The effect of increasing velocity and adding resistance on kinematical and kinetical parameters during the stroke cycle was examined in front crawl for 7 national level swimmers. In a flume, 3 drag conditions provided by a resistance parachute (PA) were tested at 5 velocities. Video footage and force sensors were used to measure the spatio-temporal coordination and force parameters. The results showed that an increase in velocity (V) led to increases in stroke rate (SR), Index of coordination (IdC), and a non significant change in force impulse per cycle, whatever the condition. In PA conditions, significant increases in the IdC, force impulse, and a decrease in SR were recorded (p<0.05). These results show that in normal conditions swimmers adapt to a change in velocity by modifying kinematics rather than kinetical parameters, whereas in PA conditions there is an enhancement of both of the parameters.
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