An external focus of attention results in greater swimming speed

We examined effects of attentional focus on swimming speed. Participants` task was to swim one length of a pool (16 m) using the front crawl stroke. In Experiment 1, intermediate swimmers were given attentional focus instructions related to the crawl arm stroke or the leg kick, respectively. Participants were instructed to focus on ""pulling your hands back"" or ""pushing the instep down"" (internal focus), or on ""pushing the water back/down"" (external focus), respectively. Swim times were significantly shorter with an external focus. In Experiment 2, a control condition was included. Times were significantly faster in the external focus compared with both the internal focus and control conditions. These findings have implications for enhancing performance in swimming.

The importance of parental involvement in swimming lessons for person with disability

The Ecolological Theory of Human Development proposed by Urie Bronfenbrenner assumes that the activities and people involved in an evironment are essential to stimulate the aquisition of new abilities . Analyze the strategy of parent’s presence with their children in a swimming class for PWD during the teaching process. Also, verify the parent’s views on this experience and the participation of their child during practice. It is a qualitative and action-research. To collect data was utilized observation during to analyse the activities developed in a swimming class for PWD, on the presence of parents with their children. A semi-structured interview was used to analyse the perception parents after the experience of the classroom. Analysis of activities and the interview were based on the assumption of Bronfenbrenner (1996). It was found that 100% of the parents rated the positive experience of being with their children in the pool. We found that only 25% of parents reported that had entered the pool to play with their children. We emphasize that 75% had never entered in the water with their children, whether because of fear, lack of opportunity or not knowing how to swim. The proposal of parents’ participation in the swimming class with the PWD generated a favorable environment for development the activities. Parents identified the improvement, the potential and difficulties of PWD.

Three-dimensional joint kinematics of swimming using body-worn inertial and magnetic sensors

Wearable inertial and magnetic measurements units (IMMU) are an important tool for underwater motion analysis because they are swimmer-centric, they require only simple measurement set-up and they provide the performance results very quickly. In order to estimate 3D joint kinematics during motion, protocols were developed to transpose the IMMU orientation estimation to a biomechanical model. The aim of the thesis was to validate a protocol originally propositioned to estimate the joint angles of the upper limbs during one-degree-of-freedom movements in dry settings and herein modified to perform 3D kinematics analysis of shoulders, elbows and wrists during swimming. Eight high-level swimmers were assessed in the laboratory by means of an IMMU while simulating the front crawl and breaststroke movements. A stereo-photogrammetric system (SPS) was used as reference. The joint angles (in degrees) of the shoulders (flexion-extension, abduction-adduction and internal-external rotation), the elbows (flexion-extension and pronation-supination), and the wrists (flexion-extension and radial-ulnar deviation) were estimated with the two systems and compared by means of root mean square errors (RMSE), relative RMSE, Pearson’s product-moment coefficient correlation (R) and coefficient of multiple correlation (CMC). Subsequently, the athletes were assessed during pool swimming trials through the IMMU. Considering both swim styles and all joint degrees of freedom modeled, the comparison between the IMMU and the SPS showed median values of RMSE lower than 8°, representing 10% of overall joint range of motion, high median values of CMC (0.97) and R (0.96). These findings suggest that the protocol accurately estimated the 3D orientation of the shoulders, elbows and wrists joint during swimming with accuracy adequate for the purposes of research. In conclusion, the proposed method to evaluate the 3D joint kinematics through IMMU was revealed to be a useful tool for both sport and clinical contexts.

Jon Urbanchek, UM Men's Swimming Coach at 2000 Big Ten meet

[Urbanchek dives into pool after U-M victory]

Jon Urbanchek, UM Men's Swimming Coach at 2000 Big Ten meet

[Urbanchek interviewed in pool after U-M victory]

Plan of the children's camp and detail of pool on the grounds of the Chicago Tuberculosis Sanitarium; Chicago, Illinois

Yellow and black ink on linen. Pool, campfires, camp sites, cross-sections of grades. Signed. 103 cm. x 51 cm. Scale: 1"=20' [from photographic copy by Lance Burgharrdt]

Rock work for the wading pool at Columbus Park; Chicago, Illinois

Orange, green, red, black pencil on tracing papter. Location, type of plantings; notes. Unsigned. 58 cm. x 84 cm. Scale: 1"=20' [from photographic copy by Lance Burgharrdt]

Oak Park Park Commission ... Plan for wading pool. Park #3. Oak Park, Illinois.

