Title: Evolution of the performance of European junior medalists from the years 2000-2008 in swimming. Objectives: The aim of the thesis is to find out if the swimmer who won a medal at the European Junior Championship in the period 2000-2008, continue swimming career for the next five years. The period of five years was set to get adulthood of competitors and unification length exploration of all competitors. Methods: For obtain the informations we have chosen the method of study documents - scorecards. Because of theme of thesis was the collection of data taken from European Junior scorecards in the years 2000-2008, the European Championships at the SC in the years 2001- 2013, from the Olympic Games in 2004, 2008, 2012. Results: Outcomes of our research showed that the more than half of competitors that have succeeded at the European Junior Championships in 2000-2008 failed to qualify for any additional European Championships in a SC. At the final evaluation of the collected informations, we found that only less than one fifth of the competitors were able to qualify at the European championships in 2000-2008. Based on our research, we can deduce that most of the medalists from MEJ don't continue in their swimming careers in adulthood. Keywords: swimming career, high performance, swimming...

[Truncated abstract] Resilience is a concept that originated from behavioural science; a branch of research aimed at explaining unexpected benign or malignant outcomes associated with human development. It is a psychological construct that encompasses both cognitive and behavioural responses to negative situations and appears to exist at both an individual and group level. As a concept, resilience receives considerable attention from researchers within developmental psychology fields, who primarily identify numerous risk and protective factors. Within sport, however, researchers have demonstrated a preference for the examination of more traditional concepts, such as coping strategies. Moreover, few investigations in either domain employ a cogent theoretical framework to guide the research. Therefore, the present research program utilises Personal Construct Psychology (PCP; Kelly, 1955) principles to direct the proposed research. PCP is a theory about theories that emphasised our underlying ambition to make sense of the world, the events people encounter and themselves. According to Kelly, PCP is guided by the fundamental postulate and 11 corollaries. The PCP research template employed by the current research program promotes the utilisation of multimethod designs (i.e., qualitative and quantitative investigations) in order to understand and facilitate the development of resilience in swimming. Three research investigations are proposed to examine resilience in swimming, and are structured according to PCP. Each investigation is outlined below. Study 1. An interview protocol based upon key elements of Kelly s (1955) psychotherapy retrospective interview protocol was employed to elicit an understanding of resilience in swimming. Fourteen interviews were scheduled with elite Australian swimmers and swimming coaches, utilising the interview schedule. ... Study 3. The aim of this study was to design, implement and evaluate a resilience intervention for youth swimmers. Utilising the data generated from the first study, a resilience enhancement program was designed and delivered to 16 developmental swimmers over a period of three months. Resilience was measured pre, during and post intervention, and three months after the intervention. Resilience was also measured on an age and ability matched control group (n = 20), at the same time points. Results revealed improvements in resilience for the experimental group following the completion of the resilience program. In summary, the present research program employed a PCP (Kelly, 1955) research template to guide the aforementioned studies of resilience. The data collected from the research investigations contributed considerable knowledge to the resilience concept, and the sport psychology field. The qualitative study was the first of its kind to examine the concept in swimming, revealing several elements and process pertaining to resilience that later formed the foundations for the resilience intervention. General conclusions propose that future research combine psychological measurement of resilience and more traditional sport psychology concepts, in addition to the development of a sport specific psychometric measure of resilience.

The swimming track start is a complex motor skill that utilizes asymmetric lower limb action. The purpose of this study was to explore whether it could be optimized by applying the commonly accepted view that there are asymmetries in the function and behaviors of the lower limbs. Initially, the study aimed to examine the relationship between various measures of lower limb asymmetry and the swimmers' preferences for forward foot placement in the swimming track start. Participants underwent a 7 week training period whereby both the left foot forward (LFF) and the right foot forward (RFF) track starts were practiced. The philosophy behind this training protocol was to ensure that participants received equal practice with the preferred and non-preferred stance so that a dominant stance, if it existed, could emerge. Consequently, the relationships between the dominant track start stance and the lower limb asymmetry measures could be determined more accurately. Participants were male (N=11) and female (N=11) swimmers, aged 12-16 years, from the UWA-Uniswim National Age Squad. Kinetic and kinematic data were collected for the track start prior to and following the 7 week training intervention. The intervention was finished when a participant had completed approximately 14 dive sessions where both the LFF and RFF track starts were practiced. The performance criterion measure was time to 5 m. Despite significant differences in vertical force and velocity contributions following the intervention, time to 5 m did not improve for either the LFF or the RFF track start. Four different measures of lower limb asymmetry were collected, including footedness, the preferred track start stance, and the dominant take-off limb for the unilateral and bilateral counter-movement jump (CMJ). Sixteen of 22 participants displayed changes in their dominant track start stance. Eleven participants showed biases for one stance (6 for the LFF & 5 for the RFF), and 11 participants remained or became more symmetrical. Results indicated that the preferred track start stance was the only measure of asymmetry that was significantly related to track start performance (x2[2]= 6.71, p=.04 for pre-intervention & x2[2]=7.77, p=.02 for post-intervention). All other measures of lower limb asymmetry were shown to be unrelated to track start preference and performance. It was suggested that the 7 week training intervention did not provide a sufficient amount of time to see conclusive effects on 5 m time or to make conclusive comparisons between the dominant track start stance and measures of asymmetry. Since the preferred track start corresponded with better performance less than 50% of the time, it was suggested that swimmers and coaches experiment with different dive techniques to find the start which is most effective for them and spend more time on them during training.

