Swimming Speed, Stroke Rate and Stroke Length During Maximal lOO

m Freestyle of Boys 11-16 Years of Age.

Andrei VORONTSOV, Dimitry BINEVSKY

Amateur Swimming Federation ofGreat Britain,

Bath, UK
A_r_vorontsov@hotmail. corn.

Abstract.
The purpose of this study was to establish the age dynamics of stroke rate (SR), stroke length
(SL) and swimming speed (V) during maximal 1OOm freestyle swimming of boys aged 11-16
years. The subjects of this study were 225 swimmers from 3 swimming schools and the State
College of Olympic Reserves (Moscow). Each swimmer performed maximal lOOm freestyle
swim from a dive. The swim was recorded using a video camera (frequency 50 Hz) and VHS-
VCR installed on a trolley, which accompanied a swimmer along the pool deck throughout the
entire swim. Video records of swimming with electronic time data were processed and velocity
of "pure" swimming at 4 different sections of the 100 m race, as well as SR and SL for each lap
of "pure" swimming were calculated. No age-related differences were found for average and
length-by-length values of SR. In all ages the uniformed length-to-length decrease of SR was
established. SL during the race changed insignificantly. The decrease of V toward the end of lOO
m race in all age cohorts should be attributed primarily to the decrease of SR.
Key words: Young swimmers, stroke rate, stroke distance, swimming velocity.

Introduction
Stroke rate (SR) and stroke length (SL) ratio as well as changes of racing speed (V) during
competitive swimming are widely regarded as macro characteristics of sport technique and its
efficiency. The dynamics of these characteristics during competitive swimming have been the
subject of numerous investigations [Haljand et al. (1984), Lipsky and Abramov (1988),
Wakayoshi et al. (1992), Wirtz W., Wilke K. and Zimmermarm F. (1992), Pyne and Trewin et
al. (2001)]. The subjects of those studies were physically mature elite athletes able to control and
voluntarily change the SR and SL during the race in order to reduce the decrease in swimming
speed due to accumulation of fatigue.
Young swimmers learn to control the structure and efficiency of movement while they grow up
and mature in the process of a 5-7- year training program. During that time they pass through
pre-pubescent and pubescent stages of ontogenesis when rapid physical growth and motor
development take place. Significant changes in body build, motor abilities and fitness may be
reflected in the "macro" structure and efficiency of sport techniques. Knowledge of the age
particulars and year-by-year dynamics of technical characteristics may allow us to control and
correct the process of technical preparation of young switmners.
The purpose of this study was to establish the age dynamics of SR, SL and swinnning speed in
young swimmers (boys aged 11-16 years) during a maximal 100 m freestyle swim and thus
establish the formation of special switmning skills during the growth from 11 to 16 years of age.

195
 Andrei VORONTSOV

Methods and Subjects.

