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Measuring the kick in freestyle swimming
Abstract

Measuring the kick in freestyle swimming

Sacha K Fulton
Proceedings of the 2006 University Research Conference, p.7
University Research Conference: Research Impact: Benefiting Society, 2006 (Sunshine Coast, Australia, 08-Nov-2006)
2006
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Abstract

Human Movement and Sports Science freestyle swimming kick
To compete and be successful on the world stage, swimmers need to enhance their technique for sports performance. Swimming performance is quantified by the international benchmarks of velocity, stroke length, and stroke rate. There is no current measurement for kick. The purpose ofthis research was to measure the parameters of kicking in freestyle swimming, in particular kick rate and kick count. Data were collected on 15 swimmers from the Australian 2006 !PC World Championship Swimming Team during national training camps held within Australia, and will continue at the World Championships held in South Africa. The data collection involved custom built accelerometers, which have evolved from the CRC in Microtechnology. The software for the accelerometers has been developed at the Australian Institute of Sport. During each testing session, swimmers were asked to complete two 100m maximal effort time trials performing freestyle swimming and freestyle kicking. The accelerometer devices were attached to each calf of the swimmer and timing of the 25m segments were recorded. The data logger for each accelerometer identified kick patterns for each trial, which was then analysed to provide kick count and kick rate for each segment. The results of this study objectively present for the first time the parameters of kick in elite swimmers. This information will aid future understanding of the most effective swimming race strategy, which will also be reflected in the swimming volume and intensity during training.

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