[surfrgrlsophia]

I'm varsity on the swim team but I'm like the slowest. But I don't want to be the slowest. So is there some way I can swim faster? Any tips? Any specific way my arms should move when I freestlye?
Oh and I do mostly freestyle and breast stroke.

[lxxFumoffuxxl]

Since you are on the Varsity team, you probably know this...but first, I think it's more important to have longer strokes as opposed to faster strokes. So reach out and thrust yourself forward when you reach. I think the recovery arm should be thrusting opposite direction of where you're supposed to go. Ask your coach and teammates. You are on a team after all. They should know better than me.

[Shiwen]

Well, when you're pushing through the water, keep your fingers together so you get the most 'pull'.
Make sure you can actually feel your hand pushing yourself through the water.
Longer strokes, only put your hand in when you've reached as far forward as you can.
elbow bent, try to make your fingertips 'stroke' the top of the water when you do your strokes.

for breast stroke, try to get your kick strong, cos thats the one which propels you most.
oh and for your arms, only bring them out about shoulder width..not further than that.
practise breast stroke kicks...and try and minimise the amount of kicks you do for a lap.
less kicks=more powerful kicks. but you gotta weigh that up with speed too

[xvi3txl0v1ngx]

Since you are on the Varsity team, you probably know this...but first, I think it's more important to have longer strokes as opposed to faster strokes. So reach out and thrust yourself forward when you reach. I think the recovery arm should be thrusting opposite direction of where you're supposed to go. Ask your coach and teammates. You are on a team after all. They should know better than me.

That really helps. before i didn't do that and i was only going at an ok speed(although comparing to people i know, it was below ok). Ever since my friends(who are lifeguards and on the swim team) told me to reach out when i'm reaching, it helped a whole lot. Also, this probably has nothing to do with going faster but considering you're on a swim team, you should know this. breath on both side!! one of my friends(one of the lifeguard) didn't do that before and now, his right chest is bigger than his left. he used to only breath on his right side. so yeah, reach and breath on both sides. =)

[L.FOR.LOVE]

when doing freestlyle, when your arms are in the water, like open your finger i think
gives you more power to " push "
that`s what my coach told me o_O"
but i alwys forget >__">

[suki_*]

always keep your fingers together when you do front crawl. remember to turn your shoulders with the arm you are lifting out of the water and do the "S" pull to get a longer stroke which in turn will give you better stamina and longer glides. also keep your legs straight when you kick.

breaststroke just remember "pull, breathe, kick and glide" that's how i teach my students or when i am on the varisty team.

but if you really don't have the strenth to sprint try doing longer eventsl ike 200M-400M those are for endurance more than sprinting.

[lshluvr]

Like suki_* said...do the 'S' shape. It definitely helps!
And like the others said as well, stretch.
=)

[MiddleMan]

Try searching swimming techniques in youtube.com.
They have many videos explaining drills and techniques and underwater videos of swimmers.

[sushixlovesu]

I believe the most important factor is the streamline and the dolphin kick right after you dive in. You should hold a tight streamline while diving it will get you farther. Theres really no way you can speed up unless you practice a lot o_o haha im sure you already practice a lot anyways since you are in varsity. Although i also remember my coach emphasizing that when we do our freestyle stroke, we should always make sure we pull through with our whole arm movement. Make sure you feel the water being "pushed" along your legs. Thats supposedly a complete stroke o_o ionno he says if we dont complete the stroke then no matter how fast we do the strokes we cant go anywhere lol im not even sure if im making any sense lol