Track starts

[landlubber]

Which foot should a right handed swimmer have foremost, in a track start? My little 'un is right handed but leads with her left foot. This seems counterintuitive to me. Is right, wrong or just doesn't matter?

[swimusa]

Logically I would say your right leg. It should be the leg that (a) is the strongest leg to give you a powerful push, and (b) should be a natural feeling, where you are comfortable. I thinki most right handed people I have seen have used their right foot because it tends to be the stronger leg.

[Steve]

Originally posted by swimusa
(b) should be a natural feeling, where you are comfortable.

Therefore, she should use whichever leg she feels comforatble with. If that's her left so be it. IMHO it's no good having a stronger right leg and leading with it, if it feels so uncomfortable it puts you off your start. :cool:

[swimusa]

it makes more sense to. that is the leg you have your greatest pushoff with. Otherwise, you'll just fall into the pool. The back leg is for balance.

[Pete]

Track starts are rather a specialist method of starting. I have only coached 3 swimmers who have used it effectively. Unless you have lightening reactions and use an overswing to help with momentum away from the block you might as well stick with a more conventional start.:idea:

[landlubber]

My daughter's coach stopped teaching the little ones anything but track starts when the one start rule came in. From what I've seen of kids the same age in other clubs round here, it seems to be the standard for the younger swimmers. Is that the case in other parts of the country?

[sub24]

Track starts are for swimmers who like to get quick reaction time from the gun. Traditional starts are for swimmers who want to capitalise on a great underwater kick. However this is not totally exclusive.

To see which foot to put forward on the blocks try this: stand with both feet together, step forward. The foot which you used to push yourself forward should be the foot on the front of the blocks. It is your dominant leg.

There are two types of track starts: a leaning back start, and a leaning forward start. The leaning back uses the arms to help 'launch' the body forward in the intial phase of the signal. The leaning forward start does not use the arms as much, it quickly sends the arms outwards to have the legs do the work.

If you watch most international meets you will notice a mixture of these starts. The best start is up to the coach and swimmer to decide because it depends on the charactoristics of the swimmers physique.

[nsswimmer]

i have a very late reaction to the start, and so i like to use a traditional start. if i use a track start, i spring back, then forward, further slowing my reaction. i think it's really up to the swimmer what kind of start to use and which leg they feel is more comfortable to push off of. my friend is left-handed, but she only writes with her left-hand, she uses righty scissors, etc. so it could just be your daughter/son's preference.

[mammamedley]

try looking at:
www.quickgetaway.com

[scswimmergal29]

I'm right-handed and when I do a track start I lead with my left foot. It's just more natural for me I guess. So it's not like totally weird to do it that way and it works great for me.

[swimmer]

yeh i aggree, i don't do track starts but when we had a go at them i was way more comfortable with my left leg forward (and i'm right-handed)

[Kaci]

I've never done track starts but I would have thought as the leading foot has to apply the stronger force, would you not put the stronger leg forwards which is usually the right foot, most ppl.
:confused:

[swimmer]

hummm in my experience and that of my friends i would have to dissagree- i and my friends tried with our right but we couldnt balance or for some reason get as much drive - and with the one start rules it was too risky to try a start that we were wobbly on. (we did spend a whie practicing but it didn't get any better, it just felt more natural with our left first)

[ktcute]

Its not uncommon for people to be cross dominant with respect to limbs, and senses.

For example I am right handed, but use my left foot to kick with. My little brother is right handed when he writes, but a left handed batsman. Usually people have dominant limbs and senses on the right side of the body, but its not always the case, for example the right ear usually predominates with the right hand.

Steve is right to say go with the flow on this. Whichever comes naturally will be the right way, and the littl'un might even change their mind before they settle on a decision.

Incidentally cross dominance can be indicative of other conditions, in my case I'm dyslexic, though didn't find out for a long time, so you might want to keep an eye on their spelling? Funny how things relate to one another.

[Katie]

The way I found out which leg to use (although probably not the safest) was really easy, you just get someone to come up and give u a push whne you're not expecting it. The leg you put out to stop you falling flat on your face is the leg you should use. That's what I was told any how!

[Unfit]

i do track starts - have found that i have more control. i am right handed but start with my left foot forward. when i try it with right foot forward it feels completely wrong. coincidentally, when i do a cartwheel i like to lead with my left foot as well.

[blownaway]

I think it is common for the dominant leg to be at the rear of the block, as it is more co-ordinated, and offers more balance which is the purpose of the rear leg. It would be benifical for the swimmer to improove balance and strength in both legs as should be the case regardless.

[Dreama]

hate track starts, they're too flat and don't seem to create as much power from the blocks to me, also when i do a traditional two-footed start I get much more streamlined with locked ankles etc

[swimmer]

yeh i prefer the traditional start, i wobble on the track and feel really unbalanced!! ive tried it with each foot forward and im just so unbalanched on all of thm!

[Katie]

Originally posted by swimmer
yeh i prefer the traditional start, i wobble on the track and feel really unbalanced!! ive tried it with each foot forward and im just so unbalanched on all of thm!
All? HOw many feet do u have??

[swimmer]

er 2. all meaning both