Swimming Research and Education at the

Centre for Aquatics Researchand Education (CARE)

The University of Edinburgh

Ross Sanders Hideki Takagi

The FacilityThe Facility

Fully automatic control of camera functions

6 Lane 25m pool

6 underwater cameras, 3 above water

Floor to any depth at one end

Software controlled video data collection and feedback

Digital video data storage – analysis, web display etc.

Research and Education Activities

Learn to swim research (SNL)

Swimmer analysis and feedback• Coach and swimmer services• Coach and swimmer workshops/seminars• Stroke camps

Web activities• Coaches’ Information Service

• Educational CPD modules

Video and CD ROM production activities

International collaboration

RoozbehNaemiTurns

Stelios PsycharakisIntracyclic Velocity

ShupingLi

Hydrotherapy

Morteza ShahbaziActive and

PassiveDrag

Chris Connaboy

UnderwaterKicking

Research Projects

Ross Sanders3D Kinetic and

Kinematics Mid Pool

Models Underlying Our Research PlanModels Underlying Our Research Plan

1. Analysis of Mid-Pool Swimming1. Analysis of Mid-Pool Swimming • New model for analysing mid pool swimming • Differs from the traditional stroke-length/stroke

frequency approach

• Forces and torques are difficult to measure

• Stroke-length/stroke-frequency analysis is limited wrt developing strategies for improving performance of individual swimmers

• New model is based on biomechanical principles behavioral goals critical features

Global Goals

Primary MechanicalPrinciple

PrimaryBehaviouralGoals

Secondary BehaviouralGoals

SecondaryMechanicalPrinciple

CriticalFeatures

Minimiseresistive impulse

Maximisepropulsive impulse

Restrainphysiological cost

Maximise the magnitudeof propulsive forces

Maximise the timeof propulsive forces

The change in motion dependson the magnitude of the net force

and the time over which it acts

Commence catch soon after entry

Release as late as possible

Recover the hand quickly

Resistance to rotation dependson mass distribution

with respect to the axis

Time catchto release

Time catchwrt entry

Time release to entry

Distance hand to shoulder during recovery

Measurement of Hand Forces Using Pressure Transducers

Global Goals

Primary MechanicalPrinciple

PrimaryBehaviouralGoals

Secondary BehaviouralGoals

SecondaryMechanicalPrinciple

CriticalFeatures

Minimiseresistive impulse

Maximisepropulsive impulse

Restrainphysiological cost

Minimise the magnitudeof resistive forces

Minimise the timeof resistive forces

The change in motion dependson the magnitude of the net force

and the time over which it acts

Maximise the timeof propulsive part of pull

Commence catchsoon after entry

Recover the hand quickly

Resistance to rotation dependson mass distribution

with respect to the axis

Time catchto release

Time catchwrt entry

Time release to entry

Distance hand to shoulder during recovery

Global Goals

Primary MechanicalPrinciple

PrimaryBehaviouralGoals

Secondary BehaviouralGoals

CriticalFeatures

Minimiseresistive impulse

Maximisepropulsive impulse

Restrainphysiological cost

Maximise the magnitudeof propulsive forces

Maximise the timeof propulsive forces

The change in motion dependson the magnitude of the net force

and the time over which it acts

Maximise X-sect. area of

propelling limbs to flow

Maximise speed of

propelling limbs

Optimise alignment of

propelling limbs

Elbow position/internal rotation

Hand orientation

Optimise direction of propelling

limbs

Foot orientation

Magnitude body roll

Timing body roll

Hip, knee, ankle

angles

Hand, arm speed

Hand,arm path

Amplitude,frequency

of kick

Timing,magnitude body roll

Minimise the timeof resistive forces

Global Goals

Primary MechanicalPrinciple

PrimaryBehaviouralGoals

Secondary BehaviouralGoals

CriticalFeatures

Minimiseresistive impulse

Maximisepropulsive impulse

Restrainphysiological cost

Minimise the magnitudeof resistive forces

The change in motion dependson the magnitude of the net force

and the time over which it acts

Minimise X-sect. area of

body segments to flow

Minimise speed of body

segments in direction of

travel

Optimise alignment

Hand and arm orientation -

entry, entry to catch, release to

exit

Optimise shape

Head, trunk, thigh, shank, foot angles

SecondaryMechanicalPrinciple

The counter-rotation effect dependson mass distribution with respect to

the axis and angular velocity

Hand and arm speed -

entry, entry to catch, release

to exit Width arm recovery,

head lifting

Body alignment

Amplitude, frequency kicking

Distance from wall in turn

Time contact

Rate of rotation

Body postures adopted: angles of segments to flow

and joint angles

Time in Time out

Body alignment wrt direction of

travel

Average Speed

Initial swim Speed

Distance during tumble

TimingResistive forces

Time from - 5 to 15 m

Time of tumble

Distance at start of

tumble

Speed during tumble

Time Extension

Time in

Resistive impulse

Ecc. joint torques hip, knee, ankle

Time contact Time out

Swim Speed

Initial joint angles, hip,

knee, ankle

Conc. joint torques hip, knee, ankle,

shoulder

Final joint angles, hip,

knee, ankle

Time Flexion

Speed at first contact

Distance Distance Speed at last contact

Speed during tumble

Joint angles, hip, knee, ankle

Impulse Joint angles, hip, knee, ankle

Time from - 5 to 15 m

Time contact Time in

Distance from wall at last contact

Kick amplitude

Distance

Speed at last contact

Time from - 5 to 15 m

Time out

Average Speed

Body alignment

Body posture

Speed

Kick frequency

Depth

Timing of initiating kick

Resistive impulse

Propulsive

impulse

Speed during glide

Speed during kick

Timing of the Kick in Turns and StartsTiming of the Kick in Turns and Starts

• Speed following turn or after entry is > speed from kicking (Lyttle & Blanksby; 2000)

• Timing of the kick is important

• Need to find a method of determining when to start kicking

Model the velocity that would occur in the absence of kicking

• Fit an exponential decay function

v(i) = ae-kt(i)

Mathematical ModelMathematical Model

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

0 0.5 1 1.5 2

Time (s)

Velo

city

(m/s

)

Actual VelocityFitted Velocity

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

0 0.5 1 1.5 2Time (s)

Dis

tan

ce (m

)

Actual Distance

Fitted Distance

Research inLearn to Swim

A Strategic Partnership

between Swimming Nature

Limited andThe University of

Edinburgh

The Research GoalThe Research Goal

To increase effectiveness of teaching swimming

The Research TeamThe Research Team

Ross Sanders, Eduardo FerreKelly Myers

SNL‘Think Tank’ SNL

Teachers

U of EStaff

P/gradsU/grads

Building water

confidence

Developingsafety sense

Developingfeel

for the water

Developinggood

techniqueCreatingfun

Maximisinglearning

rate

TeachingEffectiveness

Learner characteristic

s

Drills and activities

usedSequencing of drills and

activities

Teacher characteristics

Teacher to student

ratio

Environment

Variables affecting

effectiveness

Conclusion

Described the facility, personnel, and some of the research and educational activities at CARE.

Presented models that guide the sports biomechanics research and service activities.

Indicated some of the ways the research is contributing to improved coaching and teaching.