Los Angeles herald., 1906-09-24
SWIMMERS TAKE
To SPEED CRAWL
FAST METHODS ADVISED FOR
LONG DISTANCE
Coaches Argue That Movements Call
cuated for Greatest Rapdity
Should Be the
Easiest

Now that the swimming season is so
far advanced that the coaches nave
had chance to compare the utility
of the different styles, they are unan-
imous in their decision that the best
strokes for sprinting are also the pest
for long distance swimming.
This idea is directly opposite to the
one previously held by experts on
aquatic athletics, but nevertheless it
has been proven true by the perform
ances of the racers in their contests
so far this season.
The coaches argue that If certain
set of movements carries one through
the water at the highest rate of speed
when sprinting, that same set is the
one which is most natural to the swim
mer and will of necessity carry him
along at fast clip in a longer SWIM,
even If he goes through them more
slowly.
In this country there are only two
recognized standard swimming strokes
the trudgeon and the crawl. Al
though some of the championship class
men have Mastered the latter stroke,
it is still too new to most of the Amer
lean swimmers to be advised as a dis
dance stroke, though 1t Is expected that
the time will come when ii Will be used
exclusively for all distances.
The trudgeon is the most desirable
at present for endurance swimming. 1t
is more rational than the breast stroke
in the position of the body, 1t gives FAR
greater speed and it is no harder to
learn property than any of the slower
strokes
To learn the trudgeon one should lie
on the side that comes most natural,
with arms stretched up over the head.
parallel and perpendicular to the shoul-
ders. Hands with palms turned away,
legs straight. close together and toes
pointing downward.
The upper arms should be brought
down almost straight at the elbow and
a little below the surface of the water;
when it reaches the hip. bend at the
elbow, lift over the water and carry
forward to original position.
Bring the under arm down almost
parallel to the upper, then when it
reaches the hip. roll the body so as to
be able to get the arm out of water and
carry it forward as the other bent at
the elbow, until on the full reach again.
The legs are opened as in walking,
not sidewise: the upper leg is kept al
most straight and the under is bent as
in kneelng. When the feet are about
eighteen inches apart they should be
snapped together sharply. Open very
slowly and bring together with force.
For the time the upper arm starts
the legs are opened as the under arm
goes forward. Breath is taken as the
upper arm is being brought down.
For the crawl lit fiat on the face with
arms bent slightly at the elbow and a
short reach: hands should be at the
height of the head. Take short stroke.
not fishing at the hip. and keep elbows
we'll up in the air all the time. Legs
are started AS in the trudgeon. the
water heing threshed up and down al
ternately.
They should move from the knee
down only. and bursh against each
other never more than six or eight
inches apart. Legs and arms are moved
Independently of each other and breath
is taken every two or three strokes by
a quick turn of the head.
The body should travel face down
ward and the movements should be
very rapid when sprinting.
To novice the crawl is advisable II
he intends to confine himself to sprint
ing-otherwise the trudgeon is better