Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1916-12-10

the difference being that the arms are
lifted out of the water instead of being
carried along the surface as in the un'
der-arm side. This Is not SO with the
breast stroke, for when it is accom-
plished one merely has that stroke and
though it is substantial there is no
foundation for the more advanced
strokes. 1t will also be found very
difficult to change into scissors kick,
| owing to the great tendency of the
under leg sinking toward the bottom
causing more of the breast or frog kick,
instead of a perfect scissors.
Do not think that l am depreciating
the value of the breast stroke. ! am
not. 1 am only giving my version
which has been brought about during
my experience as a teacher. l will ex-
plain the movements of the. different
strokes, however, and leave it to the
reader to choose from them.
Swimming is entirely a question of
balance and thorough confidence in the
water. The body is naturally buoyant
and so long as the lungs are filled with
air, one can remain on the surface of
the water indefinitely. The body
should lie flat on the surface, all jerky
movements should be avoided and
THE BREAST STROKE.
To learn the breast stroke it is best
to master the kick first. Great care
| should be taken that it is done prop
erly as once "a bad kick is acquired it
| will be found very difficult to alter it.
A long steady stroke with the body in
| almost horizontal position is the best,
the short snappy stroke being entirely
/ L. n. II
portance as the tendency to cramp is
| thereby lessened and the action of the
swimmer made graceful and speedy.
This stroke virtually has three move
ments by which it can be described.
At the commencement the body should
be pushed out on the surface with arms
fully extended in front of the face, the
palms of the hands facing downward
and thumbs lightly touching each other.
| The legs should be allowed to raise
! from the bottom of the plunge close
| together and stretched out in a line
with the body. At one the palms of
the hands should be turned out and
slightly downward and the arms swept
slowly around in line with the Shout
ders, while the legs should be drawn up
slightly with the knees pointing out
wards and feet together. At two the
elbows are quickly bent to the sides,
the palms of the hands flattened again
and brought together under the chin
and the feet allowed to part, relaxed,
| ready for the final flip. At three the
arms should be shot out in front of the
face, the legs and feet being brought
together with a circular flip, thus
/ bringing the body into the position
! first described. The impetus given by
the kick sends the swimmer forward
as he lay, as it were. on his stroke.
THE SIDE STROKE.
In the side stroke the swimmer lays
entirely on his side, the kick being the
principal propelling power. Most UNI
der-arm swimmers lay on their right
side, thus giving the heart a free ac-
ton. In which case the right leg being
the under leg, should be bent backward
from the knee, the foot and thigh be-
ing carried back as far as possible
while the top leg is brought forward,
slightly bent at the knee, just like a
man in the act of running The under
leg should then be kicked rapidly for
ward until straight in line with the
body. At the same time the top leg
is Strengthened and brought to the I'M
der leg with force The feet during
the whole stroke are kept limp, the re-
suit being that shorp flip is given
with the feet when the legs close.
For the arm action, the right arm
should be stretched out on the surface
of the water beyond the head and the
left arm straight along the body with
hand resting on the thigh The left
arm should then be carried forward
along the surface to a position "A little
beyond the face with the palm of the
hand facing downward. At the same
time the right arm is dipped toward
the bottom, until at right angles with
! the shoulder, when the elbow is bent
to the side and the hand brought up
To the back of the head. Palm of the
left hand should then be turned out
wards and the arms swirled rapidly
along the surface to the side and the
right hand shot out beyond the head
as first described. The combined
movements are; while the left arm is
being carried slowly to it's position be
yond the face the right arm is dipped
downward and the legs opened for the
kick and while the left arm is swirIed
to the side the right is shot out beyond
the head and the legs closed with a
sharp flip.
THE BACK STROKE.
To start the back stroke the body
should sink backwards on the water
with lungs fully inflated, head well
back and arms fully extended beyond
the head. Care should be taken that
the hips are not allowed to sink, but
are kept well up with the back slightly
followed. The arms are then swirled
rapidly to position along the side and
the body allowed to float with legs
straight and together. This action will