The neck should be kept firm, almost, but not quite rigid, that the head and face may be in one position, that is, with the chin resting on the scapula, between left shoulder and front of the chest. In stead of the face, as in the breast stroke, the top of the head now cleaves the water. The face being nearly all the time under the surface, the mouth comes above for an instant at the end of the positive movement with uppermost hand. Should the pupil prefer swimming on the left side, he must substitute in these instructions right for left, left for right, and so on.
Practise slowly, steadily, and perseveringly, There are many points in side swimming which can only be perfected by strict attention and constant practice.
The writer has seen the downward movement with the cutwater hand performed with such vigour and effect as to lift the swimmer forward nearly the length of his arm at each stroke. Especially is this noticeable in the swimming of Mr. J. B. John son, of Manchester, undoubtedly the finest swim mer who ever lived. Mr. Johnson seems at this
part of the stroke to lift his body forward, with the same effect as if he had hold of a rod which was stationary, and, by a sudden movement, to pull his body right over it.
To regulate the breath when swimming on the side, inhale when the topmost hand has delivered the stroke and is being returned to the shoulder, and as the undermost hand is commencing the downward pull. Inhaling is done in an instant.
Exhale when the topmost hand is performing the stroke in front of the body and the undermost hand is being returned for the stroke.
Particular attention must be paid to the breath ing; as to swim on the side with any amount of success, the head and face will be under water at least two-thirds of the whole time when swimming.
Make no attempt to change from side to side; to obtain mechanical precision in the movements of each hand, arm, and leg, it is necessary to practise at all times the particular parts of the stroke with whatever set of limbs have been trained to the work.