Syftet med denna uppsats har varit att undersöka hur högstadielärare i Idrott och hälsa arbetar med simundervisning, både innehållsmässigt och didaktiskt. Syftet har även varit att undersöka vilka som är de vanligaste problem som uppstår i samband med simundervisning, samt att undersöka hur lärarna arbetar för att bemöta dessa problem. Uppsatsen har en hermeneutisk inriktning och datainsamlingen har gjorts genom att kvalitativa intervjuer genomförts med fem lärare i Idrott och hälsa. Resultaten har bland annat analyserats utifrån Imsens (1999) kategorisering av ramfaktorer. Resultatet visar att lektionsinnehållet har två huvudfokus, vilka grundar sig på två av ämnets kunskapskrav. Först inriktar sig lärarna på att kontrollera vilka elever som klarar av att simma 200 meter varav 50 meter i ryggläge. Genom denna kontroll kan lärarna identifiera vilka elever som har svårt att klara kunskapskravet i simning för att sedan kunna se till att dessa elever får extra tillfällen att träna på detta. Den andra fokuset handlar om att eleverna ska lära sig att hantera nödsituationer vid vatten. Här får eleverna träna på en rad olika livräddande aktiviteter. Undersökningen visar att något lärarna ser som ett stort problem i simundervisningen är den begränsade tiden som läggs på den, varje klass har simundervisning endast två eller tre gånger per läsår. Andra problem som blivit uppenbara är svårigheten för skolorna att få tillgång till tider i simhallen och att transport av eleverna till och från simhallen kunde bli både dyrt och tidskrävande, vilket även det begränsar möjligheterna till mer simundervisning. Ytterligare ett problem som uppdagades var att vissa elever av olika anledningar inte ville eller fick delta i simundervisningen med sina ordinarie klasser, vilket gjorde att andra simtillfällen behövde anordnas för dessa elever.

A coordenação espaço-temporal dos movimentos dos braços de nadadores competitivos tem demonstrado ser um importante fator ligado a velocidade de nado e ao desempenho desses atletas. Os modelos básicos de coordenação comumente percebidos são: (1) captura - caracterizado pela existência de períodos sem propulsão entre a execução de cada braçada; (2) oposição - o movimento propulsivo de um braço inicia no exato instante em que o braço contra-lateral finaliza a fase propulsiva de seu movimento; (3) sobreposição - caracterizado por períodos com ação propulsiva simultânea dos dois braços. O objetivo deste estudo foi comparar os resultados da análise da simetria e da coordenação do nado crawl obtidos por meio dos métodos de cinemetria e dinamometria durante testes de nado livre e nado amarrado. Foram avaliados 13 nadadores federados voluntários do sexo masculino (idade: 19,4 ± 5,3 anos, estatura: 179,0 ± 5,2 cm, envergadura: 188,1 ± 6,0 cm, massa: 70,5 ± 8,7 kg, desempenho: 78,5 ± 4,2 % do recorde mundial de 50 m livres). Para obtenção das demais variáveis do estudo os nadadores foram submetidos à execução de dois protocolos distintos, realizados em piscina 25 m: (A) nado livre: 50 m nadados na máxima velocidade, com partida de dentro da piscina. Os atletas tiveram seu nado filmado (50 Hz) por duas câmeras colocadas dentro da água, uma em cada borda lateral da piscina, que foram deslocadas por operadores treinados a uma velocidade semelhante à velocidade de deslocamento do mesmo e (B) nado amarrado: nado estacionário em máxima intensidade com duração semelhante a do teste de nado livre. Os atletas tiveram a resultante das forças aplicadas por braçada medida por um transdutor de força fixado a borda da piscina onde era preso o cabo que estava ligado as suas cinturas e seus nados filmados (50 Hz) por duas câmeras posicionadas lateralmente a eles, sob a água. Um módulo eletrônico de sincronismo foi utilizado para disparar, simultaneamente, um sinal luminoso nas duas filmadoras e um pulso elétrico no sistema de aquisição dos dados oriundos do transdutor de força, possibilitando a posterior análise dos sinais oriundos de todos os aparatos utilizados para coleta dos dados. A partir da análise das imagens obtidas durante a execução de ambos os protocolos foram mensurados o índice de coordenação de nado (IdC), para ambos os braços (IdC1 e IdC2), em nado livre e nado amarrado e a freqüência média de braçadas (FB) na primeira e segunda metades do teste executado durante a aplicação de cada um dos protocolos. Os dados oriundos do transdutor de força permitiram a mensuração da diferença de tempo entre os picos de força aplicada por braçada (DFTA) para ambos os braços (DTFA1 e DTFA2). Os resultados mostraram um menor valor médio de IdC apresentado durante no nado livre (-3,59 ± 8,63 %) em relação ao nado amarrado (0,59 ± 7,92 %) indicando que, ao executarem o nado livre, os atletas adotam uma coordenação no modelo de captura e ao executarem o nado amarrado adotam uma coordenação em sobreposição, porém com valores que indicam uma possível coordenação no modelo de oposição. Diferentes valores de IdC1 (- 0,36 ± 7,44 %) e IdC2 (- 6,94 ± 8,52 %) foram encontrados em nado livre e nado amarrado (IdC1 = 3,76 ± 8,27 % e IdC2 = -2,54 ± 6,12 %). Os valores de FB apresentados pelos atletas na primeira metade de cada um dos testes foram significativamente mais elevados do que os valores de FB apresentados na segunda metade do respectivo teste (nado livre: [t(12) = 6,996; p < 0,001]; nado amarrado: [t(12) = 3,026; p = 0,011]). A comparação entre os valores de IdC1 e IdC2 adotados durante a execução de cada um dos protocolos mostrou que, durante o nado amarrado, todos os sujeitos apresentaram coordenação assimétrica enquanto durante o nado livre apenas três, dos 13 avaliados, foram considerados simétricos. A comparação entre os valores de DTFA1 e 2 demonstrou que apenas quatro sujeitos foram simétricos. A comparação dos valores da FB adotada pelos atletas mostrou que significativos maiores valores de FB foram apresentados durante o nado livre (FBiniL = 0,95 ± 0,08 ciclos.s-1, FBfinL = 0,88 ± 0,08 