![\"Treading](\"https:\/\/aquaticglee.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/water-treading-swimming-pool.jpg\")
Basically, treading water can be broken down into four major parts;<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Your head a position-The head remains still and relaxed above the surface of the water.<\/li>
- Upper body-should remain still and relaxed below the surface of the water<\/li>
- Legs-Eggbeater, frog, scissor or flutter kicks. Details in the upcoming sections.<\/li>
- Arms- Your arms perform sculling motion. It involves horizontally moving your forearms back and forth and not up and down. Your palms turn in the direction your arms are moving. Your thumbs angle slightly up on the way in, while your pinky fingers slightly up on the way out.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Further Reading: What is Sculling in Swimming? How to do it+ Drills<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
While there are various ways to tread water, any movements meant to help you float in an upright position without moving in any direction are considered treading water. There are known styles to tread water with swimmers adding their own variations as they become better at swimming. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Most of the techniques are actually based on the most popular swimming strokes such as the breaststroke<\/a>(whip kick), front crawl<\/a> (flutter kick) and the sidestroke<\/a> (scissor kick). <\/p>\n\n\n\n
With water treading, the focus should\nbe on relaxing and creating just enough upward force to keep you afloat. The\nreason for drowning is often panic and stiffness in the body followed by\nfrantic and disorderly motions. Treading water is the exact opposite of that. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
How to Tread Water- Eggbeater & Frog Kick<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The two most common types of treading techniques involve using the eggbeater kick and the modified frog kick with sculling arms stroke. Experienced swimmers can tread using only arms or legs while most beginners use both legs and arms. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Eggbeater Treading Water Technique<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The eggbeater, also often referred to as rotary kick is a technique of kicking where each leg propels downwards and outwards at a time in a continuous motion. This kicking style is derived from the motions of an eggbeater, a kitchen utensil used for beating egg whites. The lower leg movements in this technique are like the motions of the kitchen eggbeater hands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although it is the most complex and hardest to master, the eggbeater is the most efficient water treading technique<\/strong> if you have healthy knees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you have some swimming basics, the eggbeater is actually a slightly modified breaststroke (whip\/frog) kick where the kicking action involves one leg at a time. However, this technique requires more ankle flexibility and ankle rotation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/aquaticglee.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/eggbeater-treading-water-illustration-swimming.jpg\")
Eggbeater Treading water technique<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n To perform the eggbeater, follow the steps<\/strong> below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
First, take in some air then ensure your head and upper is still and relaxed. Bend your legs such that the thigh region is parallel to the floor of the pool and forming a 90-degree angle to the back and your back should be perpendicular to the floor of the swimming pool as well\u2026a perfect sitting position either on a chair or at the edge of the pool.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Open up the knees as far apart as naturally possible, then circle the lower legs while maintaining the position of the rest of the body. The legs should move such that, as one leg moves in a clockwise manner, the other should move in an anti-clockwise manner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The legs should also not meet in the middle. As one comes to the middle of the body, the other should go outwards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Once you are comfortable circling, it is time to focus on feeling the pressure of the water. As each leg kicks separately, the lower leg (from the knee through the foot) must draw up, then kick down and out and back-in, circularly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The lower leg must rotate outside the knee with toes pointing out, and then back into the extended position with the inside of the leg and instep of the foot “grabbing and pressing” in on the water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Advanced eggbeaters rely little on the motion of the arms. However, for a start, you can hold the hands horizontally while moving them back and forth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With time and practice, mastering this technique becomes a reality. The recommendation is to try it out for up to 10 minutes each day. Including regular bodyweight squats and lunges in your dryland program can also help develop the strength you need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n