Common Mistakes in Ballet Leg

Ballet leg is a basic yet important position in our sport. It is also a figure. In both forms, position and figure, it requires a lot of arm strength and endurance. But sometimes swimmers are so focused on their arms that they forget about what is going on with their legs and body! Here is a list of details to pay attention to.

Head back/Chin up

Make sure your head is in line with the rest of your body! Most swimmers tend to tilt their head to look at their top leg. Don't do that! Keep your chin up and your face towards the sky.

Lower/Horizontal Leg

Keep the lower leg extended and on the surface. It will actually become harder to maintain your ballet leg height if your lower leg is dragging underwater. A good rule is that your bottom foot should always be dry!

Upper leg angle

Be mindful of how straight your top leg is. To gain the most points, make sure it is exactly 90 degrees from your bottom leg, and pointing straight up like you are going to poke a hole in the sky.

Knee and foot extension

You may have the highest ballet leg in the entire competition, but if your knees are soft and bent, the judges will not give you the score you deserve. Same goes for if your feet are not pointed. Naturally, some people do not have extended knees and pointed feet. For advice on that, check out What To Do About My Knees and Feet?

Too many ripples and waves 

Again, this is a small thing that may impact your ballet leg height. Say, your top leg is almost entirely out of the water. But you are sculling so hard that water comes over your body and the base of your leg and makes it look like part of your top leg is underwater, when it is just the ripples swamping it! To avoid this, SCULL DEEPER. Try to position your hands underneath your hips. If this feels hard, BEND your arms more and open up your shoulders.

That concludes my advice for you on the ballet leg. See you soon! ~ Ella