key points that swimmers need
to take note in order to perform the said technique correctly. For the first key point,
during the front of the stroke, the swimmer needs to place their hand into the water
by entering with their fingertips first and their palm should be facing the bottom of the
pool. The swimmer wrist also needs to be slightly higher than their fingertips and the
swimmer elbow must be higher than their wrist.

Next, the swimmer must keep their elbow high during their arms entering into
the water and then the swimmer shall start to pull down through the stroke.
Furthermore, the swimmer needs to press down with their forearm and try to hold as
much water as possible during performing the stroke in which by extending one hand
which act as holding the water and the other hand will go out of the water.

Next, during pulling, the swimmer needs to point their fingers towards the
bottom of the pool and they also must keep the position of their elbow high. During
pulling, the swimmer also needs to pull their body past their arm and the swimmer
arm must be underneath their body when pulling down against the water during
executing the stroke.

Then, the swimmer needs to extend their arm at the back of the stroke and
push backwards when the swimmer hand exits the water. Moreover, the swimmer
needs to continue to bend their arm during the stroke and later, straightening their
arm slightly when their hand exits the water.

When the swimmer arm exits the water, the swimmer needs to bend their
elbow which will keep their elbow high towards the ceiling. Lastly, the swimmer
needs to extend their forearm to enter the water during at the front of the stroke.

Moving on to the improvement for the freestyle technique, the swimmer can
use power paddles or finger paddles in which can help the swimmer to improve the
positioning of their hands during executing the stroke in which when the hand enters
the water. Furthermore, the swimmer can always try to maintain a proper body
position during swimming in which will help the swimmer to swim with the least
amount of resistance in the water.

Next, the swimmer can try to extend their arms as far as possible during every
stroke. From this, it can help the swimmer to swim faster by making the swimmer
arm longer for pulling during the stroke in which will make the swimmer swim
efficiently and faster without having to execute many strokes during swimming. 3

Next, swimmers also may try to avoid bending their elbows towards the end of
their stroke and instead, try to pull out their arm out of the water early and extend the
arm all the way until the pull is finished. From this, it will help the swimmer to swim
more efficiently and more powerful without having to take many strokes during
swimming.4

Lastly, the swimmer can practice and try to improve on their kicking in which a
proper freestyle kick consists of a fast up and down and alternating motion of the
swimmer feet. From this, it will help the swimmer to be comfortable and familiar in
executing the proper freestyle kick.

From the key points or steps and improvement that had been mentioned,
swimmers may exercise the said steps to properly executes the freestyle technique.
In addition, swimmers also may try to improve their freestyle technique by exercising
the said tips that had been mentioned above.

PICTURES FOR THE STEPS IN EXECUTING THE FREESTYLE TECHNIQUE

3
5 Quick Tips to Improve YOUR Freestyle Stroke. (n.d). Retrieved from https://blog.tritonwear.com/5-quick-
tips-to-improve-your-freestyle-stroke
4
Ibid.
STEP 1

STEP 2

STEP 3
STEP 4

CONCLUSION
 To conclude, the freestyle or front crawl technique is the most popular
technique among amateurs and professional swimmers due to its freedom in
executing any strokes and the technique itself is the most efficient and faster
swimming technique compared to other techniques. Furthermore, freestyle or front
crawl technique involves only arm strokes and flutter kicks. Moreover, by practicing
the mentioned steps above, swimmers can execute the freestyle technique properly
and also can improve their technique by practicing the mentioned tips above.
However, swimmers also need to take note on the common errors in doing the said
technique or in general, in swimming in which may cause difficulties to the swimmer
in executing the said technique which is the freestyle or front crawl.

REFERENCES
What is Freestyle Swimming? (2014, August 22). Retrieved from
https://www.gogglesnmore.com/blog/what-is-freestyle-swimming/

How to Swim: What is The Freestyle Swimming Technique? (n.d). Retrieved from
https://bluebuoy.com/swim-freestyle-swimming-technique/

5 Quick Tips to Improve YOUR Freestyle Stroke. (n.d). Retrieved from

https://blog.tritonwear.com/5-quick-tips-to-improve-your-freestyle-stroke