THE KICK START: KEY OF ITS SUPERIORITY

Abstract

The purposed of this study was to observe the differences between the grab start and the kick start regarding the initial position that determines the aspect that the swimmers must train to improve their start. Results showed some advantages in the times obtained by the kick start in the block phase, keeping them until the hands entry. The kick start was able to reach a similar entry distance, similar than the grab start can do, at 0.18 s less with a small difference in the horizontal velocity in the flight. The rear foot allows the swimmers to reach an acceleration peak of 11.81 ± 2.05 m/s² in 0.37 ± 0.05 s while in the grab start the values were lower and the increase of the acceleration more progressive (8.97 ± 1.02 m/s² in 0.67 ± 0.08 s). With the kick start the swimmers were able to produce a great horizontal force since the moment of the starting signal.