Chapter – 1

INTRODUCTION

Swimming is a worldwide and popular sport, which invites participation at any

level. Some enjoy the sports for fitness; some for recreation purpose while others to

compete. Competitive swimmers may cover 10,000-14,000 meters a day, 6-7 days a

week. Becoming a successful swimmer demands skill, time, rigorous training and

passion for the sport. There are different techniques used in swimming like: (1) Free

Style, (2) Back Stroke, (3) Breast Stroke and (4) Butterfly. Australian swimming Inc.

(1996)

"Swimming is one of the most known recreational activities across the world.

Swimming not only improves the blood circulation in the body but it is also a great

workout for over all body. It is a form of low impact aerobic activity and increases

strength and cardiovascular components. Other than being an effective workout, it is

also a great medium to relax and rejuvenate. Many people swim regularly to maintain

their weight and improve body contours. Swimming enhances metabolism and offers

relief from fatigue and monotony associated with routine life".1

"Swimming is a popular form of recreation, an important international sport, and a

healthy exercise. It is an act of moving through water by using arm and legs".

"People of all ages swim for fun. Across the world, lacs of people enjoy swimming in

lakes, oceans, and rivers. Others swim indoor or outdoor pools. Recreation center,

hotels, private clubs provide indoor and outdoor pool facilities. Thousands of societies

1
Eric Morris, “An Introduction to Swimming” cited http://ezinerarticles.com/?An-Introduction-To-
Swimming&id=277958
provide pools for its residents. Many families even have a pool in their garden or the

backyard"2

Origin of Swimming

Man with his insatiable thirst for knowledge has searched into history in an effort to

unearth the story of his forefathers and their activities3

Only vague records of early swimming exist but they indicate that swimming grew up

with man from the early stages of his appearance of the life4.

Prof. J. Huxley states, “Man’s origin went back beyond the ape and the fish. Millions

of years ago all life was marine life. The strong fish remained true to type, but they

drove the weaker species into shallow water. These fish had to learn to move on the

ground to get to other pools with the withdrawn of water line”5.

When early man needed to move on land he either walked or ran, when early man

required movement across water, he probably stridden and then ultimately swam by

watching the other primarily land based animals6.

Man has to be taught this art and he finds the process of learning to swim somewhat

artificial, in spite of the fact that water is the first natural element for man. Before birth,

child is totally submerged in a membrane of fluid, the water and then later once he is

born, he is exposed to the air. That’s why babies are said to have a natural swimming

reflex and for some of them it is easier to learn swim than to walk.

2
The world book Encyclopedia’ publication-world Book inc. 1997 p.843.
3
Harry Gallagher ; Harry Gallagher on Swimming, (London : Pelham Book : 1970) P-15.
4
David Wilkie and Kelvin Jube; The hand book of Swimming, (London : Pelham Book, 1986) P-1.
5
Harry Gallagher ; Harry Gallagher on Swimming, (London : Pelham Book : 1970) P-15.
6
David Wilkie and Kelvin Jube; The hand book of Swimming, (London : Pelham Book, 1986) P-1.
Man learned to swim long before but he could not leave any written record of his

aquatic accomplishments. Several animals swim by instinct, even those who do not

really like water can swim at their first attempt by performing their accustomed

movements of running7.

The History of Swimming

In year 1844, swimming had already established itself as a popular competitive

sport in England. But British athletes mostly relied on the sedate breaststroke for

traveling in water. But initial stage of North American Indians, invited to London, by

the swimming Society in England was much treasured.

One viewer found their swimming style “totally un-European,” asserting that

they “beat the water brutally with their arms, like sails of a windmill, and beat

downward with their feet, blustering with force and forming ridiculous antics.” Even

though, the style of flying Gull and Tobacco was significantly faster, it was not

unoriginal, and British swimmers continued swimming along in their familiarized way.

Even after the period of forty years, the Indians: “totally un-European” style was

restored as the crawl: a stroke so speedy that it developed competitive swimming8

"The revolutionary advancement in the swimming is centuries old. The original

inhabitants of America, West Africa and some Pacific islands had been adapting a form

of crawl for compeers, while Europeans had restricted their swimming to the breast and

side strokes; essential amendments of what must have been man’s first method of

maintaining his head above water: the “dog stroke” was learned from animals.