ciclos.s-1) em ralação ao nado amarrado (FBiniA = 0,79 ± 0,09 ciclos.s- 1, FBfinA = 0,76 ± 0,10 ciclos.s-1) na primeira e na segunda metades de ambos os testes. As comparações entre os valores de IdC apresentados durante nado livre e nado amarrado indicaram que apenas quatro, dos 13 sujeitos avaliados, mantiveram semelhantes valores para IdC1 e 2 em ambas as situações de nado. Apenas 3 dos sujeitos avaliados apresentaram valores significativos de correlação entre as variáveis IdC e DTFA. Com base nos achados deste estudo concluiu-se que: (1) durante os 50 m livres executados em máxima velocidade, os nadadores apresentaram, em média, uma coordenação no modelo de captura; (2) durante o nado amarrado os avaliados apresentaram uma coordenação em sobreposição, muito próxima da oposição; (3) o IdC e a FB medidas durante o nado livre foram diferentes das medidas durante o nado amarrado, indicando alterações da técnica; (4) a maioria dos nadadores avaliados manteve uma coordenação de nado considerada assimétrica em ambas as situações testadas e (5) a DTFA não se configurou como um parâmetro aceitável para determinação das simetrias e do modelo de coordenação de nado adotados durante o nado livre. Futuras investigações a cerca deste tema se fazem necessárias. / The spatial-temporal and coordinative structures of arms movements in competitive swimmers has been shown to be an important factor associated with swimming speed and performance of these athletes. The basic models of coordination commonly quoted are: (1) catch-up - describes a lag time between the propulsive forces of the two arms; (2) opposition - the propulsive phase of one arm begins when the other arm has just finished its propulsive phase; (3) superposition - describes an overlap of the propulsive phases of the two arms. The aim of this study was to compare the symmetry and the coordination analysis of front crawl swimming obtained through the kinematic and kinetic methods of free and tethered front crawl swimming. Thirteen male competitive swimmers volunteered this investigation (age: 19,4 ± 5,3 years, height: 179,0 ± 5,2 cm, arm span: 188,1 ± 6,0 cm, weight: 70,5 ± 8,7 kg, performance: 78,5 ± 4,2 % of world record at 50 m free style). Subjects underwent two different test protocols, both in a 25m indoor pool: (A) front crawl stroke: 50 m maximum swimming test, starting inside the pool. The athletes were recorded during all the test (50 Hz) by two underwater cameras, one on each lateral side of the pool, being transported by two experienced investigators at a speed equal to that of the swimmer, and (B) tethered swimming: tethered swimming at maximal intensity for the same period of the previous 50 m maximum test. Resultant force applied during each stroke was recorded by a force transductor attached on one side to the wall of the pool and on the other side to an inextensible cable that was attached to the swimmer's hips. The test was recorded during (50 Hz) by two underwater cameras, one on each lateral side of the swimmer. An electronic synchronization module was used to fire a LED light on both cameras and an electric pulse to the force acquisition recorder of the force transductor at the same time, this way allowing for correct interpretation of all data. From the images analysis of both protocols, we measured the index of coordination (IdC) for both arms (IdC1 and IdC2) during front crawl swimming and tethered swimming and the average stroke rate (SR) for the first and second half of both protocols. The data from the force transductor allowed for the determination of the time difference between the peak force applied per stroke (PFAS) for each arm (PFAS1 and PFAS2). The results show a smaller IdC mean for front-crawl stroke (-3,59 ± 8,63 %) compared to tethered swimming (0,59 ± 7,92 %), indicting that during front-crawl stroke the athletes prefer a catch-up coordination model, and during the tethered swimming condition they use a superposition coordination model, although some values suggest that some swimmers adopts opposition model during tethered swimming. Different values of IdC1 (-0,36 ± 7,44 %) and IdC2 (- 6,94 ± 8,52 %) were found for front-crawl and tethered swimming (IdC1 = 3,76 ± 8,27 % and IdC2 = -2,54 ± 6,12 %). Values of SR for the first half were higher than for the second half, irrespective of test condition (front-crawl: [t(12) = 6,996; p < 0,001]; tethered swimming: [t(12) = 3,026; p = 0,011]). Comparison between IdC1 and IdC2 used by athletes during the protocols revealed that during tethered swimming all subjects showed an asymmetric coordination, and during the front-crawl swimming only three subjects were considered symmetric. Comparison of SR values revealed significantly higher values for free swimming condition (SRiniF = 0,95 ± 0,08 stroke.s-1, SRfinF = 0,88 ± 0,08 stroke.s-1) compared to tethered swimming condition (SRiniT = 0,79 ± 0,09 stroke.s-1, SRfinT = 0,76 ± 0,10 stroke.s- 1), for both the first and second halves. The comparisons between IdC values of front-crawl and tethered swimming revealed that only four, of thirteen subjects evaluated, did have similar IdC1 and IdC2 values during both tests. Only three subjects showed a significant correlation between IdC and PFAS. Based on the findings of this study it was concluded that: (1) during 50 m front-crawl swimming maximum tests, the swimmers showed, on average, a catch-up coordination model; (2) during tethered swimming the subjects showed a superposition model of coordination, very close to the opposition one; (3) IdC and SR measured during front-crawl swimming were different from those measured during tethered swimming, indicating an alteration on the technique; (4) most of the swimmers tested showed an asymmetric coordination during both tests and (5) PFAS did not reveal as an acceptable parameter for determination of (as)symmetry and model of coordination during front-crawl swimming. Further investigations about this topic are required.

