Lindsey Gidel

Final Draft

Biomechanical Analysis of a Swim Start

When completing a swim start there are six phases that can be described. These phases

include the block phase, flight phase, entry phase, glide phase, kick phase, and swim phase. Each

of these involve linear kinetics and kinematics as well as angular kinetics and kinematics when

the action is broken down into the position of the swimmer. Swimming is one of the most

investigated physical activities (Vilas-Boas, 2010) due to the rise in interest of the different

techniques and the continuously changing rules and technology. The swim start is found to be a

very important aspect of each race due to the effect it has on the time it takes to complete each

race (Lyttle and Benjanuvatra, 2005). Swimmers are able to enter the water at a faster speed than

they would be swimming in the water, which is especially important in sprinting events. An

effective technique can be a large portion of whether or not the athlete is able to drive the speed

needed to generate an explosive dive. Recent studies have found that the reaction time to the start

can have a large effect on the swim time which could be added onto the six other phases. It was

found that there needs to be a middle ground between the amount of time spent on the block

prior to the start of a race whether it is too much or too little to make sure a swimmer is not left

at the start (Vantorre et al, 2014). From many different pieces of research on the swim start as

well as a personal analysis of the physical dive by a Loras College swimmer, it will be possible

to distinguish the separate parts of a swim dive and how to most effectively complete the action.

Filming a Loras College swimmer made it possible to identify the phases in real time

rather than just analyzing another video found through research. In order to fulling understand

the phases of a swim start a video was taken in slow motion and further analyzed to section off
the six different phases. Along with the analyzation the personally filmed video was compared to

different previous research videos that show more of what the swim start should include. By

comparing these videos it is possible to better separate the phases as well as critique the form and

style of the Loras College swimmer and give recommendations to what would help improve the

athletes performance.

By breaking down the swim start into its six phases it is possible to find what specific

actions need to take place at each separate time. To begin the swimmer will take part in the block

phase. This involves reaction time to determine whether or not the athlete is able to take off into

the next phase successfully. The block phases specifically can be related to the start of sprinting

event in track and field though when compared closely they have more differences than

similarities. When focusing on the different swimming events the block phase can be divided

even further. Sprinters have a more effective dive when they rotate back before bringing

themselves upwards as they push back off the block. Longer distance swimmers focus on the

distance covered while in the air and exactly how their body will enter the water (Vantorre et al,

2014). The force that is applied to the block is related to how much the swimmer will be able to

maximize their horizontal velocity when completing the block phase. Reaction force can be

applied here as the swimmer applies an action force onto the block which results in a reaction

force coming from the block. Newtons Third Law explains for every action there is an equal and

opposite reaction, this shows that the amount of force placed upon the block by the swimmer will

create an equal and opposition reaction force for them to push off. As the phase is broken down it

involves starting in a low position where the chest is brought closer to the lower half of the body.

Next the swimmer would clutch the edge of the block in front of them and wait for the sound

where they could push down onto the block with their feet and push off horizontally towards the
water surface. During this push off the swimmer reaches their arms forward above their head in

order to reach a secure position that would create the least amount of resistance when entering

the water. As they increase the amount of force applied to the block with an appropriate reaction

time they are able to complete a more successful block phase (Vantorre et al, 2014).

Once the block phase is complete the swimmer is involved in the flight phase. This phase

lasts a very little amount of time and due to gravity always carries the athlete into the next phase

of entry. While in flight phase the swimmers goal is to jump up and out as far as possible to

cover the most distance in air before reaching the waters surface. This high distance can be

reached depending on the velocity that was developed during the block phase. By breaking down

the equation used for velocity of velocity equals distance over change in time it is easier to

understand that with an increase in velocity the swimmer would be able to cover more distance

in a shorter time. Flight distance is found to determine start performance and is a very important

section of the six phases (Ruschel et al, 2007). Different starts on the block such as the pike or

flat styles can also influence the flight phase. The pike start is found to have greater entry angles

