Crawl Teaching Is Quickest
It is claimed that one can be taught quicker by a sort of dog-paddle, sometimes spoken of as the crawl stroke, and we will admit this to be so, but those who learn by this route are seldom good swimmers until they master the other strokes, while the breast stroke as an elementary one, although being a little harder to grasp, on account of the co-ordination of arms and legs, gives more confidence to the beginner, and he or she will rapidly advance from this point on, and even in the early stages will be able to swim farther and with less effort than by the so-called crawl method; however, if the beginner can grasp the Trudge-crawl at the very start, the result will be much easier and the advancement more rapid.
THE BREAST STROKE.
Beginning and Ending of Stroke.
THE BREAST STROKE.
Count of Two, Separating Legs, Toes and Knees Pointing Out.
THE CRAWL STROKE.
Head-on View, Showing Position of Arms and Legs at Beginning of Stroke.
THE CRAWL, SECOND POSITION, EXHALING UNDER WATER.
THE CRAWL, THIRD POSITION, TAKING A BREATH.
But, as we will show and explain both methods, the reader who does not know how, can choose either one, and if he is taught by a professional instructor, or some expert amateur coach, it matters not which way he learns, so that he accomplishes the first object—to keep the body afloat and propel it by means of the arms and legs.
The very first thing you want to get in your mind, and fasten it there firmly, is the fact that there are only three things necessary to become a good swimmer—the proper timing of the stroke, or what experts call the alternate action or harmony (timing); breathing; and the ability to relax; and when you have acquired these things—and every one can master them—you will not only be able to swim well and without effort, but go indefinite distances in the water just as easily as walking on the land, and swim as long as your vitality will permit and the lowered temperature of the body will allow.