Dive starts generate the fastest velocities in swimming races. With 50m events lasting for just over 20s, a starting gain of 0.1s could very likely mean the difference between winning and losing. As the length of races increases, any proportionate gain from the start diminishes, but remains important. Research remains ambivalent regarding the complex manoeuvres required for an effective start and, despite the introduction of several new techniques; none have demonstrated superiority. Turning generates the second fastest velocities in swimming and can represent up to 30% of distance covered. Efficient turns increase in importance with the race distance especially in short course pools. Changes have occurred with turn techniques superiority is again equivocal. However, rules no longer requiring hand touches altered freestyle and backstroke turns; and underwater kicking has altered turns for all four competitive strokes. This chapter reviews sport science research of swim starts and turns to provide evidence based information that coaches could use with swimmers.
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