as well as a shorter distance for entry than the flat start (Maglischo, 2003). Though other studies

have found the flat start has a faster entry with a flat body position than the pike start which

involves a higher velocity due to gravity with a horizontal body position that then leads to greater

resistance in the water (Vantorre et al, 2014). Researchers found that the swimmer is not only

focusing on the distance they are able to travel in the air before reaching the entry phase, but also

the amount of angular momentum they are able to generate for a clean entry. This would then

involve enough time to rotate in the air before reaching the water surface in a small hole (Mclean

et al, 2000). As the flight phase takes place, the swimmer is continuing the reach their arms into a

stream line position overhead as they began in the block phase. With the velocity formed from
the push off of the block they are able to reach a certain distance before hitting the waters

surface. Once they have completed the stream line position in flight they next reach the waters

surface engaging in the entry phase. This phase is one of the quickest phases of the six and then

leads directly into the gliding phase.

The stream line formed in flight is what will then affect the glide phase. The swimmer

will attempt to remain in this formation for as long as possible in order to move further through

the water while maintaining the previous velocity (Vantorre et al, 2014). Studies have found that

the glide phase is more important to the swim time than both the block and entry phase. By

making sure to maintain the streamline position for as long as possible the swimmer can decrease

the loss in velocity showing faster overall swim times (Hay, 1988). Along with the streamline

body position, it is important to note the position of the swimmers hands. By placing one hand

on top of the other during the flight phase the swimmer will be able to break the surface with less

resistance as well as continue the glide through the water at a greater velocity than with the

hands apart at shoulder width (Bulgakova and Makarenko, 1966).

As the glide phase is in motion the swimmer begins the kick phase into the swim phase.

The swimmer must begin kicking in order to maintain the velocity that was created in the first

few phases. This can involve many different types of kicking for the different strokes, but for the

freestyle start it involves a dolphin kick. The hips and legs are continuously flexed and extended,

mostly at the knee, in order to create a fluid movement. This motion is done with the arms still in

streamline position above the head and are kept there as the legs change to a freestyle kick. Once

the legs are continuously switching between opposite flexion and extension the swimmer can

then begin the swim phase. While the legs are continuing to increase speed one of the swimmers
arms will pull down from overhead in order to move water along down the side of the body

creating resistance to move in a forward direction (Vantorre et al, 2014).

Each of the six phases involve different aspects of kinetics and kinematics both linear and

angular. Linear kinematics are found throughout most of the swim start. As velocity equals

distance over the change in time the athletes ability to increase velocity when pushing off the

block will therefor increase the distance covered while decreasing the time it takes. Also the

acceleration of the swimmer could be increased when velocity is increased as well as decreasing

the time to complete the activity. The projectile motion of the swimmer is very important to

determine what the optimal angle of release should be to cover the most distance. Discovering

this optimal angle will then help the swimmer increase their flight distance which then improves

their performance. A high angle of release could lead to a steep angle of entry as well as a shorter

flight distance resulting in a deep gliding phase which would increase the time it takes to reach

the surface. An angle of release that is too low could increase the flight distance before entry but

result in a shallow glide phase which would increase drag placed on the swimmer and decrease

the distance of the glide phase. By finding the middle ground between too high or too low of an

angle of release the swimmers projectile motion would be improved to increase flight phase and

glide phase distance as well as providing a more successful entry phase (N.A, 2013).

Linear kinetics involve the force equation of force equals mass multiplied by the

acceleration. The center of gravity of the swimmer in the starting position determines what

distance they will be able to cover. By changing the position of the swim start the swimmer

changes the amount of force that is needed to create an optimal distance in the flight phase.

These types of starts vary from the grab start, track start, and slingshot start. Many swimmers use

the track start as the block time is not as high as the slingshot start and the amount of force
needed is less which results in less work required from the swimmer. As the force is increased

the time will also need to be increased to create a higher impulse on the start. These aspects

together create a greater speed from the block start which could lead to an increase in flight

phase distance (N.A, 2013).

