Intensified training program design for the improvement of front crawl flip turn technique

Abstract

The crawl flip turn is one of the essential components of the swimming tests, and it is the technical skill that a swimmer must perform to carry out the change of direction of displacement at the moment he reaches the end of the pool. The main aim of this research was to design and implement a specific training program that would improve the technique of front crawl flip turns. 14 swimmers participated (eight men and six women), mean age 15.29 ± 2.32 years, which were divided into three groups: control, experimental 1 and experimental 2. A first session of turns recording (Data 1) was carried out, analyzing times and speeds of approach and separation, as well as the place of contact with the wall and the adopted position by feet at the moment of impulse. Afterwards, both experimental groups performed an Intensified Training Program for Front Crawl Turns (ITPFCT) during eight weeks. In addition, experimental group 2 received intrinsic sensory feedback through flip-turning sensors (FTV). At the end of the program, a second recording was made (Data 2), in order to check its effects. The results obtained allow us to affirm that the intervention produced quantitative improvements in experimental groups separation phase, and qualitatively in the place of contact of the feet on the wall. The highest percentage of improvement between intakes occurred in experimental group 2 (ITPFCT + FTV).