Final answer:
Instructors use a ball and exercises to demonstrate efficient flutter kick techniques for backstroke. Catching a ball 'giving' with it resembles proper flutter kick softness, whereas a still hand catch relates to stiff kicking. A belly flop illustrates inefficient kicking, while a dive-like hand entry promotes a smooth kick.
Step-by-step explanation:
To teach a back flutter kick in backstroke swimming, instructors often use a progression of exercises that demonstrate the importance of technique and body position. The procedure provided suggests using a ball and water to understand how different hand and body movements impact movement in water.
Firstly, when catching a ball and 'giving' with the ball, which means moving your hands towards your body as you catch it, this simulates the softness needed in your feet during a flutter kick. The goal is to keep the water moving by being gentle and not creating too much resistance.
Secondly, catching a ball with hands still demonstrates a lack of absorption which can be related to a stiff, unbending knee during the flutter kick, causing unnecessary splash and resistance, slowing the swimmer down.
Finally, hitting water with your full palm can be likened to a swimmer's flat feet during a flutter kick, similar to a belly flop, causing a lot of splash and not a lot of forward motion. Diving your hand with fingers first is like entering the water with pointed toes, offering less resistance and more propulsion.
Instructors would advise against the belly flop (full palm) approach because it generates excessive resistance and is inefficient. Instead, they would promote a dive-like entry (fingers or toes first) to facilitate a smoother and more effective kick.