SWIMMING OX THK liAt K. HKAD FIRST. 



water, having the shoulders for a centre. The hands, on appearing again 

 on the surface below the hips, should pass immediately through the air 

 for another stroke. This mode is very serviceable when taken with 

 cramp, or symptoms of cramp, as it removes the stress entirely off the 

 muscles of the leg. It may be gracefully varied by using the right ami 

 left hands alternately. 



r the practice of a third method the hands and arms are to be use. I 

 D the last, but the progress should be aided by the lower limbs strik- 

 ing out with vigour, after having been drawn up to the body by the 



ke made with the arms. The kick should be made as the hands ] 

 through the air. This is a very quick manner of swimming, and is most 

 iinonly resorted to for relief when swimming in a match. 

 For another method, lie on your back with your arms folded, or with 

 your hands passed over your shoulders beneath your neck, or floating 

 quietly by your side, drawing up your legs towards the chest as high as 

 -ible, and then striking them backwards with vigour, which will cause 

 you to make considerable progress through the water without using the 

 arms at all. When you draw up your feet the movement is against the 

 surface, where there is little resistance, but, when you strike them out, 

 the force is applied in a 'downward direction, where the resistance is 

 greatest. The foregoing method is useful when your arms are tired, or 

 you have something to carry or tow after you, the hands being perfectly 

 free. 



Steering the course is easily managed by means of the legs. If the left 

 leg is allowed to remain still, and the right leg is used, the body is driven 

 to the left, and vice versa when the left leg is used and the right is kept 

 quiet. The young swimmer must remember that when he brings his 

 ther they must be kept quite straight and the knees still'. The 

 should also lie pointed, so as to offer no resistance to the water. 



Swimming on the back in a most useful branch of the art, as it iv.juiivs 

 comparatively little exertion and serves to rest the arms when thr\ 



1 with the ordinary mode of swimming. All swimmers who have to 

 traverse a considerable distance always turn occasionally >n the back. 

 They even in this position allow the arms to lie by the side until they are 

 completely rested, while at the same time the body is gently sent through 

 the water by the legs. 



the l.aek be perfectly learned, and practised continu- 

 ally, M young s\\ immer may always feel MCUre "f himself when 

 lie is in th. ii. 



