Eggbeater kick
The eggbeater kick is a hands-free form of treading water that allows the swimmer to remain vertical[1]. It is a style of kicking where the swimmer's legs alternate one-legged breaststroke kicks[2]. This form provides continuous support because there is no break in the kick[3].
Advantages
The eggbeater kick comes with many useful advantages. It allows the swimmer
- to use their hands[4]
- to be stable (no swaying) in the water[4]
- to maintain the same level in the water[4]
- to conserve more energy by doing less motions
Disadvantages
The eggbeater kick has frustrating disadvantages because
- it is difficult to learn[5]
- it requires a lot of practice
- it causes knee problems - the rotating of the knee in a circular motion causes part of the knee to deteriorate, which brings feeling of pain in the knee[6]
Applications
The eggbeater kick is used in different types of swimming activities.
Sports
- Water Polo- players use this style of kick so their hands can be free to shoot, pass, dribble and control the ball. Water polo players need to perfect the eggbeater kick to have success[7].
- Synchronized Swimming- uses this style of kick so they can perform other important skills that require stabilization. Eggbeater kick allows the swimmers to lift teammates out of the water. To learn more about this sport and its use of eggbeater go to synchronized swimming.
Lifesaving
- Lifeguards must demonstrate they know how to use this kick because it allows them to use their hands to rescue victims. If lifeguards were to use another form of treading water they would be preoccupied with their hands, making them unable to help a drowning victim[8].
Armed forces
- Navy SEALs have been recruiting water polo players because their skills in the water allow them to succeed more in training than others[9].
Physics
The eggbeater kick propels swimmers in an upward direction. The kick style is based around Bernoulli’s Principle. In summary the principle states that the faster a fluid is moving the less pressure it has. The decrease in pressure causes the external pressure to exert a force, therefore creating a uniform pressure. This is the main cause of how a swimmer is propelled upwards.[10] The swimmer is rotating his/her legs circularly in opposite directions. With the foot being arched and angled, the circular motion allows the swimmer to make water above their foot move faster than the water under their foot. This difference in speed causes a difference in pressure which pushes the swimmer out of the water[11]. The faster the swimmer's feet move the more power he/she receives to propel upwards out of the water.[5]
Learning
To learn how to eggbeater one should
- Be in a sitting position
- Have knees bent almost at 90 degrees
- Have legs a little wider than shoulder width
- Rotate right leg in a circular motion counter-clockwise while left leg is rotating in a circular motion clockwise at alternate timing[3]
To aid in learning you can use your hands to scull. Sculling is a forward and backward motion of the hands at alternating angles near the surface of the water. It follows the same physics as the eggbeater kick.
References
- ^ "Tread Water : Definition of Tread Water and Synonym of Tread Water (English)." Dictionaries and Translators on Dictionary.sensagent.com. Web. 27 Jan. 2011. <http://dictionary.sensagent.com/tread+water/en-en/>.
- ^ Mills, Glenn. "Training - Double Med-Ball Eggbeater." GoSwim! 16 Sept. 2008. Web. 03 Feb. 2011. <http://www.goswim.tv/entries/5430/training---double-med-ball-eggbeater.html>.
- ^ a b "Treading Water." City College of San Francisco. Web. 26 Jan. 2011. <http://www.ccsf.edu/Resources/Faculty/dnagura/TreadingWater.htm>.
- ^ a b c Snyder, Pete. "Physiological, Psychological, and Medical Aspects of Water Polo." Home Page for F.C. Water Polo. Web. 27 Jan. 2011. <http://waterpolo.fullcoll.edu/>.
- ^ a b Dettamanti, Dante. "Dante's Water Polo Coaching Classes." Water Polo Planet. 1 Oct. 2010. Web. 01 Feb. 2011. <http://www.waterpoloplanet.com/HTML_Dante_pages2/dd09_Dante_Coaching_Class.html>.
- ^ Franić, Miljenko, Alan Ivković, and Ratko Rudić. "Injuries in Water Polo." Croation Medical Journal. June 2007. Web. 18 Jan. 2011. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2080536/
- ^ Nitzkowski, Monte. "The Swim Strokes and Water Polo: Chapter 2." Water Polo Planet: The Alternate Voice. Feb. 1998. Web. 18 Jan. 2011. http://www.waterpoloplanet.com/HTML_Monte_pages2/mn02_Learning_the_Basics.html
- ^ "Aquatics Programs: Student Recreation Center." Vanderbilt University | Nashville, Tennessee. Web. 27 Jan. 2011. <http://www.vanderbilt.edu/campusrecreation/aquatics/programs.html>.
- ^ http://www.usawaterpolo.org/SingleNews/11-01-26/USA_Water_Polo_U_S_Navy_SEALs_Join_Forces_Katella_High_School_s_Dylan_Peterson_Tabbed_For_Hardcore_Moment_of_the_Quarter.aspx?ReturnURL=%2fHome.aspx
- ^ "Fundamental Hydrodinamics of Swimming Propulsion (Jose M. Redondo) - Academia.edu." Universitat Politecnica De Catalunya - Academia.edu. Web. 27 Jan. 2011. <http://upc.academia.edu/JoseMRedondo/Papers/330707/Fundamental_Hydrodinamics_of_Swimming_Propulsion>.
- ^ Alexander, Marion, and Carolyn Taylor. "CoachesInfo.com - Information and Education for Coaches - The Technique of the Eggbeater Kick." Coaches Info Service Website. 2005. Web. 18 Jan. 2011. http://www.coachesinfo.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=231:waterpoloeggkick&catid=70:waterpologeneralarticles&Itemid=131
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