Although, this four-legged kicking style came instinctively to many animals, it was the

7
Gerald Forsberg, First Stroke in Swimming (London: Routledge and Kegan Paul; 1961) P-9.
8
“Weissmuller to spitz; The History of Swimming”, edited from “The world of sports,” (Mexico XIX
Olympiad 8 International Swimming Hall of Fame.
http://cbs.sportsline.com/u/olympics/2000/history/swimming.htm
best way for man churning, thrashing and exhausting means of getting from one bank of

a river to the other"9

Middle Eastern civilizations described men swimming with the dog stroke with

the help of mosaics and drags at Pompeii, Italy. Although, swimming was not

comprised in the ancient Olympic Games, the Greeks considered it of higher standard

and practiced the sport as they did in all athletic endeavors. Indeed, one of the most

biting invectives one Greek could unleash on another was to discuss him as a man who

“neither knew how to run nor swim”. Plato considered, “a man who didn’t know how to

swim was uneducated”. There are everyday representations of swimmers in the Vatican,

Borgian, and Bourbon codices, and the murals of the Tepantitla House at Teotihuacan

(near Mexico City) showed men splashing about the waters of “Tlalocan,” paradise of

Tlaloc, the god of water. Both Julius Caesar and Charlemagne were recognized as

pronounced swimmers, and Loius XI frequently grabbed swims in the Seine By 1837

consistent swimming competitions were being held in London, conducted by the

National Swimming Society in England, and there were about six artificial pools in the

city. As the sport cultivated in popularity, many more pools were built. The Amateur

Swimming Association of Great Bretain, was organized in 1880 as a new governing

body which had more than 300 member clubs. Despite, any impression flying gull

Tobacco may have made with their “windmill thrashing”, the English sustained with the

use of “the breaststroke”. They swam it in the traditional manner in which the arms are

kept underwater and pulling out and back from the chest such as coordinated by frog in

kicking motion. Meanwhile, when endurance exploits were valued higher than races

against time, the utmost test was the English Channel - The Channel was thought to be

impossible to swim. Captain Matthew Webb become the first man to overcome the
9
“Weissmuller to spitz; The History of Swimming”, edited from “The world of sports,” (Mexico XIX
Olympiad 8 International Swimming Hall of Fame.
http://cbs.sportsline.com/u/olympics/2000/history/swimming.htm
"English channel on August 24, 1875, when he slipped into the water at Dover,

England, and 21 hours and 45 minutes later touched land at Cape Gris Nez, France.

Trusting mainly on the breaststroke, he swam a distance of about 39 miles. It wasn’t an

uneventful trip. Meanwhile, Captain Webb sipped coffee and beer, ate steaks, was stung

by a jellyfish and had to witness his way through a nasty storm. It was 31 years before

another successful crossing by Burgess, Sullivan was the first American who crossed

the English Channel. Currently, the record for crossing the English Channel is hold by

Grimsey, an Australian who covered Dover to Calais in 6 hours and 55 minutes in his

first attempt beating the previous record holder Peter Stoychev by 2 minutes. While

flying Gull and Tobacco unsuccessful to make English swimmers, speed conscious,

some South American Indians – indirectly- succeeded during a trip to South America.

J.Arthur Trudgen observed that the Indians produced more speed in the water with their

overhand stroke than he had created with the breaststroke as an amateur swimmer in

England. But he apparently failed to note that this overhand stroke was united with a

unique up-and-down kicking motion. Historians argument the time of Trudgen’s trip,

dating it anywhere from the 1870’s to the 1890’s. But most significantly, when Trudgen

reverted to England, he initiated teaching others the new arm movement. Even though,

swimmers continued with the frog kick of the breaststroke, the overhand arm action

provided them significantly more speed and power. Using the Trudgen stroke-as it came

to be called- swimmers fetched the record for the 100 yards down from about 70

seconds to 60 seconds".10

"Trudgen’s teachings revolved the swimming emphasis from endurance to

speed, but the revolution was only half complete. The leader in the rest of the battle was

another Englishman, Frederick Cavill. Using the old-style breaststroke, Cavill became a
10
“Weissmuller to spitz; The History of Swimming”, edited from “The world of sports,” (Mexico XIX
Olympiad 8 International Swimming Hall of Fame. http://cbs.sportsline.com/u/olympics/2000/history/
swimming.htm
well-known swimmer in England, and in 1878 he immigrated to Australia, where he

made pools and imparted swimming training. Just before the turn of the century, Cavill

and his family-which comprised six sons, made a trip to some of their islands of the

South Seas. Like Trudgen, he noted that the populaces used an overhand stroke. But

Cavill was more observant. He found that their kicking action was also dissimilar, and

he carefully studied it. Returning to Australia, Cavill taught his sons the new stroke, and

they soon were splashing past all existing records. One of his sons, Richard, went to

England in 1902 and swam the 100 yards in 58.8 seconds, a time his competition using

the less powerful Trudgen stroke, couldn’t approach"11.