The subjects of this study were 225 boys 11 to 16 years of age from 3 swimming schools and
the State College of Olympic Reserves (Moscow). The experiment was held in the 50 m
swimming pool of the Russian State Academy of Physical Education. Each swimmer performed
a maximal lOOm freestyle swim from a dive. Only those swims with a time less than PB+2 s
(personal best time+ 2 s) were taken into consideration.
For the purpose of this study the entire distance was conditionally split into 4 sections: 0-25 m,
25-50 m, 50-75 m and 75-100 m. Both sides of the swimming lane (in all cases it was the same
lane - 3rd lane from the camera) were marked with pairs of black buoys - 7.5 meters from
starting edge and 5 m and 2.5 m before the turning wall. This was done in order to exclude the
effect of the starting dive, turn and gliding on calculation of the speed of "pure" swimming, SR
and SL.
Each swim was recorded using a video camera (recording frequency 50Hz) and VHS-VCR with
TV display installed on a trolley. The trolley, towed by operator-camera men, accompanied'each
swimmer along the pool deck throughout the entire swim. During recording, the operator kept
the swimmer's image in the middle of TV display. The optical axis of the camera was
perpendicular to the swimming direction. The starting sound signal was synchronised with a
flashlight to indicate the beginning of the race on videotape. A signal from an electronic timer
was recorded on the same videotape as the swimming race throughout the time of video
recording.
Video records of swimming with electronic time data were processed and the following
characteristics were calculated:
velocity of"pure" swimming (V) in 4 different sections within the 100 m swim,
SR and SL in each length of "pure" swimming.
SR (cycles· min-,)for each length was determined as: 0.5·APn: tn x 60
where APn- the number of arm pulls (each arm pull constitutes a half of freestyle's swimming
cycle) completed by a swimmer at each segment of "pure" swimming and tn- time of "pure"
swimming at every "quarter" of the race.
SL in each length of "pure" swimming were determined as distance of the length divided by SR.
Hence:
SR1= O.S·AP1 (from7.5to25)/tl · 60; SL1 = (25-7.5)/ SR1;
SRz= O.S·APz crromzs to47.s)/tz · 60; SLz= (47.5-25) /SRz;
SR3=0.5·AP3 (from ss to 7s)/t3 · 60; SL3=(75-55)/SR3;
S~=0.5·AP4 Cfrom75to too)/14 • 60; SL4=(100-75) /S~.
Average values of V, SR and SL per distance were calculated based on individuals' average
values. T-statistics (ANOVA, SPSS) was used to establish significance of the differences in V,
SR, and SL between age cohorts and lap-by-lap changes of V, SR, and SL within each age
cohort (results of analysis are given in Supplementum, tables 4 and 5).

Results and Discussion

l. Dynamics of the "pure" swimming speed during 100-m swimming:
The data in table l contains the values of "pure" swimming speed (V) in each of the 4 sections
and the average "pure" V during 1OOm freestyle race in boys 11-16 years of age.
Within each age group the same tendency was apparent - swimming speed decreased from the
first lap to the last (p<O.Ol-0.001). Comparison of the data for consecutive ages shows that
swimming speed values in every length of "pure" swimming and average racing speed in the
1OOm freestyle event increased with the age of the swimmer. On the basis of year-by-year
differences we assume that the most rapid growth of the V occurs from 11 to 13 years of age. A

196
Swimming speed, stroke rate and stroke length

slow increase of V at 13-14 years is followed by a second acceleration from 14 to 16 years of

age.

Table 1: Swimming speed (V (s-1)) at consecutive laps during maximal lOO-m freestyle swim in
boys 11-16 years of age. Values are mean± SD.

A g e Cohorts
Lap 11 (n=39) 12 (n=30) 13 (n=36) 14 (n=47) 15 (n=37) 16 (n=36)
1-st 25 m 1.19±0.09 1.33±0.12 1.53±0.08 1.60±0.09 1.68±0.08 1.70±0.09
2-nd 25 m 1.09±0.19 1.19±0.12 1.43±0.08 1.54±0.09 1.56±0.08 1.65±0.06
3-d 25m 1.06±0.09 1.13±0.16 1.40±0.10 1.40±0.07 1.44±0.09 1.55±0.06
4-th 25 m 1.01±0.18 1.11±0.21 1.28±0.08 1.40±0.06 1.40±0.10 1.54±0.07
Average 1.09±0.10 1.19±0.13 1.41±0.16 1.48±0.11 1.52±0.07 1.61±0.06

2. Dynamics of the SR during 100-m swimming:

The age dynamics of the values of SR and SL during competitive swimming in 100 m freestyle
represent considerable interest because swimming speed is the derivative namely of SR and SL.
The values ofSR during 100 m swimming for each age group are shown in Table 2. It should be
noted that the mean values of swimming tempo are almost identical in all age cohorts. The
values of SR found in boys 11-16 years of age were much higher than those reported by Pyne
and Trewin (200 1) for the fmalists of the Sydney Olympic Games competing in the 100 m
freestyle, but very close to the values of SR demonstrated by Olympic competitors in the 50 m
freestyle. As we assumed before these studies, SR in young swimmers should decrease with the
age due to somatic growth and the increase of strength and endurance. Nevertheless, we did not
establish any consistent and significant decrease of average SR with age (see Supplementwn
Table 4). In every age cohort we found young swimmers with high as well as low SR.