A coordenação espaço-temporal dos movimentos dos braços de nadadores competitivos tem demonstrado ser um importante fator ligado a velocidade de nado e ao desempenho desses atletas. Os modelos básicos de coordenação comumente percebidos são: (1) captura - caracterizado pela existência de períodos sem propulsão entre a execução de cada braçada; (2) oposição - o movimento propulsivo de um braço inicia no exato instante em que o braço contra-lateral finaliza a fase propulsiva de seu movimento; (3) sobreposição - caracterizado por períodos com ação propulsiva simultânea dos dois braços. O objetivo deste estudo foi comparar os resultados da análise da simetria e da coordenação do nado crawl obtidos por meio dos métodos de cinemetria e dinamometria durante testes de nado livre e nado amarrado. Foram avaliados 13 nadadores federados voluntários do sexo masculino (idade: 19,4 ± 5,3 anos, estatura: 179,0 ± 5,2 cm, envergadura: 188,1 ± 6,0 cm, massa: 70,5 ± 8,7 kg, desempenho: 78,5 ± 4,2 % do recorde mundial de 50 m livres). Para obtenção das demais variáveis do estudo os nadadores foram submetidos à execução de dois protocolos distintos, realizados em piscina 25 m: (A) nado livre: 50 m nadados na máxima velocidade, com partida de dentro da piscina. Os atletas tiveram seu nado filmado (50 Hz) por duas câmeras colocadas dentro da água, uma em cada borda lateral da piscina, que foram deslocadas por operadores treinados a uma velocidade semelhante à velocidade de deslocamento do mesmo e (B) nado amarrado: nado estacionário em máxima intensidade com duração semelhante a do teste de nado livre. Os atletas tiveram a resultante das forças aplicadas por braçada medida por um transdutor de força fixado a borda da piscina onde era preso o cabo que estava ligado as suas cinturas e seus nados filmados (50 Hz) por duas câmeras posicionadas lateralmente a eles, sob a água. Um módulo eletrônico de sincronismo foi utilizado para disparar, simultaneamente, um sinal luminoso nas duas filmadoras e um pulso elétrico no sistema de aquisição dos dados oriundos do transdutor de força, possibilitando a posterior análise dos sinais oriundos de todos os aparatos utilizados para coleta dos dados. A partir da análise das imagens obtidas durante a execução de ambos os protocolos foram mensurados o índice de coordenação de nado (IdC), para ambos os braços (IdC1 e IdC2), em nado livre e nado amarrado e a freqüência média de braçadas (FB) na primeira e segunda metades do teste executado durante a aplicação de cada um dos protocolos. Os dados oriundos do transdutor de força permitiram a mensuração da diferença de tempo entre os picos de força aplicada por braçada (DFTA) para ambos os braços (DTFA1 e DTFA2). Os resultados mostraram um menor valor médio de IdC apresentado durante no nado livre (-3,59 ± 8,63 %) em relação ao nado amarrado (0,59 ± 7,92 %) indicando que, ao executarem o nado livre, os atletas adotam uma coordenação no modelo de captura e ao executarem o nado amarrado adotam uma coordenação em sobreposição, porém com valores que indicam uma possível coordenação no modelo de oposição. Diferentes valores de IdC1 (- 0,36 ± 7,44 %) e IdC2 (- 6,94 ± 8,52 %) foram encontrados em nado livre e nado amarrado (IdC1 = 3,76 ± 8,27 % e IdC2 = -2,54 ± 6,12 %). Os valores de FB apresentados pelos atletas na primeira metade de cada um dos testes foram significativamente mais elevados do que os valores de FB apresentados na segunda metade do respectivo teste (nado livre: [t(12) = 6,996; p < 0,001]; nado amarrado: [t(12) = 3,026; p = 0,011]). A comparação entre os valores de IdC1 e IdC2 adotados durante a execução de cada um dos protocolos mostrou que, durante o nado amarrado, todos os sujeitos apresentaram coordenação assimétrica enquanto durante o nado livre apenas três, dos 13 avaliados, foram considerados simétricos. A comparação entre os valores de DTFA1 e 2 demonstrou que apenas quatro sujeitos foram simétricos. A comparação dos valores da FB adotada pelos atletas mostrou que significativos maiores valores de FB foram apresentados durante o nado livre (FBiniL = 0,95 ± 0,08 ciclos.s-1, FBfinL = 0,88 ± 0,08 ciclos.s-1) em ralação ao nado amarrado (FBiniA = 0,79 ± 0,09 ciclos.s- 1, FBfinA = 0,76 ± 0,10 ciclos.s-1) na primeira e na segunda metades de ambos os testes. As comparações entre os valores de IdC apresentados durante nado livre e nado amarrado indicaram que apenas quatro, dos 13 sujeitos avaliados, mantiveram semelhantes valores para IdC1 e 2 em ambas as situações de nado. Apenas 3 dos sujeitos avaliados apresentaram valores significativos de correlação entre as variáveis IdC e DTFA. Com base nos achados deste estudo concluiu-se que: (1) durante os 50 m livres executados em máxima velocidade, os nadadores apresentaram, em média, uma coordenação no modelo de captura; (2) durante o nado amarrado os avaliados apresentaram uma coordenação em sobreposição, muito próxima da oposição; (3) o IdC e a FB medidas durante o nado livre foram diferentes das medidas durante o nado amarrado, indicando alterações da técnica; (4) a