The primary way to keep your legs up while swimming is by kicking effectively.
Keeping your legs high and near the surface is crucial for maintaining a good body position in the water, reducing drag, and swimming more efficiently. A common issue swimmers face is their legs sinking.
The Role of Kicking
Based on swimming principles and the provided reference, consistent and correct kicking is key to lifting your legs:
- Lifts the Lower Body: Kicking generates propulsion and helps to push the lower half of your body upwards, counteracting the natural tendency for legs to sink.
- Engages the Core: As the reference states, kicking will improve your core strength and tighten up the muscles that connect the upper and lower body. This strengthening and tightening action is vital. A strong, engaged core helps you maintain a horizontal, streamlined body position.
- Improves Body Alignment: When your core is engaged and your kick is active, it helps connect your upper body (which is typically higher due to lung buoyancy) to your lower body, creating a flatter, more efficient line in the water. This tightening will lift your legs in the water.
Practicing for Improvement
Improving your leg position through kicking requires practice and focus.
- Consistent Kicking: Don't let your kick become passive. Actively kick from your hips, keeping your ankles relaxed.
- Core Engagement: Focus on keeping your abdominal muscles gently engaged while you swim. This helps maintain the connection between your upper and lower body.
- Drills: Incorporate kick-specific drills into your training. Using a kickboard allows you to focus solely on your leg movement and body position without coordinating arm strokes.
- Feel the Position: Pay attention to how your body feels in the water. Try to maintain a feeling of being stretched long and flat from the tips of your fingers to your toes.
With dedicated practice and a lot of kicking under the belt, you will see a big improvement in your body position, leading to higher legs and more efficient swimming.