Table 2: Stroke Rate (cycles min- 1) at consecutive laps during maximal100 m freestyle swim in
boys 11-16 years of age. Values are mean± SD.

A g e Co o r t s
Lap 11 (n=39) 12 (n=30) 13 (n=36) 14 (n=47) 15 (n=37) 16 (n=36)
1-st 25m 63.4± 9.3 61.4± 5.8 64.1± 6.4 65.9± 5.6 65.6± 8.7 62.2± 5.6
2-nd 25 m 60.4± 5.2 56.9± 4.5 58.4± 6.0 59.6± 3.9 58.9± 4.2 58.4± 5.1
3-d 25m 56.4± 4.7 52.7± 4.5 55.1± 6.1 58.3± 5.2 56.5± 6.6 56.4± 4.8
4-th 25m 52.6± 4.7 51.4± 4.0 53.9± 6.7 56.7± 4.0 55.2± 6.5 56.6± 4.6
Average 58.2± 6.1 55.6± 3.8 57.9± 5.7 60.1± 3.9 59.0± 7.3 58.4± 4.6

It looks like swimmers choose their own most "comfortable" stroke rate at earlier ages (at the
age of 11-12 years). Hence it should become a prime concern for coaches to help age groups to
produce a more economical stroke rate and to teach them to concentrate more on increasing the
stroking distance to an optimal level.
We found consistent decreases of SR from length to length for boy-swimmers of all age cohorts.
Decrease ofSR from lap 1 to lap 2, lap 2 to lap 4, lap 1 to laps 3 and 4 was significant (p<0.01-
0.001, (see Supplementurn Table 5). It follows from the results of our studies that the decrease
of swimming velocity is related to the reduction of SR due to fatigue. This supports the data of
Barden and Rorke (1999), who found that changes in swimming velocity only affected stroke
rate, not stroke length and a decreased stroke rate might serve as a useful indicator of loss of
anaerobic power. Earlier MacArdle and Reilly (1992) suggested that a fall in SR during
competitive racing is a consequence of the decrease in pulling velocity.

197
 Andrei VORONTSOV

During a 1OOm race young swimmers did not demonstrate any compensatory increase of SR in
order to prevent slowing down of swimming speed. It is interesting that similar length-by-length
decrease of SR was found for the male finalists at the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships
(1999) reported by a research group from the Australian Institute of Sport (the winner had stroke
rate respectively 57.3-53.3-52.9-51.3. Total decrease of SR was 10.5 %!).

3. Dynamics ofthe SL during 100-m swimming:

The average value of SL (table 3) increased in the 11 to 16 cohort with periods of fast gain
between 11-13 (p<0.001) and 15-16 years (p<0.05). Minor slow down in the growth rate ofSL
took place between 13 and 14 years of age. These results are in agreement with our previous
research related to the growth of the dynamic parameters of pulling actions in young swimmers
[Vorontsov and Binevsky (1991)]. In accordance with that data at the age of 11-12 years there
occurs a significant increase of pulling power and efficiency related to improvement of core
swimming skills at the early stages of multi-year training.
Following increase of SLat the age of 15-16 years, as we assumed, m~y be connected with a
period of fast increase of muscle mass and power [Vorontsov et al (1999)].

Table 3: Stroke length in consecutive lengths during maximal 100-m :freestyle swim in boy-
swimmers 11-16 years of age. Values are mean ± SD.

Age Cohorts
Lap 11 (n=39) 12 (n=30) 13 (n=36) 14 (n=47) 15 (n=37) 16 (n=36)
1-st 25 m 1.13±0.05 1.30±0.16 1.43±0.16 1.46±0.11 1.54±0.20 L64±0.17
2-nd 25 m 1.08±0.06 1.26±0.14 1.47±0.15 1.55±0.12 1.59±0.09 1.70±0.17
3-d 25 m 1.03±0.12 1.29±0.12 1.52±0.13 1.44±0.12 1.53±0.09 1.65±0.16
4-th 25 m 1.15±0.06 1.30±0.11 1.42±0.15 1.48±0.15 1.52±0.19 1.63±0.16
Average 1.12±0.06 1.28±0.13 1.46±0.15 1.48±0.13 1.55±0.19 1.65±0.17