Ink on linen; plan, sections; signed. 50x24 cm. Scale: 1"=10' [from photographic copy by Lance Burgharrdt]

UM Men's Swimming Team, 1929

Back Row: Harold W. Bailey, Howard Brown, William F. McDonald, Robert C. Goldsmith, Edward L. Warner, Henry Dinkelspiel,

Third Row: head coach Matt Mann, Richard C. Mertz, Charles F. McCaffree, Garnet W. Ault, J.J. Thompson, O. Bruce. Goldsmith, Rawson F. Hosmer, assistant coach John W. MacMahon

Second Row:, Thomas Y. Watson, George E. Hubbell, Robert P. Walker, captain Richard S. Spindle, J.B. Allan Seager, Frank W. Walaitis, Ernest C. Reif

Front Row: Byron O. Hughes, Frederick J. Grimshaw, Harold E. Nimz

UM Men's Swimming Team, 1931

Back Row: Frederic C. Fenske, Daniel L. Marcus, Frank D. Kennedy, Robert E. Klintworth, John A. Schmieler, Carl G. Staelin, George R. Vallowe, Louis Lemak

Second Row: Robert Miller, Sidney R. Raike, head coach Matt Mann, Irving R. Valentine, assistant coach John W. MacMahon, Ivan C. Smith, Robert B. Ladd

Chris Kurzweil, Emery W. Chase

UM Men's Swimming Team, 1932

Back Row: James Cristy, John Schmieler, Henry Kaminski, Reeve Bailey

Middle Row: Richard K. Degener, Frederic C. Fenske, Frank D. Kennedy, Louis Lemak, assistant coach John W. McMahon

Front Row: Robert B. Ladd, Ivan C. Smith, Robert Miller, head coach Matt Mann, Sidney R. Raike, Daniel L. Marcus

UM Men's Swimming Team, 1934

Back Row: Sol Selevan, Julian (Tex) Robertson, Manley Osgood, Boyd Dennison, Ogden R. Dalrymple, John W. Dersch, Richmond S. Blake, Edwin Gage, ? Williams

Middle Row: Frank B. Fehsenfeld, Richard K. Degener, Taylor D. Drysdale, James C. Cristy, Jr., Mann, Robert J. Renner, Henry C. Kamienski

Front Row: Robert E. Lawrence, Daniel L. Diefendorf, William K. Boice, J. Derland Johnston

UM Men's Swimming Team, 1935

Back Row: Willard C. Crittenden, G. Robert Mowerson, Richmond S. Blake, Edward J. VanderVelde, Charles E. Drew, Paul J. Keeler

Middle Row: Frank E. Barnard, Ogden R. Dalrymple, Taylor D. Drysdale, head coach Matt Mann, Robert J. Renner, Julian (Tex) Robertson, Jack A. Kasley

Front Row: J. Derland Johnston, Frank B. Fehsenfeld, Ben F. Grady, Daniel L. Diefendorf

Relationship Between Aerobic And Anaerobic Parameters From 3-minute All-out Tethered Swimming And 400-m Maximal Front Crawl Effort.

The main aim of this investigation was to verify the relationship of the variables measured during a 3-minute all-out test with aerobic (i.e., peak oxygen uptake [(Equation is included in full-text article.)] and intensity corresponding to the lactate minimum [LMI]) and anaerobic parameters (i.e., anaerobic work) measured during a 400-m maximal performance. To measure force continually and to avoid the possible influences caused by turns, the 3-minute all-out effort was performed in tethered swimming. Thirty swimmers performed the following tests: (a) a 3-minute all-out tethered swimming test to determine the final force (equivalent to critical force: CF3-MIN) and the work performed above CF3-MIN (W'3-MIN), (b) a LMI protocol to determine the LMI during front crawl swimming, and (c) a 400-m maximal test to determine the (Equation is included in full-text article.)and total anaerobic contribution (WANA). Correlations between the variables were tested using the Pearson's correlation test (p ≤ 0.05). CF3-MIN (73.9 ± 13.2 N) presented a high correlation with the LMI (1.33 ± 0.08 m·s; p = 0.01) and (Equation is included in full-text article.)(4.5 ± 1.2 L·min; p = 0.01). However, the W'3-MIN (1,943.2 ± 719.2 N·s) was only moderately correlated with LMI (p = 0.02) and (Equation is included in full-text article.)(p = 0.01). In summary, CF3-MIN determined during the 3-minute all-out effort is associated with oxidative metabolism and can be used to estimate the aerobic capacity of swimmers. In contrast, the anaerobic component of this model (W'3-MIN) is not correlated with WANA.

Influência da hipermobilidade articular na performance e incidência de lesões no atleta de natação = : Influence of articular hypermobility in the performance and incidence of injuries in the athlete swimming

Universidade Estadual de Campinas . Faculdade de Educação Física