"Asked to describe the innovative style, one of the Cavill’s son said it was “like

crawling through the water”. Gradually it came to be known as the crawl, and only

somewhat revised is the freestyle stroke used today which is the basic of swimming

competitions. Cavills sons were competent evangelists, and their stroke soon became

widely adopted. His one son, Sidney, went to San Francisco, California, in 1903 to

coach at the Olympic club. An early pupil, J Scott Leary became the first American to

swim 100 yards in 80 seconds, and won 17 successive races. Charles M Daniels, who

earlier was leary’s debut, had been the U.S’s leading swimmer, studied the new stroke

and eventually came up with his “American crawl”. Daniels went on to win four gold

medals in the Olympics Games and saved the world record for the 100 yards to 54.8

seconds in 1910. After few years, when Duke Kahanamoku of Hawaii began out-

swimming all competition, someone questioned who had taught him the crawl stroke.

Kahanamoku who has been winner of the Olympic 100-meter race in 1912 and 1920,

replied, “No one”. He had learned the crawl stroke when he was a child by watching

how the older natives of his home island swam". He said, “This stroke had been used
11
“Weissmuller to spitz; The History of Swimming”, edited from “The world of sports,” (Mexico XIX
Olympiad 8 International Swimming Hall of Fame. http://cbs.sportsline.com/u/olympics/2000/history/
swimming.htm
for many, many generations at his place”. Kahanamoku set his records by executing a

six-beat cycle, which is now considered the classical freestyle form. Each complete

cycle of his arms-entering the water, pulling and recovering was performed along with

six flutter kicks. At the 1924 Paris Games, a gangly, 20 years old American named

Johney Weissmuller overcome Kahanamoku with this same six-beat cycle. He won the

100 meters race in 59 seconds which was an Olympic record. Weissmuller managed to

acquire two more gold medals at the same games, and won two at next Olympics held at

Amsterdam, Holland in 1928 The 1920’s was considered as golden age of sports and

Weissmuller was the golden swimmer of this time. He set world records in different

events from 50 yards to 880 yards. The basic six-beat cycle crawl of Kahanamoku’s and

Weissmuller’s day has been changed a little. Don Schollander of the United States was

using it when he marked to four gold medals at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. At the first

modem Olympic Games in1896, as the competitors relying on various interpretations of

the breast or Trudgen stroke, only the freestyle events were organized. A backstroke

event was included in 1900 Olympic, and because crawl was becoming the dominant

freestyle form, the breast stroke was included as a separate competition. In 1904,

Women’s freestyle races were first organized, and by the time 1912 Olympics, their

events grew to include all the regular competition strokes. The traditional method was

used to perform breaststroke until the early 1930’s when some swimmers learned that

they could get an extra boost going into the turns by digging into the water with a

double overhead arm stroke. The Dave Armbruster, coach, Lowa University, United

States and one of his swimmers Jack Seig, toyed with this “butterfly” arm action and

invented a new kick which was called the “dolphin”. Formerly, the butterfly was a

innovation, as it was considered quite tiring to swim for long duration. But it proved to

be significantly faster than the previous breaststroke. By 1938, swimmers using the
butterfly arm action which often united with the usual frog kick. Ultimately, in 1953,

they were introduced as separate events; the breaststroke was known as the “silent

stroke”. Swimmers found that they could make much better time underwater than on

top. Irrespective of being faster, it was found hard on the lungs.12

"Breaststrokers spent more time underwater as long as possible, and some either

died or completed races rather blue faced. Later on, the rules were again amended, so

that the breaststroke had to be swum with keeping the head out of the water most of the

time. The butterfly was first raced as a separate event in Olympic competition at the

1956 Melbourne Games, and today is usually swum with the use of dolphin kick. Since,

it was first included at the 1900 Olympics games; the breaststroke has revised a little. It

was the only swimming competition that started with a push off the wall of the pool

instead of a dive. Nowadays, it starts with a dive rather than underwater wall push off.

