Hot Swimming & Diving How-Tos

How To: Do the breast stroke faster and more easily

The breast stroke may seem like an afterthought at modern Olympics dominated by the Freestyle and IM events, but it still has two of it's own races and is a part of the IM and Medley Relays, so knowing how to do it well is still great for any competitive swimmer. This video, put together by one such person, offers great advice on all areas of the stroke, from the stroke itself to starts and turns. If you already do breast stroke and just need to get a little bit faster, this video has tips fo...

How To: Flip turn in three easy steps

In this video tutorial, viewers learn how to do flip turns in three easy steps. The first step is to be able to do a regular somersault. Begin by standing on the black line away from the wall and execute a flip. The second step is to stand at arms-length away from the wall and execute a flip without touching the wall. The third step is to execute a flip that is arms-length away from the wall. Land the feet on the wall and pause with hands above the head. This video will benefit those viewers ...

How To: Do warm up exercises for swimming

Watch this video for warm-up exercises you can do before you swim - or before any sort of workout - to build up your heart rate. By changing the plane of your body several times within the three-minute warm-up you'll force your heart to work harder, which means a bigger calorie burn.

How To: Do exercises to improve your swim speed

Without speed, you'd swim like a turtle at your swim club races, which is okay if you're into leisurely paced losing. Whether you're navigating away from a hungry shark who likes your "Family Guy" swim trunks or trying to finally snag that "First Place" trophy, speed is something you can always improve on.

How To: Swim in a triathlon

In order to swim in a triathlon, according to Jodie Swallow’s technique, you will need an efficient stroke. You will need to work on your turn over. Try to aim for 90 strokes per minute. Rhythm, flow, and momentum are key. You will want to find your rhythm and keep it throughout. Timing is important. Breathe at the same point of each breathing stroke. Flex your wrist to improve your feel of the water and your momentum. Try to keep your elbows high and bent, when in the under water portion o...

How To: Do a simplified flipturn

Flip turns can be one of the most challenging aspects of learning how to swim races. Suddenly flipping over and turning around like that can be very disorienting. With this tutorial, learn how to simplify the flipturn at the beginning of your learning process.

How To: Go skinny-dipping

Always wanted to try skinny dipping but not sure quite how to get the ball rolling? There's not much to it but with a little bit of forward thinking you can make sure to get your friends on board while avoiding cops and an unwanted audience.

Swim Better, Swim Faster: Lessons from the Gay Army Tri Swim Coach

By Louis Tharp RealJock.com is pleased to present this first in a series of articles on improving your swimming form and performance from Louis Tharp, out gay man, swim coach for the Army Triathlon Team at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, and author of the new book Overachiever's Diary: How the Army Triathlon Team Became World Contenders. Tharp is the first out gay coach in the history of West Point.

How To: Improve butterfly and breaststroke while swimming

This swim technique video series from a professional swimming coach hones in on the fine details for developing perfect alignment and stroke to help make you a better, more competitive athlete. The coach demonstrates the proper way to use swimming equipment and how to position your body to condition your swimming performace. This series is particularly helpful in that not only is the coaching beneficial, but the drills, including dryland training, are shown in practice. It's the next best thi...

How To: Get ankle flexibility to improve swimming

This swim technique video series from a professional swimming coach hones in on the fine details for developing perfect alignment and stroke to help make you a better, more competitive athlete. The coach demonstrates the proper way to use swimming equipment and how to position your body to condition your swimming performace. This series is particularly helpful in that not only is the coaching beneficial, but the drills, including dryland training, are shown in practice. It's the next best thi...

How To: Use isometric exercises to change swimming stroke

This swim technique video series from a professional swimming coach hones in on the fine details for developing perfect alignment and stroke to help make you a better, more competitive athlete. The coach demonstrates the proper way to use swimming equipment and how to position your body to condition your swimming performace. This series is particularly helpful in that not only is the coaching beneficial, but the drills, including dryland training, are shown in practice. It's the next best thi...

