Swimming Scientifically Taught | Page 6

after the movements are accomplished in unison the pupil will find
this a very easy and restful stroke.
THE BACK AND DALTON STROKE
In teaching this stroke I revise both the back and the Dalton stroke with
the life-preserver on. After the pupil has covered a distance with the
back stroke, instead of making a turn to retrace, I show the pupil how to
revert to the Dalton stroke, thus avoiding the necessity of turning
around. When changing from the back stroke to the Dalton stroke the
legs should be brought together and the hands put straight to the sides
of the body; then either stroke can be continued. The next move is to let
a little air out of the life-preserver. The pupil then begins again on the
same strokes. After several trips up and down the pool more air is let
out, with more trips up and down the pool, and so on until there is no
air left in the preserver.
So slight will be the difference that the pupil will hardly notice it. As
long as the back is well hollowed, the upper part of the body will float,

but directly the body is doubled up the head and feet begin to sink, so
that the teacher must follow close after the pupil to make the pupil keep
the back well hollowed and the chest expanded. Beginners will be
surprized at the ease with which back strokes propel the body through
the water without any undue effort. To one who has never been used to
swimming without support it gives a wonderful feeling of exhilaration
to propel one's self through the water and then, when tired, to slowly
bring the arms back under water until the thumbs come together behind
the head and the knees are drawn up to the floating position, while the
pupil inhales deep breaths through the mouth, thereby sustaining the
body well up in the water.
THE BREAST STROKE
[Illustration: FIGURE 9]
The breast stroke has been handed down from an early Roman period.
It is the oldest of all strokes, but it is the hardest to learn properly, as
the head has to be supported clear of the water. Any part of the body
when held above water is dead weight, and as the head is all bone,
muscle and brains, it is the heaviest part. This is why, in using the
breast stroke, it is much harder to keep the mouth and nostrils above
water. The breast stroke is so universally identified with swimming that
every beginner wants to learn it. It is only on this account that I teach
the breast stroke.
[Illustration: FIGURE 10]
[Illustration: FIGURE 11]
[Illustration: FIGURE 12]
In order to make this stroke clear to beginners I have divided it into
four movements each, for the arms and legs. It is a good plan to
practise these movements first out of the water. Get the pupil to stand
behind, or by the side of, the instructor, and so follow the arm
movements. Let him start by having the palms of the hands together,
just below the chin, the elbows dropt down and within a few inches of

each other, as in Fig. 9. In the first movement shoot the arms straight
ahead, holding the hands together, as in Fig. 10. In the next movement
turn the hands till the palms are turned slightly out, with the thumbs
touching and pointed downward. In the third movement bring the
straightened out arms around in line with the shoulders, as in Fig. 11. In
the fourth movement bring the hands together till the palms touch, the
elbows being dropt, and the wrists touching the chest, as in Fig. 9.
When the pupil has become accustomed to using the arms, the leg
movements are taught, each leg separately. The heels are brought
together and the toes turned out. Then the left leg is drawn up to the
body, the knee turned out, as in Fig. 9. This leg movement is
simultaneous with the arm movement, as in Fig. 9. Then the leg is
kicked straight out sideways from the body and brought smartly back
alongside the other leg, as in Fig. 12. These two movements of the leg
are performed while making the one movement of the arm, as in Fig.
10. The arm movements from Fig. 10 to Fig. 11 are accomplished
while the legs are stationary, as in Fig. 11. Then the left knee is drawn
up, as in Fig. 9, while the hands are brought back to the chest, as in the
same figure.
After a little practise with the left leg, the same movements are
practised with the other leg and arms. It is hard to practise the arms and
both legs together out of water, as