Swimming is a popular exercise that can help you build strength and endurance, and maintain or improve your health. It can also be a fun and social activity. It is important to understand the rules of swimming etiquette so you can enjoy the sport without causing any harm or disruption to others. These rules include understanding the basics of the strokes, maintaining proper body position in the water, and being courteous to other swimmers.
The four main strokes used in swimming are freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, and butterfly. Each has its own style, and swimmers may choose to focus on only one or swim all four in events called medley races. Some swimmers compete in individual and team races, ranging from short races to long distances.
Proper body position in the water is key to avoiding drag and improving your speed. When swimming freestyle, your head should be submerged and your neck relaxed so that you can breathe through your mouth. This helps reduce stress on the shoulder muscles, which are responsible for propelling your arms through the water.
Your feet should be relaxed and almost floppy, and your legs should move in an alternating flutter kick to generate propulsion. The key is to balance the number of kicks with the number of strokes. Getting the ratio right takes practice, but once you do, it can be very fast and efficient.
Once your arm enters the water, it is important to lead with the pinky and not smack the surface of the water. This will allow you to catch the most water on your stroke and will prevent extra resistance from stiff shoulders. It is also important to have a good downsweep, where your hand pushes water up and out in a backward motion.
You should aim to get your fingers underwater as soon as you start stroking, and they should come out of the water in the same place when your hand is on the surface. This will ensure that you are catching the most water with each stroke and improving your efficiency.
When you are breathing during the stroke, make sure to keep your face clear of the water and rotate your head slightly as you reach the surface. This will minimize the strain on your neck and prevent any air bubbles from entering your lungs.
If there is only one person in the lane, you can swim on either side of the lane stripe. If there are two swimmers, you can swim a circular pattern in the center of the lane, or you can choose to swim with your partner and stay to the right, similar to driving a car.
If there are more than two swimmers in the lane, you should follow the lane management rules of your facility. These may be different from the rules of a competition or training program, so it is best to ask your coach or consult with the facilities staff for guidance.