Eggbeater kick facts for kids
The eggbeater kick is a special way swimmers kick their legs in the water. It's like doing a breaststroke kick, but with one leg at a time, alternating them. This kick helps swimmers stay steady and upright in the water without wobbling. It gives continuous support, meaning you don't sink down between kicks. However, if not done correctly, it can sometimes cause knee problems because of the circular movement.
Where is the Eggbeater Kick Used?
The eggbeater kick is super useful in different water sports and activities.
Water Polo: Players in Water polo use this kick a lot! It lets them keep their hands free to shoot, pass, dribble, and control the ball. To be good at water polo, players need to master the eggbeater kick. Goalies especially need to be strong with this kick to jump high and block shots.
Synchronized Swimming: Synchronized swimmers also use the eggbeater kick. It helps them stay stable while performing amazing moves and routines. This kick even allows them to lift their teammates out of the water!
Lifeguarding: Lifeguards use this kick too. It helps them keep their upper body stable and their hands free. This is important when they need to rescue someone in the water.
How to Do the Eggbeater Kick
The eggbeater kick is basically an alternating breaststroke kick. You do the same steps as a breaststroke kick, but you use one leg at a time.
- Heel to butt: Bring your heel up towards your bottom. Make sure your foot is relaxed as it comes up.
- Turn and flex: Turn your foot outwards, away from your body, and flex it.
- Kick out: Kick your leg out to the side.
- Point and close: Point your foot and bring your leg back to the starting position.
The Science Behind the Kick
The eggbeater kick helps swimmers move upwards in the water. When a swimmer rotates their legs in a circle, they keep their feet arched and angled. This makes the water above their foot move faster than the water below it.
This difference in how fast the water moves creates a pressure difference. The water moving faster has lower pressure. This lower pressure above the foot, compared to the higher pressure below it, creates a force. This force pushes the swimmer upwards. The faster a swimmer moves their feet, the more upward push they get!