maioria dos nadadores avaliados manteve uma coordenação de nado considerada assimétrica em ambas as situações testadas e (5) a DTFA não se configurou como um parâmetro aceitável para determinação das simetrias e do modelo de coordenação de nado adotados durante o nado livre. Futuras investigações a cerca deste tema se fazem necessárias. / The spatial-temporal and coordinative structures of arms movements in competitive swimmers has been shown to be an important factor associated with swimming speed and performance of these athletes. The basic models of coordination commonly quoted are: (1) catch-up - describes a lag time between the propulsive forces of the two arms; (2) opposition - the propulsive phase of one arm begins when the other arm has just finished its propulsive phase; (3) superposition - describes an overlap of the propulsive phases of the two arms. The aim of this study was to compare the symmetry and the coordination analysis of front crawl swimming obtained through the kinematic and kinetic methods of free and tethered front crawl swimming. Thirteen male competitive swimmers volunteered this investigation (age: 19,4 ± 5,3 years, height: 179,0 ± 5,2 cm, arm span: 188,1 ± 6,0 cm, weight: 70,5 ± 8,7 kg, performance: 78,5 ± 4,2 % of world record at 50 m free style). Subjects underwent two different test protocols, both in a 25m indoor pool: (A) front crawl stroke: 50 m maximum swimming test, starting inside the pool. The athletes were recorded during all the test (50 Hz) by two underwater cameras, one on each lateral side of the pool, being transported by two experienced investigators at a speed equal to that of the swimmer, and (B) tethered swimming: tethered swimming at maximal intensity for the same period of the previous 50 m maximum test. Resultant force applied during each stroke was recorded by a force transductor attached on one side to the wall of the pool and on the other side to an inextensible cable that was attached to the swimmer's hips. The test was recorded during (50 Hz) by two underwater cameras, one on each lateral side of the swimmer. An electronic synchronization module was used to fire a LED light on both cameras and an electric pulse to the force acquisition recorder of the force transductor at the same time, this way allowing for correct interpretation of all data. From the images analysis of both protocols, we measured the index of coordination (IdC) for both arms (IdC1 and IdC2) during front crawl swimming and tethered swimming and the average stroke rate (SR) for the first and second half of both protocols. The data from the force transductor allowed for the determination of the time difference between the peak force applied per stroke (PFAS) for each arm (PFAS1 and PFAS2). The results show a smaller IdC mean for front-crawl stroke (-3,59 ± 8,63 %) compared to tethered swimming (0,59 ± 7,92 %), indicting that during front-crawl stroke the athletes prefer a catch-up coordination model, and during the tethered swimming condition they use a superposition coordination model, although some values suggest that some swimmers adopts opposition model during tethered swimming. Different values of IdC1 (-0,36 ± 7,44 %) and IdC2 (- 6,94 ± 8,52 %) were found for front-crawl and tethered swimming (IdC1 = 3,76 ± 8,27 % and IdC2 = -2,54 ± 6,12 %). Values of SR for the first half were higher than for the second half, irrespective of test condition (front-crawl: [t(12) = 6,996; p < 0,001]; tethered swimming: [t(12) = 3,026; p = 0,011]). Comparison between IdC1 and IdC2 used by athletes during the protocols revealed that during tethered swimming all subjects showed an asymmetric coordination, and during the front-crawl swimming only three subjects were considered symmetric. Comparison of SR values revealed significantly higher values for free swimming condition (SRiniF = 0,95 ± 0,08 stroke.s-1, SRfinF = 0,88 ± 0,08 stroke.s-1) compared to tethered swimming condition (SRiniT = 0,79 ± 0,09 stroke.s-1, SRfinT = 0,76 ± 0,10 stroke.s- 1), for both the first and second halves. The comparisons between IdC values of front-crawl and tethered swimming revealed that only four, of thirteen subjects evaluated, did have similar IdC1 and IdC2 values during both tests. Only three subjects showed a significant correlation between IdC and PFAS. Based on the findings of this study it was concluded that: (1) during 50 m front-crawl swimming maximum tests, the swimmers showed, on average, a catch-up coordination model; (2) during tethered swimming the subjects showed a superposition model of coordination, very close to the opposition one; (3) IdC and SR measured during front-crawl swimming were different from those measured during tethered swimming, indicating an alteration on the technique; (4) most of the swimmers tested showed an asymmetric coordination during both tests and (5) PFAS did not reveal as an acceptable parameter for determination of (as)symmetry and model of coordination during front-crawl swimming. Further investigations about this topic are required.