How To: Develop muscles for swimming through exercise

This swim technique video series from a professional swimming coach hones in on the fine details for developing perfect alignment and stroke to help make you a better, more competitive athlete. The coach demonstrates the proper way to use swimming equipment and how to position your body to condition your swimming performace. This series is particularly helpful in that not only is the coaching beneficial, but the drills, including dryland training, are shown in practice on his swim team. It's ...

How To: Use equipment to improve arm strokes in swimming

This swim technique video series from a professional swimming coach hones in on the fine details for developing perfect alignment and stroke to help make you a better, more competitive athlete. The coach demonstrates the proper way to use swimming equipment and how to position your body to condition your swimming performace. This series is particularly helpful in that not only is the coaching beneficial, but the drills, including dryland training, are shown in practice on his swim team. It's ...

How To: Do early vertical forearm exercises for swim technique

This swim technique video series from a professional swimming coach hones in on the fine details for developing perfect alignment and stroke to help make you a better, more competitive athlete. The coach demonstrates the proper way to use swimming equipment and how to position your body to condition your swimming performace. This series is particularly helpful in that not only is the coaching beneficial, but the drills, including dryland training, are shown in practice on his swim team. It's ...

How To: Understand early vertical forearm position in swimming

This swim technique video series from a professional swimming coach hones in on the fine details for developing perfect alignment and stroke to help make you a better, more competitive athlete. The coach demonstrates the proper way to use swimming equipment and how to position your body to condition your swimming performace. This series is particularly helpful in that not only is the coaching beneficial, but the drills, including dryland training, are shown in practice on his swim team. It's ...

How To: Use techpaddles while coaching swim teams

This swim technique video series from a professional swimming coach hones in on the fine details for developing perfect alignment and stroke to help make you a better, more competitive athlete. The coach demonstrates the proper way to use swimming equipment and how to position your body to condition your swimming performace. This series is particularly helpful in that not only is the coaching beneficial, but the drills, including dryland training, are shown in practice on his swim team. It's ...

How To: Do early vertical forearm position swimming exercises

This swim technique video series from a professional swimming coach hones in on the fine details for developing perfect alignment and stroke to help make you a better, more competitive athlete. The coach demonstrates the proper way to use swimming equipment and how to position your body to condition your swimming performace. This series is particularly helpful in that not only is the coaching beneficial, but the drills, including dryland training, are shown in practice on his swim team. It's ...

How To: Swim fast using techpaddles

This swim technique video series from a professional swimming coach hones in on the fine details for developing perfect alignment and stroke to help make you a better, more competitive athlete. The coach demonstrates the proper way to use swimming equipment and how to position your body to condition your swimming performace. This series is particularly helpful in that not only is the coaching beneficial, but the drills, including dryland training, are shown in practice on his swim team. It's ...

How To: Prevent swimmer's ear

Watch this video tutorial to learn how to prevent swimmer's ear. Don't let this painful infection of the ear canal keep you out of the water! A few simple precautions can combat the excessive moisture that causes bacteria to fester.

How To: Swim efficiently with Natalie Coughlin

Natalie Coughlin's strength and motivating voice guide you through 60 minutes of lap madness. iSWIM is broken into 3 20-minute sections: Warm up and drilling, an aerobic set, and sprints and cool down. Each workout includes freestyle, backstroke and kicking drills. Natalie's cues are golden in creating a more efficient stroke, kick and efficiency in the water. The champion guides you through each body part guarantees that your body is reshaping with every stroke. Get lean with Natalie! All le...

How To: Swim a proper freestyle

New techniques may improve a swimming pool workout from Masters coach Nancy Kirkpatrick Reno. Before sticking a toe in the water, consider this advice: * Swim in a pool that's at least 20 to 25 yards long; those pools can usually be found at high schools and some gyms. A 50-meter Olympic-size pool is best, but not everyone has access to that. "If you're going to become a lap swimmer," Kirkpatrick-Reno says, "you can't go any shorter or you'll be constantly turning." An outdoor pool is prefera...

How To: Swim the basic breaststroke

Breaststroke is a traditional stroke popular with people who like to swim for fitness. It is the slowest stroke, but that does not mean it cannot be swum powerfully and at speed. Follow along in this how-to animation to learn the basics of doing the breaststroke.

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