The angular kinematics of a swim start are broken down into the position of the

swimmers legs on the block as well as the angle of entry and how the angular velocity is

increased by decreasing the time it takes to change the angle of degrees. The angle of the

swimmer entering the water directly after the flight phase has an effect on the distance of the

glide phase as well as the speed the swimmer is able to continue the dive. This angle comes from

the position of the swimmers arms during the flight phase and whether or not they are able to

move them into an overhead position with hands overlapped to create a clean entry (Vantorre et

al, 2014). Along with the angular momentum of the arms the swimmers projectile effects the

angular velocity. If they are able to complete a greater change in degrees over a shorter amount

of time it will result in an increase in angular velocity (N.A, 2013). The swimmers leg position

effects the start in a similar way as the arms, the position they start in will change what force

they need to apply to decrease the time it takes to change the degrees of the angle to a straight

position for entering the water surface through a small hole (Vantorre et al, 2014).

Angular kinetics are found in the swim start through torque in the shoulder as well as the

legs. The amount of explosive power that the swimmer is able to produce to cover the most

distance involves the torque applied. The amount of force applied by each joint in combination

creates a greater torque then being used for the swimmers flight phase. During a track start both

legs are able to produce torque though at different times when pushing off the blocks creating an

increase in speed and force applied while a decrease in the torque at the location. In order to
create maximal explosive power the more torque applied would be needed from both legs

applying force in a short time (N.A, 2013).

By applying the concepts discussed above as well as comparing videos of professionals

completing a swim start it is easier to dissect the start and know what changes need to be made

by the Loras College swimmer in order to improve her swim start performance. The Loras

College swimmer began the block phase in a track start which is most commonly used by

swimmers at this time though there are other positions that could increase the flight distance. The

swimmer should have increased the bend in her legs slightly to decrease the angle in order to

produce more force when pushing off the blocks. As she pushed off the blocks her head came up

first which could slow her down as she transitions into the flight phase. By bringing her arms up

first and at a quicker pace she could decrease the time it takes to push off the blocks. When

moving into the next phase her dive is shorter and at a more downward angle than it should be.

By changing the aspects mentioned in the block phase she could have gone up and out more to

create a longer flight distance. As well as during the block phase she should have lowered her

head to create less resistance though her hand position helped decrease resistance by the close

overlapped position. The entry phase began well with the overlap hand position though it needs

adjustment to lower the head position and how tight the arms are being held together. Also her

legs are bent too soon before fully entering the water which increased the size of the hole dove

into and therefor created more drag into the next phase. The glide phase needs similar changes to

head position and tighter arms to decrease drag and increase the distance she is able to cover

underwater before beginning the kick phase. During the kick phase her kick could have begun

sooner once she was fully under the water surface and decrease the space between her feet during

each dolphin kick. Her last part of the swim start is the swim phase where she could start the
freestyle kick slightly sooner to overcome the resistance from the water as her position under the

surface was good to begin and continuing swimming to increase her speed.

In order to successfully complete a swim start the six phases must be well understood and

practiced. By analyzing the block phase, flight phase, entry phase, glide phase, kick phase, and

swim phase the athlete is more able to understand the kinetics and kinematics involved. The

sport of swimming has many parts to it that can be investigated and each has its own importance

in order to improve. It has been found that the swim start is a very important aspect of each race

due to the effect it has on race time (Lyttle and Benjanuvatra, 2005). By correcting the kinetics

and kinematics of the swim start swimmers are able to better their technique which will assist

them in reaction time and explosiveness. An effective technique can be the large portion of

whether or not the athlete is able to drive the speed needed for such explosiveness (Vantorre et al,

2014). From recent research as well as analyzing a Loras College Swimmers swim start it was

possible to distinguish the six different phases of a swim dive and how to most effectively

complete the action and improve performance.

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