ABSTRACT Aim of the study was the comparison of three backstroke finishes and their probable correlation with dolphin kicks ability on swimming efficiency and performance. Thirty swimmers (9 males – 21 females), aged 13.4 (1.0) years old, with a training experience of 7.7 (1.5) years, swam for 15 m on maximal intensity, and performed the three backstroke finishes: i) touching the wall, breaking water’s surface with one part of their body (Classic), ii) touching the wall with one hand, submerging the body two strokes after passing the last 5 m (Dive – One Hand) and iii) touching the wall on streamline position, submerging the body two strokes after passing the last 5 m (Dive – Streamline). It employed a two-way analysis of variance with repeated measures and a correlation analysis. According to the results, there was a difference between, Classic, Dive – One hand, and Dive – Streamline in swimming speed (SS) at the last 5 m (p = 0.001). Also, the SS between intermediate 10 and the last 5 m was maintained only in Classic type (p < 0.001). In addition, the three types of backstroke finishes were highly correlated (p < 0.001) with the dolphin kicks ability. Swimming coaches have to consider the swimmers’ dolphin kicks ability for the choice of the ideal type of backstroke finish.
Read full abstract