Coordination and propulsion and non-propulsion phases in 100 meters breaststroke swimming

Purpose: The main purpose of this study to analyze the coordination, propulsion and non-propulsion phases in the 100 meters breaststroke race. Methods: Twenty-seven male swimmers (15.7±1.98 years old) with the total body length (TBL) of 247.0±10.60 [cm] performed an all-out 100m breaststroke bout. The bouts were recorded with an underwater camera installed on a portable trolley. The swimming kinematic parameters, stroke rate (SR) and stroke length (SL), as well as the coordination indices based on propulsive or non-propulsive movement phases of the arms and legs were distinguished. Results: Swimming speed (V 100surface breast ) was associated with SL (R=0.41, p<0.05) and with TBL tending towards statistical significance (R=0.36, p<0.07), all relationships between the selected variables in the study were measured using partial correlations with controlled age. SL interplayed negatively with the limbs propulsive phase Overlap indicator (R=-0.46, p<0.05), but has no significant relationship to the non-propulsion Glide indicator. Conclusions: The propulsion in-sweep (AP3) phase of arms and their non-propulsion partial air recovery (ARair) phase interplayed with V 100surface breast (R=0.51, p<0.05 and 0.48 p<0.05) respectively, displaying the importance of proper execution of this phase (AP3) and in reducing the resistance recovery phases in consecutive ones.