The leg action is necessarily an upside-down variation of the crawl’s flutter kick, with

the arms reaching up and out of the water. Adolph Kiefer, who ruled backstroke

swimming from 1935 to 1945, got his thrust by drawing with his arms kept straight in

the water. Australian backstrokes revealed that they could get more horizontal push by

somewhat bending the arm as it came around under water, and their style has been

generally assumed by other swimmers".13

New training methods have assisted track and field athletes reach astounding

levels of performance in recent years. Many of the same techniques have also been

made modern swimming records fragile as soap bubbles. “Tarzan Johnny Weissmuller,

conqueror of elephants, apes and several swimming marks”, today could be overcome at

any distance over 100 meters by a 13-year-old California school girl, Sue Pederson. The

12
“Weissmuller to spitz; The History of Swimming”, edited from “The world of sports,” (Mexico XIX
Olympiad 8 International Swimming Hall of Fame. http://cbs.sportsline.com/u/olympics/2000/history/
swimming.htm
13
Ibid
Women’s record in the 1500 meters freestyle is now as less as the men’s mark fifteen

years ago. Records and the ages of prominent swimmers seem to be lessening at an

correspondingly fast pace.14

Ancient Swimming

Our first proof of ancient swimming comes from Middle East. Drawing and painting

representing person swimming have been discovered upon the cave wells of the Wadi

Sori in the “Libyan Desert”. There are many small figures with arms reaching forward

at the same time. The heads are held high and the legs are trailing out in a relaxed

manner15.

Swimming can be traced back, vaguely, to about 9000 BC, but it was only from the

middle of sixteenth century that we have a reasonably complete picture of the art16.

In Egypt no knowledge exists of swimming before 4000 BC. A proof of swimming

practiced in Egypt is found in the personal history record of a nobleman. He recorded

that his children, together with friends, received swimming instructions for their safety

and education17.

Swimming Record before Christ

A cylindrical seal of 3200 BC with the impression of swimmers using various strokes

has been found. Hieroglyphic symbols for swimming about 4000 BC showed crawling

figures with one arm forward and one arm backward.

14
“Weissmuller to spitz; The History of Swimming”, edited from “The world of sports,” (Mexico XIX
Olympiad 8 International Swimming Hall of Fame. http://cbs.sportsline.com/u/olympics/2000/history/
swimming.htm
15
Harry Gallagher ; Harry Gallagher on Swimming, (London : Pelham Book : 1970) P-16.
16
Ibid. P-15.
17
Ibid. P-16.
Lack of written records prior to the birth of Christ make it difficult to be accurate but

one would anticipate that, as swimming before this time would have been regarded as

primarily a necessity, at some stage it would have been seen as a way of moving armies;

both large and small, for the purpose of battle. Soldier would have first of all been

transported across water whilst holding onto their animals, and later have swum

themselves18.

Wall etchings of the battle of Kadish, 1300 BC have been earthed. They depict Hittites

fleeing across the river Orontes from the warriors of Rome II all are swimming over

arm19.

International History

Swimming has been one of the earliest forms of athletic activity. The encyclopedia

Britannica mentions that swimming was rated highly in the days of Greece and Rome

especially for the training of warriors20.

In Greece when a child’s education began at the age of seven years, swimming was

deemed to be one of the important subjects in the curriculum, like Romans the Greeks

considered it is as important as reading and writing. The Spartans developed a skill

18
David Wilkie and Kelvin Jube; The hand book of Swimming, (London : Pelham Book, 1986) P-1.
19
Ibid. P-2.
20
Encyclopedia of Britanica 10th Edition, S.V. “Swimming”.
mainly for militaristic purposes but some social swimming was enjoyed. The girls of

this era were competent swimmers and divers21.

The art of swimming was practiced prior to the advent of the Roman Empire mostly for

military training and emergencies. There was very little bathing for pleasure. A

revolutionary change took place when the Romans, who received the ideas from the

Greeks, introduced mixed bathing22.

The first swimming book by H. Wimmmann was published later in 1538. It described

both breaststroke and back stroke and also commented that girls learnt to swim as easily

as boys. The first English book was published in 1587 by Sir E. Digby, a Cambridge

graduate. He described tumbles and turns, floating test, and round swimming. He was

a skillful swimmer who concentrated on sidestroke. His book was used as a swimming

guide for the next one hundred years23.

