There’s been so MUCH talk about Backstroke this past week due to the change in rules about the Backstroke Finish, but with that – we realized we haven’t spent much time dissecting the Backstroke Breakout. Here’s 3 Keys to make sure ALL your swimmers are doing as you’re practicing and perfecting Backstroke Breakouts:
Let’s get started!
1.) Get the Body Parallel to the Water’s Surface ASAP
It is extremely important that as swimmers transition their body from below water to above the surface, they do it SMOOTHLY and QUICKLY. Every swimmer wants to get their chest parallel to the water’s surface before they drive their head and shoulders out. Finding the point that the body does go parallel right under neath the water’s surface takes practice. Each swimmer should spend time finding their ideal number of Dolphin Kicks they are comfortably using to get their body parallel from a start or a turn.
If a swimmer breakouts out too early, their body will be at a sharper angle and trying to climb themselves up. If a swimmer waits to breakout too long, their whole body may already be out of the water as they are still trying to finish their Dolphin Kick count.
Number one way to work on getting the body parallel to the water’s surface is through working a consistent dolphin kick count. This kick count can be taking swimmers to the 15m mark or even less, but the goal is stay consistent (and perfect) their Backstroke Breakout with number of Dolphin Kicks they are using.
2.) Dolphin Kick into the FIRST Arm Pull
This is often an overlooked component of a Backstroke Breakout, but kind of goes into the same reasoning that swimmers would transition underneath the surface into a Dolphin Kick during the finish now. The first pull should happen entirely under the water, so as swimmers start to pull DOWN with their bottom arm – that pull should happen in conjunction with the last Dolphin Kick.
After the last Dolphin Kick is completed (and the first pull), you will see swimmers start Flutter Kicking themselves through the surface of the water and this point is where they body actually transitions up and through too!
Pull #1 and the last Dolphin Kick all happen under the surface. Check out the video below for a closer look:
3.) Roll the Body THROUGH the Water’s Surface
After swimmers complete the first pull, they should have already rotated the body to their side. So when they breakout, they’re breaking out with their shoulders stacked vertically. This helps reduce drag as swimmers are reducing the surface area of their own body because they are on their side.
Naturally, swimmers should start rotating with that first pull – but the goal is to time the end of the first pull with the first recovery OVER the surface of the water. So swimmers basically Dolphin Kick and Pull themselves out of the water and then, recover that same arm to get the body totally onto the surface of the water!
There is another style of Backstroke Breakouts called Tennessee Breakouts and this style of Breakout uses a bit more of rotational force and a top arm sweep – to help roll the body through the surface of the water. This type of Backstroke Breakout does the same thing in regards to rotation and keeping the body on its’ side through transition from below the water to above the water (see below):
Conclusion
Just like with any breakout, the goal in Backstroke is the same – keep the body moving forward through the transition and carry speed. That first stroke coupled with a Dolphin Kick is the strongest pull of any swimming race, so it’s imperative that every swimmer try to perfect it – especially for our lovely Backstrokers.
Until Time Next,
Abbie Fish
The post 3 Keys to a Perfect Backstroke Breakout: appeared first on Swim Like A Fish.
source https://swimlikeafish.org/3-keys-to-a-perfect-backstroke-breakout
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