The kickboards used today cause your body to be misaligned in the water.  A swimmer’s head and shoulders are higher than their hips and legs.  As a result, this  position can cause neck strain, and shoulder injuries such as bruising and impingement.  The modern kickboard also does not facilitate good roll technique.  The roll technique is what swimmers use in freestyle to reach farther as they swim. Swimmer’s would open their chest and roll their hips. The roll technique helps you go faster as you swim.

I am answering the following questions:

What is a Kickboard?

Who Created the First Kickboard?

What are Kickboards Made Out Of?

What is the Issue?

How are Kickboards used in Training?

What is Buoyancy?

What are Your Biomechanics when using the Kickboard?

What are the biomechanics to a good kick?

What muscles are being used?, What bones are attached to those muscles?

How can you create a kickboard that can sustain water so that your body is level when kicking?

My procedure for testing the prototype is:

First phase: seeing if the kickboard floats.

Second phase: putting my hand on the kickboard.

Third phase: putting both hands with elbows on the kickboard.

Fourth phase: using the kickboard to swim.

I also used the scientific method to create my prototypes.

The length and depth of Model 1 created a perfect balance between buoyancy and the water. The tape around the kickboard succeeded in keeping the cardboard dry and the styrofoam was able to keep the board floating. The second model worked but the E.V.A foam material was too buoyant and the swimmer’s body was not level. Since the third model was made out of the same material it had the same result. But it did not have the adjustable compartment and was even more buoyant than the second model. 

Model 1 was the best model because it was able to sustain some water and the other 2 models were too buoyant which did not work. The cardboard and styrofoam were just the right density and the tape around it succeeded in protecting the cardboard from getting wet. The adjustments to the density and design of the kickboard created a positive experience for the swimmer.   My hypothesis for Model 1 was proven correct.

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OpenWaterHQ- Kick Your Swimming into High Gear with Kickboard Training- Kick Your Swimming into High Gear with Kickboard Training - OpenWaterHQ

Mary Craner-How to Swim With a Kickboard: Master Your Kick- How to Swim With a Kickboard: Master Your Kick – Water Brave

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