With regards to the change of SL from length to length we did not find any significant fall in that
parameter during the race in all age cohorts. An increase of SL at the last 25-m section in 11-12
year old boys may reflect the contribution of leg kick with the onset of fatigue, but the role of
the leg kick was beyond our attention in this study.
The highest value of SL for boy-swimmers of 13-16 years age was produced in the 2nd 25m
section, where despite a much lower SR than during the first lap, swimming speed was still
higher than average racing V. Exactly the same tendency was found in fmalists of the 1999 Pan
Pacific Championships [AlS Biomechanics (1999)] - 7 of the 8 elite swimmers had the largest
Sill in the 2nd 25m section. During swimming at the 3rd and 4th 25-m sections of the race,
young swimmers demonsrated a non-significant decrease of SL which together with a significant
reduction ofSR caused significant decrease in swimming speed (p<O.OOl).
We suggest than the quality of arm pulls during swimming in the second 25 m section is the
best and the SRJSL ratio is optimal (moderate SR, maximal SL while swimming speed is above
average distance speed). It may be used as a model in the process of technical preparation of age
group swimmers. The accent on the maintenance of large SL and constant moderate SR will
mean an introduction of reasonable physical difficulty into a process of technical preparation
and, thus, will facilitate both physical and technical preparedness of young swimmers.

Conclusions
During the process of growth and multi-years training, there occurs an increase of average V and
average SL, V and SL in all 4 consecutive sections of the 100 m distance. Periods of rapid
increase of V and SL in boys (12-13 and 15-16 years of age) coincide with periods of rapid
growth of maximal strength and anaerobic lactic ability [Vorontsov et al. (1999)].

198
Swimming speed, stroke rate and stroke length

No significant age-related differences were found for average and length-by-length values of SR.
In all age cohorts uniform length-to-length decreases in SR were established. It seems that the
individual rhythm of swimming movement is formed in boys already at the age of 11-12 years.
The decrease of V toward the end of 100-m distance in all age cohorts should be attributed to the
decrease of SR. No temporal compensatory increase of SR in order to delay the decrease of V
was found.
Further investigation of V, ·SR and SL dynamics at different competitive distances in young
swinuners of different sexes and ages have considerable topical significance.

References
AIS Biomechanics (1999). Swim Competition Analysis: Pan Pacific Championships, Sydney,
August 22-29 1999. (Scientific guidance by B.Mason),
AIS Sydney. Barden J.M. and Rorke S.C. (1999). Stroke parameter relationships in a repeated
swim interval training set. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 31(5), Supplement
abstract 375.
Haljand R., Tamp T., Kaal P. (1984). Models of technique of the swimming strokes with
methods of their perfection and control. Pedagogical Institute of E. Vilde, Tallin.
Lipsky E.V., Abramov A.B. (1988). Competitive performance of sprint-swimmers on the
distance 50 m. In: Plavanie, (Editor L.P.Makarenko), pp.13-16. FiS, Moscow.
McArdle D., Reilly T. (1992). Consequences .of altering stroke parameters in front crawl
swimming and its simulation. In: Biomechanics and Medicine in Swimming. Swimming
Science VI, (Editors: D.MacLaren, T.Reilly and A.Lees), E and FN SPON, Cambridge.
Pyne D., Trewin C. (2001). Analysis of stroke rates in freestyle events at 2000 Olympics.
Swimming in Australia, January-February 2001, downloaded from http:/www.ascta.com
(ASCTA Online Library).
Vorontsov A.R., Binevsky D.A. (1991). Time and dynamic parameters of front crawl arm pull
in boy-swinuners 11-16 years of age. Annual scientific report of Swimming Department.
Central State Institute of Physical Culture, Moscow.
Vorontsov A.R., Dyrco V. V., Binevsky D.A., Solomatin V.R., Sidorov N.N. (1999). Patterns of
growth for some characteristics of physical development, functional and motor abilities in
boy-swinuners 11-18 years. In: Biomechanics and Medicine in Swimming Vlii. (Editors:
K.L.Keskinen, P.V.Komi, A.P.Hollander), Gummerus Printing, Jyvaskyla.
Wakayoshi K., Nomura T., Takahashi G., Mutoh Y., Miyashito M. (1992). Analysis of
swimming races in the 1989 Pan Pacific swimming championships and 1988 Japanese
Olympic Trials. In: Biomechanics and Medicine in Swimming. Swimming Science VI,
(Editors: D.MacLaren, T.Reilly and A.Lees), E and FN SPON, Cambridge, pp.135-141.
Wirtz W., Wilke K., Zinunermann F. (1992). Velocity, distance per stroke and stroke frequency
of highly skilled swimmers in 50 m freestyle sprint in a 50 and 25 m pool.In: Biomechanics
and Medicine in Swimming. Swimming Science VI, (Editors: D.MacLaren, T.Reilly and
A.Lees), E and FN SPON, Cambridge, pp.l31-134

