A sport such as swimming has various characteristics, among which the swimming styles with lifeguard training, the technique, and the different aquatic surfaces in which it is carried out stand out. However, little is said about the short and long pool.

Have you ever heard about this topic? Most likely not, or you may have overlooked it. In that order of ideas, more will be explained below about the distances in the aquatic surfaces and what differences they have from each other.

Short and long pool swimming

Short and long pool swimming is named after the type of surface on which a tournament or competition takes place. These must be endorsed by the International Swimming Federation, FINA.

In the event that the distance from the pool is short, it will be called a short course; if this is long, it will be a long course. In this way, it is usually distinguished within the FINA.

Short pool swim or short course

All FINA endorsed events or competitions that take place in semi-Olympic pools are known as short courses with American Lifeguard Association. Said aquatic surfaces must have the official measurements of 25 meters long, by 12.5 meters wide; which is equivalent to half of an Olympic pool.

Within the short course events, the lower category world championships stand out, distinguished as opportunities to practice and improve time marks.

Despite this, these deliver medals and are also listed with a database of world records in all styles. The two most important competitions of this type are the World Cup, held year after year, and the World Swimming Championships, held every two years.

On the other hand, short pool swimming is used in different regions of the world as an alternative when winter arrives. This is because most of the short-course water surfaces are indoors and, in this way, their development is not hampered by climatic conditions.

Long pool or long course swim

In the same way, as in the short course, the long pool swimming is made up of all the events endorsed by the FINA that take place in an Olympic pool. This has exact measurements of 50 meters long by 25 meters wide.

Practically, it can be said that long-course swimming is present everywhere if the qualifying events and championships that it has been taken into account.

Both the Olympic Games and the world championships carry out their official competitions on long-course water surfaces. For this reason, swimming in a long pool is considered to be of the greatest importance in the sports field.

The main events in this category are the World Swimming Championships, the World Junior Championships, and the World Masters Championships; all held every two years.

Characteristics in short and long pool swimming

Despite the fact that swimming in a long pool is more common than swimming in a short course, the same modalities are developed in both and the regulations are the same. The only significant difference between the two is the distance of the course. However, each type of swimming has particular characteristics beyond those mentioned above.

Short and long pool swimming tend to favor certain types of swimmers, respectively. For sprinters, the 25 meter long pools are much more favorable due to the short and powerful course.

For their part, long-distance runners are the main beneficiaries of the Olympic swimming pools. In this type of surface, resistance is the determining factor to have a good performance on it.

Short or long pool swimming, which is your favorite?

You probably don’t notice many differences between swimming in a short pool and a long pool. However, we invite you to go to specialized places that handle the measurements of both surfaces so that you can experience both types.

You should not limit yourself with respect to swimming, the only limit should be the wall of the pool to turn and continue with the course.

Breaststroke style: the secret of his technique

The breaststroke is part of one of the four contemporary swimming styles and is distinguished as one of the oldest in the world. This is also recognized as “chest” and is one of the last to be learned by a beginning athlete.

Normally, the teaching of swimming by a professional in this sport is carried out from the simple to the more complex. In that order of ideas, the breaststroke style along with the butterfly is the last to be taught.

Therefore, there are beliefs in charge of pointing out that the breaststroke style has an interesting secret, useful for learning to swim more easily. Is this true or are they simple statements?

Breaststroke style and its technique

If you sit and observe closely, the breaststroke technique is the most unconventional of all the styles. The front crawl and backstroke are asymmetrical and have similar phases, despite being in the opposite direction.

The front and back kick is practically the same but in inverted positions. With respect to the breaststroke, his technique is symmetrical but has similarities with the front crawl in terms of body position.

However, the breaststroke style and its technique does not resemble any performed in the other styles. Its stroke does not present an aerial phase, which makes it a little shorter in relation to the others; his kick features a much more pronounced knee bend.

Is there a secret in the technique?

Generally speaking, it is clear that the breaststroke has very few similarities to the other styles. Despite this, this does not mean that it is not a style worth learning, perfecting, and which to emphasize within a competition.

Beyond some secrets regarding the technique, this type of style must be learned and understood. To improve in a timely manner, we advise you to regularly work on physical abilities such as strength and coordination, since they are the most used.

In addition, to understand it you must know how the proportion of the technique that requires a greater effort to move within the water surface works.

You may or may not call it a secret; however, knowing that the breaststroke is the slowest in comparison to the others is something to keep in mind. These slow movements are due to the resistance generated by the legs during the recovery phase of the kick.

If you understand this point, you will understand that the technique must not only have a very demanding coordination, but also a great amount of force to counteract this resistance.

In conclusion, the secret or the relevant point to keep in mind is focused. On the muscular development of the lower body. Most famous bracers have gone a long way thanks to their powerful leg action during the kick.

Breaststroke style: which way to choose?

this style has a peculiarity: it is commonly practiced due to its wide benefits linked to relaxation. However, no emphasis is placed on the development of the technique. As it occurs at a professional and competitive level, due to its complexity.

In this order of ideas, what is mentioned above happens? It becomes one of the last to be learned. As well as the butterfly style. For this reason, you need to choose one of two ways. To practice it – amateur or professional – to design your training routines.

If you lean towards relaxation, you do not need very elaborate training. And it is enough to carry out displacement sessions in which the technique is not taken into account.

But if you want to be a competitive barista, you have to be much more disciplined with your training routines. In addition, you should take into account the point. That is mentioned about the secret of the technique that focuses on the muscular development of the legs.

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