Do instinctive movement patterns hinder your swimming or are you swimming without stress?

Answer these 10 questions to find out.

1. You’ve just finished gliding in breast stroke and want to get your head out to breathe.
Which part of your body do you move first?
a/ arms
b/ head
c/ middle of back

2.Your hand enters the water in front crawl. What do you do next with your arm?
a/ pull straight back as soon as possible to create forward movement
b/ keep arm going forward until it is fully extended
c/ move it towards the mid line of your body in line with the crown of your head

3.You get in the water at the end of a stressful day
Do you?...
a/ Float like a jelly fish or glide and think about your breathing
b/ Start swimming lengths straight away to warm up
c/ Wait for the red or black hand to touch the top of the pool clock

4.In backstroke, when your hand enters the water behind your head
Do you?...
a/ pull it straight back to your hip
b/ let it rest there for the moment
c/ take action to avoid the water going over your face

5.What do you think about head position when swimming prone?
a/ the waterline should be at the middle of the forehead
b/ the eyes need to be looking forward to see
c/ the neck needs to be relaxed with the head supported by the water

6.You feel great when…
a/ you’ve carried out a movement in the water in a new way
b/ you’ve had a great workout and you’re exhausted
c/ you were the fastest person in the pool that day

7.When you take your head out of the water for air do you
a/ make a special shape with your mouth and suck the air in
b/ continue letting air out
c/ keep your mouth closed to stop water getting in and when you’ve cleared the surface, open it to breathe in.

8.When kicking in front crawl or backstroke…
a/ the legs must be straight
b/ there has to be some bending of the knees
c/ the toes need to be pointed

9. In frontcrawl arm recovery which part of your body leaves the water first?
a/ elbow
b/ thumb
c/ little finger

10. The part of your body you think about most in the water is
a/ your arms
b/ your lungs
c/ your neck

If you’re swimming without stress you probably answered:
1/ b
2/b
3/a
4/b
5/c
6/a
7/b
8/b
9/b
10/c

If you have any questions arising from this exercise, visit the Swimming without Stress Advice Centre:  http://advice.swimmingwithoutstress.co.uk/sws/your-questions.shtml