The President’s Council of Physical Fitness and Sports, U.S.A has recognized

swimming as a desired sport for all ages and abilities. As quoted from the Brochure,

“Vigorous water activities can make a major contribution to the flexibility, strength and

circulatory endurance of individuals with the body submerged in water, blood

circulation automatically increased to some extent”. Pressure of the water on the body

also promotes deeper ventilation of the lungs and with well planned activity, both

circulation and ventilation24.

Competitive Swimming

21
Harry Gallagher; Harry Gallagher on Swimming, (London : Pelham books: 1970), P-17
22
Ibid. P-16
23
Harry Gallagher; Harry Gallagher on Swimming, (London : Pelham books: 1970), P-20
24
H. Harrison Clarke, Ed. Physical Fitness Research Digest 7 (July 1977): P-3.
"Competitive swimming became prevalent in the 19th century and currently, there are

34 swimming events, split half between men and women. Swimming races are usually

held in a 50 m pool with the objective to finish the race with fastest possible time".

Federation Internationale de Natation (FINA), swimming's international governing

body, oversee all competitive events at international level. The FINA world

championships are organized once in two years and most recently took place in Kazan,

Russia. Swimming is popular event at the Summer Olympic Games as well, in which

swimmers compete in any of the 13 official races as well as synchronized and diving

events.

"Four strokes swum competitively are named as; breaststroke, front crawl, backstroke

and butterfly. The strokes may also be swum in a grouping known as an 'individual

medley'". Furthermore, there are two relay competitive events, the ‘medley relay’ and

‘freestyle relay’. Four swimmers take part in Relay events of swimming where all swim

an equal distance, depending on the event such as Relay in 4×100m, 4×200m25.

Indian History

From Vedic Times, people in India were in the familiarity of this art during epic age in

“Krishna Leela”. Krishna destroyed the Kalia Sarpa by dancing on his head in water, we

also see that Gopika (Ladies) swimming in water. In “Mahabharta” with the fear of

Bheema’s blow Duryodhana was hiding in a lake by performing Kumbhaka.

In “Mohanjodaro”, we see that there were well constructed swimming pools for public

bath before Mughal period. There is a reference of Swimming by Kalidas in Gupta

25
http://www.talkswimming.co.uk/
period. He defined swimming as an incomparable recreation in Vasanta ritu. He

described swimming in such a way that he knew swimming.

During “Muslim period”, Swimming Pools were the mark of pleasure. Babar was a

great swimmer. In his autobiography “Babarnama” it is mentioned that he swam all

major rivers from Central Asia to Banaras. Humayun saved himself from his enemies in

war of Baxar by jumping into Ganga and swam the river with the help of the Skin Bag.

During Maratha period swimming was an essential military skill26.

British officers which took over the Indian administration used swimming as an activity

of recreation. The local people who came in contact with Britishers got an opportunity

to learn swimming on modern lines. Since the swimming facilities were in big cities

like, Bombay, Calcutta, Delhi and etc. those became the pioneering centers of modern

Swimming in India27.

Parts of Swimming

(a) Strokes :

i) Free Style

ii) Back Stroke

iii) Breast Stroke

iv) Butterfly Stroke

(b) Diving

(c) Water polo

(d) Synchronized Swimming

(e) Open Water Swimming

26
Ananta Rao Kale, Jalvihar (Poona; Swastik Granth Bhandar, 1949): P-8.
27
Suresh V. Shivnath : A Brief Review of Historical development of Swimming in India, 1991: P-3.
Introduction to SAQ (Speed, Agility and Quickness)

“To live is to choose, and if life is choices, then Jessy Owen’s life is an extraordinary

example of what is all about. Jesse’s childhood was affected by chest disease, but he

chooses to run.” By KOFI ANNAN

"Speed, agility and quickness training has developed a popular way to train athletes.

Whether they are school children or professionals sports person, they can all benefit

from speed, agility and quickness training. This training method is not new. Trainers

have been using it for a long time. But, it is more organized and structured these days.

Speed, agility and quickness training increases speed or strength or the power ability to

exert maximal forces during the high speed movements. It influences and capitalizes on

the “Stretch Shortening Cycle” while linking the gap between traditional resistance

training and functional specific movements. Speed, Agility and Quickness training

includes certain benefits such as increased muscular power in multi planar movements,

brain signaling efficiency, kinesthetic or body spatial recognition, motor skills and

reaction time".

