Which of the following accurately describes the basic swimming arm motions?

• A. The arms movements are opposed and each arm is out of the water for half of each stroke
• B. Both arms move together and each arm is out of the water for half of the stroke
• C. The arms movements are opposed and are never out of the water
• D. Both arms move together and are never out of the water

Answer: (A)

In the basic front crawl pattern, the arms work in opposition and take turns coming out of the water. As one arm begins the pull underwater, the other arm is finishing its pull and starts its recovery, lifting out of the water to re-enter for the next stroke. This alternating, out-of-water recovery for roughly half of the cycle lets you maintain continuous propulsion without both arms doing the same thing at the same time. It also helps balance and tempo so you can smoothly rotate and stay streamlined.

The idea that both arms move together or that neither arm ever comes out of the water doesn’t match how the standard basic stroke is executed, where one arm is recovering while the other is pulling.