199
 Andrei VORONTSOV

Supplementum.

Table 4: Significance of the year-by year increase of the mean values of V, SR and SL in boy-
swimmers from 11 to 16 years.

Compared Age Cohorts

11 and 12 12 and 13 13 and 14 14 and 15 15 and 16
IV l't lap P<O.OOl P<O.OOl P<O.OOl P<O.OOl
tv 2"d lap P<0.05 P<O.OOl P<O.OOI P<O.OOl
V 3'd lap P<0.05 P<O.OOl P<0.05 P<O.OOl
~4th lap P<0.05 P<O.OOl P<O.OOl P<O.Ol
V average P<O.OOl P<O.OOl P<O.OOl P<O.OOl
SR l't lap P<0.05
~R2"dlap P<O.Ol
~R 3rd lap P<O.Ol P<0.05
SR4th lap P<O.OS
SRaverage P<0.05 P<0.05
SL 1st lap P<O.OOl P<O.Ol P<O.OOl P<O.OS
SL znd lap P<O.OOI P<O.OOl P<O.Ol P<O.Ol
SL 3'd lap P<O.OOl P<O.OOl P<O.Ol P<O.OOl P<O.OOl
SL 4th lap P<O.OOl P<O.OOl P<O.OS
SL average P<O.OOl P<O.OOl P<O.OOl P<O.OS

Table 5: Significance of lap-to-lap dynamics of mean values of V, SR and SL in boy-swimmers

of different ages.
. --
Age Cohorts
11 12 13 14 15 __ _ l L _
V 1st -V znd P<O.Ol P<O.OOl P<O.OOI P<O.Ol P<O.OOl P<O.Ol
tv 2"d -V 3'd P<O.OOl P<O.OOl P<O.OOl
V 3'd -V 4th P<O.OOl
Vl't-V3'd P<O.OOl P<O.OOl P<O.OOI P<O.OOl P<O.OOl P<O.OOl
V l't -V 4th P<O.OOl P<O.OOl P<O.OOl P<O.OOl P<O.OOl P<O.OOl
V znd_V 4th P<O.OOl P<O.OOI P<O.OOl P<O.OOI
SR 1st-SR znd P<O.Ol P<O.OOl P<O.OOl P<O.OOl P<0.01
SR 2"d-SR 3'd P<O.OOl P<O.OOl P<O.OS
SR 3rd-SR 4th P<O.OOl
SR 1'1-SR 3'd P<O.OOl P<O.OOI P<O.Ol P<O.OOl P<O.Ol
~R 151-SR 4th P<O.OOl P<O.OOl P<O.OOl P<O.OOl P<O.OOl P<O.OOl
SR znd_SR 4th P<O.OOl P<O.OOl P<O.OOl P<O.OOl P<O.OOl P<O.OO!_
ISL 1st-SL znd P<O.OOI P<0.001
SL znd -SL 3'd P<0.05 P<O.OOl P<O.Ol
SL 3'd-SL 4th P<O.OOl P<O.Ol
SL 1st-SL 3'd P<O.OOl P<0.05
SL 1st-SL 4th P<O.OS
SL znd -SL 4th P<O.OOl

200