"Speed, agility and quickness training covers the comprehensive spectrum of training

intensity from low to moderate to high intensity. Every individual will differ with level

of their fitness eventually will come into training program at different level. Thus,

training intensities must match with individual’s abilities. Low intensity speed, agility

and quickness drills may be implemented on everyone for different application. Higher

intensity drills requires comparatively more significant level of preparation. A simple

methodology to safe participation and improved effectiveness is to start a concurrent

strength training program when starting speed, agility and quickness training".
Stretch – Shortening Cycle

"The stretch shortening cycle (SSC) is explained as the mixture of eccentric (muscle

lengthening with force exertion) and concentric (muscle shortening with force exertion)

actions. An eccentric muscle action is performed when an athlete make movements

towards gravity, such as in the downward movement of lower arm in biceps curl or a

squat exercise. A concentric muscle action is the against gravity movement during the

above exercises".

When an eccentric action leads a concentric action, the resulting force output of the

concentric action enlarged. The stretch shortening cycle labor like a rubber band that is

stretched and then regain its original shape. This is the quality of the stretch shortening

cycle and speed, agility and quickness training.

Advantages derived from the stretch shortening cycle can be seen in sports competition.

One example is a normal vertical jump. When the jumper precedes his/her jump by

bending at the knees and hips and then explodes upward, the resultant height will be

greater than when performing the same movement by stopping at bottom for a few

seconds before the explosion portion of the jump.

SSC activities can be done for the upper body as well as for the lower body and can be

implemented with external devices such as free weights, rubber tubing and medicine

balls. Devices such as these assist the athlete in performing both the concentric and

eccentric portion of the exercise due to the need to either accelerate or decelerate the

object. However, SAQ training may be performed without assisting devices by simply

using one’s own body mass as the weight or resistance.

An approximate warm up session should be included in every exercise session, which

should initiate with a general whole body activity such as cycling, walking or jogging

that targets all muscle groups at a low intensity. This will increase heat and blood flow

to the muscles across body, thereby preparing them for high intensity workouts. A

specific warm up that consist some of the sessions exercise should be performed at low

intensity after completion of general warm up.

Injury prevention is a major part of an exercise program. A strength training program

that highlights knees, hip, back and ankle strength will decrease the possibility of injury

when SAQ training is first introduced.

Similarly to a traditional resistance – training program, speed, agility and quickness

training should be progressive and systematic in nature. Training should progress from

simple to complex movements, from gross to sports specific motor patterns.

Factors such as frequency, intensity, volume, body structure, sports specificity, training

age and time in relation to ones reason should be considered when designing SAQ

training program.

Follow the proper progression of exercise.

™ Perform one or more warm up sets with number of resistance or a very

light resistance.

™ Perform all exercise through a complete range of all motion.

 ™ Wear proper clothing and shoes. No bare feet or thongs and no jeans or

constructive clothing28.

Speed

- Speed is defined as the capacity of moving a limb or part of the body’s lever

system or the whole body with the greatest possible velocity.

- Speed is measured in meters per second. The time taken to achieve a certain task

may also be considered a measure of the athlete’s speed.

- Speed is a determining factor in the explosive sports (e.g. sprints, jumps and

most field sports), while in the endurance events its role as a determining factor

appears to reduce with increased distance. It is also determining factor where

speed of response is the difference between scoring points or losing points (e.g.

Combat sports) or where such response will gain competitive advantage on the

one hand and protect life on the other (e.g. Motor sports)29.

"In sports speed ability should not be likened with mechanical speed which is defined as

distance covered per unit of time. In several sports action, distance is not covered at

all. Speed ability, here, indicates the ability to execute motor movement with high

speed. These movements may be cyclic or acyclic in nature"30.

Running speed has a positive correlation with increasing one’s power output. It is a

phenomena that fastest athletes spend less time on the ground. Athletes’ strength and

power in relation to their body composition is an efficient indicator of his/her speed.

28
Lee Ebrown, Vence A Ferrigno, Juan Carlos Santana “Training for SAQ; (USA : Human Kinetics, 2000) :
pp – 2 - 4
29
Frank W. Dick : Sports training principles; (London A & C Black (Pub.) Ltd. 1997) : P-215
30
Hardayal Singh ”Science of Sports Training” (DVS Publications, Kalkaji, New Delhi) : P – 115.
Although maximum speed is rarely achieved in sports, proper running mechanics and

speed training will improve any athletes sport speed31.

Agility

- "Agility is a critical and often ignored component of athletic performance.