A coordenação espaço-temporal dos movimentos dos braços de nadadores competitivos tem demonstrado ser um importante fator ligado a velocidade de nado e ao desempenho desses atletas. Os modelos básicos de coordenação comumente percebidos são: (1) captura - caracterizado pela existência de períodos sem propulsão entre a execução de cada braçada; (2) oposição - o movimento propulsivo de um braço inicia no exato instante em que o braço contra-lateral finaliza a fase propulsiva de seu movimento; (3) sobreposição - caracterizado por períodos com ação propulsiva simultânea dos dois braços. O objetivo deste estudo foi comparar os resultados da análise da simetria e da coordenação do nado crawl obtidos por meio dos métodos de cinemetria e dinamometria durante testes de nado livre e nado amarrado. Foram avaliados 13 nadadores federados voluntários do sexo masculino (idade: 19,4 ± 5,3 anos, estatura: 179,0 ± 5,2 cm, envergadura: 188,1 ± 6,0 cm, massa: 70,5 ± 8,7 kg, desempenho: 78,5 ± 4,2 % do recorde mundial de 50 m livres). Para obtenção das demais variáveis do estudo os nadadores foram submetidos à execução de dois protocolos distintos, realizados em piscina 25 m: (A) nado livre: 50 m nadados na máxima velocidade, com partida de dentro da piscina. Os atletas tiveram seu nado filmado (50 Hz) por duas câmeras colocadas dentro da água, uma em cada borda lateral da piscina, que foram deslocadas por operadores treinados a uma velocidade semelhante à velocidade de deslocamento do mesmo e (B) nado amarrado: nado estacionário em máxima intensidade com duração semelhante a do teste de nado livre. Os atletas tiveram a resultante das forças aplicadas por braçada medida por um transdutor de força fixado a borda da piscina onde era preso o cabo que estava ligado as suas cinturas e seus nados filmados (50 Hz) por duas câmeras posicionadas lateralmente a eles, sob a água. Um módulo eletrônico de sincronismo foi utilizado para disparar, simultaneamente, um sinal luminoso nas duas filmadoras e um pulso elétrico no sistema de aquisição dos dados oriundos do transdutor de força, possibilitando a posterior análise dos sinais oriundos de todos os aparatos utilizados para coleta dos dados. A partir da análise das imagens obtidas durante a execução de ambos os protocolos foram mensurados o índice de coordenação de nado (IdC), para ambos os braços (IdC1 e IdC2), em nado livre e nado amarrado e a freqüência média de braçadas (FB) na primeira e segunda metades do teste executado durante a aplicação de cada um dos protocolos. Os dados oriundos do transdutor de força permitiram a mensuração da diferença de tempo entre os picos de força aplicada por braçada (DFTA) para ambos os braços (DTFA1 e DTFA2). Os resultados mostraram um menor valor médio de IdC apresentado durante no nado livre (-3,59 ± 8,63 %) em relação ao nado amarrado (0,59 ± 7,92 %) indicando que, ao executarem o nado livre, os atletas adotam uma coordenação no modelo de captura e ao executarem o nado amarrado adotam uma coordenação em sobreposição, porém com valores que indicam uma possível coordenação no modelo de oposição. Diferentes valores de IdC1 (- 0,36 ± 7,44 %) e IdC2 (- 6,94 ± 8,52 %) foram encontrados em nado livre e nado amarrado (IdC1 = 3,76 ± 8,27 % e IdC2 = -2,54 ± 6,12 %). Os valores de FB apresentados pelos atletas na primeira metade de cada um dos testes foram significativamente mais elevados do que os valores de FB apresentados na segunda metade do respectivo teste (nado livre: [t(12) = 6,996; p < 0,001]; nado amarrado: [t(12) = 3,026; p = 0,011]). A comparação entre os valores de IdC1 e IdC2 adotados durante a execução de cada um dos protocolos mostrou que, durante o nado amarrado, todos os sujeitos apresentaram coordenação assimétrica enquanto durante o nado livre apenas três, dos 13 avaliados, foram considerados simétricos. A comparação entre os valores de DTFA1 e 2 demonstrou que apenas quatro sujeitos foram simétricos. A comparação dos valores da FB adotada pelos atletas mostrou que significativos maiores valores de FB foram apresentados durante o nado livre (FBiniL = 0,95 ± 0,08 ciclos.s-1, FBfinL = 0,88 ± 0,08 ciclos.s-1) em ralação ao nado amarrado (FBiniA = 0,79 ± 0,09 ciclos.s- 1, FBfinA = 0,76 ± 0,10 ciclos.s-1) na primeira e na segunda metades de ambos os testes. As comparações entre os valores de IdC apresentados durante nado livre e nado amarrado indicaram que apenas quatro, dos 13 sujeitos avaliados, mantiveram semelhantes valores para IdC1 e 2 em ambas as situações de nado. Apenas 3 dos sujeitos avaliados apresentaram valores significativos de correlação entre as variáveis IdC e DTFA. Com base nos achados deste estudo concluiu-se que: (1) durante os 50 m livres executados em máxima velocidade, os nadadores apresentaram, em média, uma coordenação no modelo de captura; (2) durante o nado amarrado os avaliados apresentaram uma coordenação em sobreposição, muito próxima da oposição; (3) o IdC e a FB medidas durante o nado livre foram diferentes das medidas durante o nado amarrado, indicando alterações da técnica; (4) a