Concurrent Validity of Front-Crawl Swimming Competence through Measurement of Basic Swimming Abilities for Beginners

Abstract

The study aimed to examine the concurrent validity of front-crawl swimming competence as a criterion by measuring the basic swimming ability for estimated swimming distance. The research samples were 35 students (15 people from the Sports Science program and 20 from the Physics program) aged 19-21. The seven components of basic swimming ability, including submerging, floating, gliding (Gd), leg propulsion, hand propulsion, leg coordination, and breath control, were the predictors, while the front-crawl swimming competence referred to the criterion. Concurrent validity analysis used PPM correlation, while factor analysis used stepwise multiple regression methods. The results indicated a significant association between basic swimming abilities and swimming competence. The moderate relationship (r = 04-0.7, p <0.01), was found in gliding, leg propulsion, hand propulsion, hand and leg coordination, and breath control. While the relationship in the ability to submerge and float is weak (r = 0.22 and 0.16, p <0.05). Basic swimming ability as an estimator of swimming competence has a significant concurrent validity in the moderate level, except for the basic ability to dive and float, which were in the weak category. Only two factors are estimated to have the greatest influence on the beginner's front-crawl competence achievement, namely basic ability to control breathing and coordination of legs & hands.