Increase in agility is positively correlated to improve athletic timing, rhythm,

and movement".

"A primary effect of agility training is improved body control resulting from a

concentrated form of Kinesthetic awareness. This kind of training looks to help athletes

control small adjustments in neck, shoulder, back, hip, knee and ankle joint, for the

optimal postural alignment during performance".

Agility training provides athletes a better sense of control in making fast and fine

movements.

While injuries will never be abolished from sports, complete over all conditioning

accompanied with functional agility training can help decrease their occurrence.

Agility helps to reduce loss of speed when changing the body’s center of gravity. Drills

that need quick changes of direction forward, backward, vertically and laterally help

advance agility as well as synchronization by training the body to make those changes

in movement more quickly.

Agility drills can be separated into three categories:

31
Lee Ebrown, Vence A Ferrigno, Juan Carlos Santana “Training for SAQ; (USA : Human Kinetics, 2000) :
P – 18.
 (i) Programmable agility drills: - The athlete knows before hand what the

movement combinations are to be performed.

(ii) Reaction agility drills the athlete is required to respond instantly to the

stimuli of any kind such as movement of another athlete or to the signals

of a Coach.

(iii) In quickness drills the athlete is necessary to perform fast foot

movements as quickly as possible32.

Agility is divided into two: (i) Agility timing and (ii) Agility rhythm.

- Agility Timing : is the speed of the movement.

- Agility Rhythm : is the coordination of balance and body control.

So every agility drill and exercise has its own timing and rhythm. The skillful

movement of agility must be the goal of the athlete. Timing and rhythm help to develop

what is needed in improving special athletic skills33.

Agility Drills increase coordinative ability that helps in controlled movement and

improve kinesthetic awareness. Agility drills are planned to progress quickness for

multi- sprint sports such as basketball, soccer and tennis etc34.

Agility is the ability to change the direction of the body as fast as possible in an

efficient and effective manner. To achieve this you require a combination of:

™ Balance

(a) Ability to maintain steadiness during stationary or movement (i.e.

not to fall over) through the coordinated movements of our

32
Lee Ebrown, Vence A Ferrigno, Juan Carlos Santana “Training for SAQ; (USA : Human Kinetics, 2000) :
pp – 80 - 81
33
www.speed,strengthconditioning.com
34
Written by Spain football on May 22-09, from www.blog football.org.
 sensory functions (eyes, ears and the proprioceptive organs of our

joints).

(b) Static balance: - ability to hold the centre of mass above the base

of support in a stationary position.

(c) Dynamic balance: - ability to uphold balance under constantly

changing condition of body movement.

™ Speed: - ability to make movements of the body quickly.

™ Strength: - ability of a muscle or group of muscle to act over resistance.

™ Coordination: - ability of body to perform movement in cooperation with

the body’s sensory functions eg. Catching the ball (ball, eyes and hand

coordination).

Quickness

Quickness is a key attribute to successful performance in sport. Quickness is defined as

“rapid reaction and movement time in relation to a given stimulus”.

Training of central nervous system is very important in the development of quickness.

Proper neural training offers the following:-

™ Instantaneous recruitment of maximal number of motor units.

™ Increasing the firing rates of motor units.

™ Increasing in intramuscular coordination.

Multiple trial of movements’ consequence in stored memories in the brain called

engrams. Development of engrams is one of the motives so important to practice

movements perfectly.
Quickness is hereditarily determined to a degree, but constant and demanding training

can greatly increase quickness. Drills for pure quickness progress should last 6 to 8

seconds. Training for quickness endurance should be lengthier in duration.

Shock Method Training (Plyometric) can be supportive in improving quickness. One

must remember that proper shock method training can be beneficial, but inappropriate

use of this training method can result in reduction in performance and injury35.

The successful performance of an athlete relies on his or her ability to react quickly.

Quickness is demarcated by Webster:

• Reacting to a stimulus with speed.

• Done or taking place with swiftness.

• Marked by speed, readiness, promptness of physical movement.

• Moving swiftly, occurring in a short time, responding to or

understanding something rapidly.

"Athletes execute definite bio-motor skills with purpose in mind. These “rehearsed”

skills are recorded arrangements of motor movements in the brain. These recorded

memories are referred to as neural engrams. In order to replicate movements, the

athlete calls on these engrams, which signal the motor mechanics of the brain to repeat

the pattern"36.