maioria dos nadadores avaliados manteve uma coordenação de nado considerada assimétrica em ambas as situações testadas e (5) a DTFA não se configurou como um parâmetro aceitável para determinação das simetrias e do modelo de coordenação de nado adotados durante o nado livre. Futuras investigações a cerca deste tema se fazem necessárias. / The spatial-temporal and coordinative structures of arms movements in competitive swimmers has been shown to be an important factor associated with swimming speed and performance of these athletes. The basic models of coordination commonly quoted are: (1) catch-up - describes a lag time between the propulsive forces of the two arms; (2) opposition - the propulsive phase of one arm begins when the other arm has just finished its propulsive phase; (3) superposition - describes an overlap of the propulsive phases of the two arms. The aim of this study was to compare the symmetry and the coordination analysis of front crawl swimming obtained through the kinematic and kinetic methods of free and tethered front crawl swimming. Thirteen male competitive swimmers volunteered this investigation (age: 19,4 ± 5,3 years, height: 179,0 ± 5,2 cm, arm span: 188,1 ± 6,0 cm, weight: 70,5 ± 8,7 kg, performance: 78,5 ± 4,2 % of world record at 50 m free style). Subjects underwent two different test protocols, both in a 25m indoor pool: (A) front crawl stroke: 50 m maximum swimming test, starting inside the pool. The athletes were recorded during all the test (50 Hz) by two underwater cameras, one on each lateral side of the pool, being transported by two experienced investigators at a speed equal to that of the swimmer, and (B) tethered swimming: tethered swimming at maximal intensity for the same period of the previous 50 m maximum test. Resultant force applied during each stroke was recorded by a force transductor attached on one side to the wall of the pool and on the other side to an inextensible cable that was attached to the swimmer's hips. The test was recorded during (50 Hz) by two underwater cameras, one on each lateral side of the swimmer. An electronic synchronization module was used to fire a LED light on both cameras and an electric pulse to the force acquisition recorder of the force transductor at the same time, this way allowing for correct interpretation of all data. From the images analysis of both protocols, we measured the index of coordination (IdC) for both arms (IdC1 and IdC2) during front crawl swimming and tethered swimming and the average stroke rate (SR) for the first and second half of both protocols. The data from the force transductor allowed for the determination of the time difference between the peak force applied per stroke (PFAS) for each arm (PFAS1 and PFAS2). The results show a smaller IdC mean for front-crawl stroke (-3,59 ± 8,63 %) compared to tethered swimming (0,59 ± 7,92 %), indicting that during front-crawl stroke the athletes prefer a catch-up coordination model, and during the tethered swimming condition they use a superposition coordination model, although some values suggest that some swimmers adopts opposition model during tethered swimming. Different values of IdC1 (-0,36 ± 7,44 %) and IdC2 (- 6,94 ± 8,52 %) were found for front-crawl and tethered swimming (IdC1 = 3,76 ± 8,27 % and IdC2 = -2,54 ± 6,12 %). Values of SR for the first half were higher than for the second half, irrespective of test condition (front-crawl: [t(12) = 6,996; p < 0,001]; tethered swimming: [t(12) = 3,026; p = 0,011]). Comparison between IdC1 and IdC2 used by athletes during the protocols revealed that during tethered swimming all subjects showed an asymmetric coordination, and during the front-crawl swimming only three subjects were considered symmetric. Comparison of SR values revealed significantly higher values for free swimming condition (SRiniF = 0,95 ± 0,08 stroke.s-1, SRfinF = 0,88 ± 0,08 stroke.s-1) compared to tethered swimming condition (SRiniT = 0,79 ± 0,09 stroke.s-1, SRfinT = 0,76 ± 0,10 stroke.s- 1), for both the first and second halves. The comparisons between IdC values of front-crawl and tethered swimming revealed that only four, of thirteen subjects evaluated, did have similar IdC1 and IdC2 values during both tests. Only three subjects showed a significant correlation between IdC and PFAS. Based on the findings of this study it was concluded that: (1) during 50 m front-crawl swimming maximum tests, the swimmers showed, on average, a catch-up coordination model; (2) during tethered swimming the subjects showed a superposition model of coordination, very close to the opposition one; (3) IdC and SR measured during front-crawl swimming were different from those measured during tethered swimming, indicating an alteration on the technique; (4) most of the swimmers tested showed an asymmetric coordination during both tests and (5) PFAS did not reveal as an acceptable parameter for determination of (as)symmetry and model of coordination during front-crawl swimming. Further investigations about this topic are required.

