The eggbeater kick is a style of kicking where the swimmer's legs alternate one-legged
breaststroke
Breaststroke is a human swimming, swimming style in which the swimmer is on their chest and the torso does not rotate. It is the most popular recreational style due to the swimmer's head being out of the water a large portion of the time, and ...
kicks. This form provides continuous support because there is no break in the kick,
["Treading Water." City College of San Francisco. Web. 26 Jan. 2011. ] and allows the swimmer to remain stable in the water without swaying. However, it can cause knee problems due to the circular rotation of the knee joint.
Applications
The eggbeater kick is used in several different types of swimming activities.
Sports
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Water polo
Water polo is a competitive team sport played in water between two teams of seven players each. The game consists of four quarters in which the teams attempt to score goals by throwing the ball into the opposing team's goal. The team with th ...
players use this style of kick so their hands can be free to shoot, pass, dribble and control the ball. Water polo players need to perfect the eggbeater kick to have success. Goalkeepers must be able to do this especially as they need to have the power to get to the ball.
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Synchronized swimming
Synchronized swimming (in British English, synchronised swimming) or artistic swimming is a sport where swimmers perform a synchronized choreographed routine, accompanied by music. The sport is governed internationally by FINA (the ''Fédérati ...
uses this style of kick so they can perform other important skills that require stabilization. The eggbeater kick allows the swimmers to lift teammates out of the water.
Lifesaving
* Lifeguards use this kick because it allows greater stabilization of the upper body and use of hands to rescue victims.
Technique
The eggbeater kick is an alternating breaststroke kick. The steps for eggbeater are the same as in breast stroke, except you are doing one leg at a time.
1. Heel to butt, make sure you relax your foot on the way up
2. Turn your foot the outside of your body and flex
3. Kick out to the side
4. Point your foot and close
Physics
The eggbeater kick propels swimmers in an upward direction. The swimmer rotates his or her legs circularly while keeping their feet arched and angled, causing water above their foot to move faster than the water under their foot. This difference in pressure between the moving water and the surrounding water creates a force, propelling the swimmer upwards.
[Alexander, Marion, and Carolyn Taylor. "CoachesInfo.com – Information and Education for Coaches – The Technique of the Eggbeater Kick." Coaches Info Service Website. 2005. Web. 18 Jan. 2011]
http://www.coachesinfo.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=231:waterpoloeggkick&catid=70:waterpologeneralarticles&Itemid=131
/ref> The faster the swimmer's feet move, the more upward propulsion he or she receives.[Dettamanti, Dante. "Dante's Water Polo Coaching Classes." Water Polo Planet. 1 Oct. 2010. Web. 01 Feb. 2011. .]
References
{{Water polo
Swimming styles
Water polo techniques
Water polo terminology