The significance of SAQ drills described above obviously made its worth in area of

sports and exercise science to improve physical performance. However, this feature of

35
Jamic Hale “Sports conditioning coach in USA” Member of World Martial Arts Hall of Fame, and
contributor to numerous exercise and sports journals.”
36
Lee Ebrown, Vence A Ferrigno, Juan Carlos Santana “Training for SAQ; (USA : Human Kinetics, 2000) :
pp – 80 - 81.
training has been untouched by swimming professional so far. So, the researcher was

intended to test its efficiency on swimming performance.

1.1 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

The purpose of the study was to know “The Effect of SAQ Drills on

Swimming Performance”.

1.2 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

• To study the effect of specific SAQ Drills training program on Swimming

Performance of Delhi State Under 17 Swimmers

• To study the effect of specific SAQ Drills training program on Swimming

Performance of Delhi State Under 14 Swimmers

• To study the effect of specific SAQ Drills training program on Swimming

Performance of Delhi State Swimmers ( on Under 17 and Under 14 collectively)

• To observe the improvement pattern of Swimming Performance of Delhi State

Under 17 Swimmers following a Specific SAQ Drills training program.

• To observe the improvement pattern of Swimming Performance of Delhi State

Under 14 Swimmers following a Specific SAQ Drills training program.

• To observe the improvement pattern of Swimming Performance of Delhi State

Under 17 & Under 14 Swimmers (collectively) following a Specific SAQ Drills

training program.
1.3 PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

The Purpose of the study was to examine the effects of SAQ Drills training

program on Swimming Performance of Delhi State Under 17 and Under 14

swimmers.

1.4 HYPOTHESES

1. It was hypothesized that there will be significant improvement in the

Swimming Performance of Delhi State Under 17 swimmers.

2. It was hypothesized that there will be remarkable improvement in the

Swimming Performance of Delhi State Under 14 swimmers.

3. It was hypothesized that there will be significant improvement in the

Swimming Performance of Delhi State Under 17 & Under 14 swimmers

(collectively).

4. It was hypothesized that there will be a linear pattern in the improvement

of swimming performance of Delhi State Under 17 Swimmers.

5. It was hypothesized that there will be a linear pattern in the improvement

of swimming performance of Delhi State Under 14 Swimmers.

6. It was hypothesized that there will be a linear pattern in the improvement

of swimming performance of Delhi State Under 17 & Under 14

Swimmers (collectively).

1.5 DELIMITATIONS

1. The study was confined to 23 students randomly from different school.

2. The study was further confined to National Level Swimmers who

represented Delhi State.

 3. The study was further confined to the age group of Under-14 and Under-

17 years.

4. The performance of the swimmers was taken on 100 m free style.

5. The performance of the subject was taken in 25 m swimming pool.

1.6 LIMITATIONS

1. The number of subject in this age category was considered as a limitation

of the study.

2. Since the activity was conducted only for the limited period of time i.e.

from April to October.

3. The subject was confined to the Delhi State Swimmers only.

1.7 DEFINITIONS

Speed

(i) It is the performance pre requisite to do motor actions under given

conditions (movement task, external factors, individual pre requisites) in

minimum of time.

(ii) Speed is the quickness of movement of a limb, whether this is the legs of

a runner or the arm of the shot putter. Speed is an integral part of every

sport and can be expressed as any one of, or combination of the

following maximum speed, elastic strength (power) and speed

endurance.

(iii) Speed is the rate of motion, or equivalently the rate of change of

distance.
 Agility

"Agility is the ability of rapid change directions without the loss of speed,

balance or body control. As with the fitness components, agility is specific to a

particular movement pattern, one problem with agility training is that an athlete has to

learn to anticipate the next movement".

(i) Agility is defined as the ability to decelerate, accelerate and change

direction quickly while maintaining good body control without

decreasing speed. Agility is closely related to balance because it requires

athletes to regulate shifts in the body’s center of gravity while subjecting

them to postural deviation.

Quickness

(i) Rapid reaction and movement time in relation to a given stimulus.

(ii) Reacting to a stimulus with speed.

1.8 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

(1) The result of the study will help the coach to understand the effect of

SAQ drills on the swimming performance.

(2) The result will help the coaches to select the appropriate training

programme and incorporate SAQ drill in their training schedule.

(3) The finding will give fill up to the existing knowledge.

(4) The study would help to distinguish the effect of specific SAQ Drills

training program on Under 17 and Under 14 age group swimmers form

Delhi State.