Sverige är ett land omgiven av vatten och hav, där vi har en stark tradition av vattenaktiviteter och därmed även obligatorisk simundervisning. Enligt en uppföljning av skolverket, kan inte sju procent av eleverna i årskurs 6 simma 200 meter. Detta innebär att ungefär 8 300 elever som lämnade mellanstadiet i juni inte kunde simma inför sommarlovet. Antalet personer som inte kan simma är en högre siffra i samhället och ett allvarligt problem. Det är på tiden att lyfta fram frågan om simkunnigheten och grundskolans simundervisning.Simlärare och idrottslärare uppger att det är svårt att bedriva simundervisningar av flera anledningar. Det är brist på närhet till simhall, tid, plats, ekonomi, trivsel och säkerhet, för att nämna några.Upptäckten om hur simhallens miljö talar emot simundervisnings moment för både lärare och skolbarn är en nyare problematik, som måste utredas för att underlätta simlärares arbetsprocess och öka deltagande och inlärningsförmågan på simlektioner. Hur kan vi förbättra upplevelsen av simundervisning för skolklasser i grundskolor? Examensarbetet är i samarbete med idrottslärare, simlärare och Svenska Livräddningssällskapet för att utforska och definiera utmaningarna och föreslå designlösningar. Genomförandet består av designmetoder i form av research och intervjuer, inklusive idéegenerering, workshops, konceptutveckling,utvärdering och flera andra metoder.Tre designförslag utvärderades, vilket ledde fram till ett slutgiltigt holistiskt koncept på en framtida simundervisningslokal och bassäng som är mindre, närmare bostadsområden och skolor, anpassningsbar till olika simnivåer och aktiviteter, som främjarsäkerhet och trivsel. I lokalen ingår ett system för en halvtransparent draperi avskärmning, för att minska distraktioner från olika simaktiviteter som pågår samtidigt. Miljöutformningen är designad i färger och former som skapar tydlighet i lärares och skolbarns rörelseflöde i rum och upplevelse av dess rumslighet. Måtten tar hänsyn till byggesramarna för en simlokal och syftar till att implementeras i befintlig sportanläggning och framtida mindre anläggningar. / Sweden is a country surrounded by water and sea, where we have a strong tradition of water activities and thus also compulsory swimming lessons. According to a follow-up by the school board, seven percent of students in grade 6 cannot swim 200 meters. This means that approximately 8,300 students who left middle school in June could not swim before the summer holidays. The total number of people in who cannot swim in the society is an even higher number and a serious problem. It is time to highlight the issue of swimming skills and primary school swimming lessons.Swimming teachers and school teachers state that it is difficult to conduct swimming lessons for several reasons. There is lack of nearby swimming pools, time, place, finances, well-being and safety, to name a few. Discoveries about how the environment of the swimming pool speaks against elements of swimming lessons for both teachers and schoolchildren is a newer problem, which must be investigated in order to facilitate the work process of swimming teachers and increase participation and the ability to learn how to swim. How can we improve the experience of swimming lessons for larger school classes in primary schools? This degree work is in collaboration with school teachers, swimming teachers and the Swedish Life Safety Society, to explore and define the challenges and propose design solutions. The implementation consists of design methods in the form of research and interviews in the design process including idea generation, workshops, evaluation and several other methods.Three design proposals were evaluated, leading to a final holistic concept of a future swimming lesson facility and pool that is smaller, closer to residential areas and schools, adaptable to different swimming levels and activities, and promotes safety and well-being. The room includes a system for a semi-transparent drapery screening, to reduce distractions and divide different swimming activities that are going on at the same time. The environment is designed in colors and shapes that create clarity in the room movement flow and experience of spatiality. The dimensions could work within the building framework for a swimming pool and be implementable both in existing sports facility and future smaller facility.

The aim is to show parents groping opinions, which should follow when choosing a swimming center for their children. We focus on the conditions in which swimming instruction of preschool children is, as it affects and how best to choose a swimming course. Form of a questionnaire, we find expert opinions, which were later compared with the questionnaires to staff swimming center.

Title: Public Swimming in the Region of Strakonice Objectives: The aim of the thesis is to assess and compare the usability of the swimming premises in Strakonice in the framework of the operating hours for the public in 2002 and 2012. Furthermore, it is to characterise current attendees of the indoor swimming pool, to evaluate and interpret the development of their attendance, and to assess the contentment of the public regarding the operation and the opening hours. Methods: The comparative method has been used in the case of the comparison of the attendance of the swimming premises in Strakonice in 2002 and 2012. The data collection has been done using the questionnaire method. The mathematic-statistical method has been used to process the received data. A graphical and tabular representation has been used to simplify the visual analysis of the data. Results: It has been ascertained that the usability of the swimming premises in Strakonice in the framework of the offered opening hours for the public was lower in 2002 than in 2012. From the point of view of the character of the current swimming public the number of men and women is equal, the residence of the attendees is mostly Strakonice and close surroundings, and most attendees are between 31 - 45 years old. The public attending the swimming...