The role of the upper and lower limbs in front crawl swimming: The thoughts and practices of expert high-performance swimming coaches

Abstract

The perceptions of high-performance swimming coaches regarding the relative contribution of the upper and lower limbs are crucial in optimising athletic performance through subsequent prescription of training. Problematically, examination of these perspectives is lacking. To develop knowledge in this area, perceptions regarding the upper and lower limb velocity and metabolic contributions and reasoning surrounding whole body, arms-only and legs-only training prescription (referred to as swim, pull and kick, respectively) were garnered from seven male expert swimming coaches. The semi-structured interviews were transcribed verbatim by the lead researcher. Thematically analysed through open and axial-coding, results revealed that all coaches believed the upper limbs were the primary velocity generators but placed great importance on having well-conditioned muscles of the lower limbs. All coaches identified multiple interrelated parameters contributing to velocity generation and metabolic cost. In a typical training week, coaches allocate, on average, 58% (40–85%), 19% (0–30%) and 22% (10–40%) of the total training volume to swim, pull and kick training, respectively. All training prescription was based on anecdotal evidence and personal experience. Considering the variability in training allocation reported by these high-performance coaches, sport scientists and developmental coaches are encouraged to understand how factors such as the distance specialisation of the swimmers, injury status, stroke technique and physiological conditioning status of the upper and lower limb muscles influence the prescription of swim, pull and kick training within a typical training season.