The sports technique aimed to achieve an optimum resolution of the tasks of competition in a particular sport (Grosser and Neumaier, 1986). It is defined as a rational process, appropriate and economic, for a sport result (Bompa, 1983; 1990). Generally, it is described by a set of characteristics and dynamics of cinematic form: verbal, graphic design, mathematics, biomechanics, anatomy, functional, or other.

To analyze the sport movements of a swimmer, the level of swimming in a cinematic perspective and in terms of technical effectiveness should be carried-out (Barbosa et al., 2008; Marinho et al., 2009). Thus, we have to take into account the differences between the model and the individual response (Counsilman, 1968; Campaniço et al., 2006). In this context, we must also remember that the stagnation in technical (Knapp, 1980), stems from the acquisition of engines weak habits that the swimmer use to achieve the proposed objective in terms of efficiency, are not the most profitable and efficient.

The butterfly technique is characterized by models and variants identified (Colman and Persyn 1993; Persyn et al., 2000; Silva and Alves, 2000). These models can be observed, described and analyzed with high accuracy compared to existing technological resources. The demand of the particular hand champions, so often discussed in technical terms in the scientific community, is the main reason why the procedures used in this study can be used to know the actual reason for its success.

Persyn et al., 2000 compared and characterized the main variants of the butterfly technique in wave and flat styles, accurately defining the phases and sub-phases in each cycle of swimming. Silva and Alves, 2000 reinforced some aspects of the new variants associated to wave criteria, focusing in particular on the importance of lumbar hyper-extension and torso arched position. Sanders et al., 1995, Sanders, 1996, Scheihauf et al. (1988), Togashi and Nomura (1992), Mason et al. (1992), Maglischo, 2003, Barbosa et al., 2003, Barbosa et al., 2005, Silva and Alves, 2000, Platonov, 2005, Chollet et al. (2005) confirm the technical standard as a typical set of actions: (i) position of the body wave, (ii) action of the upper limbs, (iii) ascending and descending action of the lower limbs, (iv) coordination between actions of the upper and lower limbs and, (v) coordination between these and the breathing action.

The observational methodology, particularly as a strategy of scientific method, used for analyzing the behaviour situation, involves the fulfilment of an ordered series of tasks to collect and process data (Sackett, 1978; Bakeman and Gottman, 1989; Anguera, 1993; Anguera et al., 2001). In swimming, we can note the importance of such scientific procedures to study the technical performance (Campaniço et al., 2006; Oliveira et al., 2006; Cardoso et al., 2008; Louro et al., 2009a).

According to Anguera et al., 2001, there are advantages in using this method because not only can the user take the procedures of the laboratory into the field, but also can provide data without interfering with or manipulating the behaviour of the observed subjects. To examine the technical performance (Campaniço and Anguera, 2001), using the observation as a tool for coding (Anguera and Blanco-Villaseñor, 2003), one must: (i) isolate the object of observation, (ii) create a system suitable for the purpose of research, (iii) develop criteria and specifications in relation to the observed behaviour (categories and formats of the field), (iv) involve a process of rating and measurement and, (v) ensure and validate the instrument of observation.

In this context, the objective of this study was to introduce a method to examine the data and to analyse the inter-temporal relationship between the structures of events (movements) in the butterfly technique. This method of analysis is based on the detection of patterns using the software THEME, developed by Magnusson (1996; 2000). This instrument intend to identify consistent patterns that exist within a flow of conduct and thus to provide a different view of the complex relationships between movements. The detection of the pattern is based on the theory of probability and, more specifically, the binomial distribution (Magnusson, 2000). The major advantage of this software lies on the identification of hidden patterns allowing a different approach of the complex relationships continuously established during a sequence of actions. According to Magnusson, 2000, the algorithm used in the detection of temporal patterns is based on a binominal theory of probabilities allowing identifying the sequential and temporal data systems. Hence, observational methods applied to sport are scientific procedures that reveal the occurrence of perceptible motor behaviours, allowing them to be formally recorded and quantified. In addition, they also allow the analysis of the relations between these behaviours, such as sequentiality, association and covariation. Theme software was used to determine behaviour patterns in sports, rendered precisely around the process of observation of sport events guided by ad-hoc instruments, answering to several problems, such as performance in collective sport games (e.g. Anguera and Jonsson, 2003; Anguera et al., 2003) or recording and reproduction of technical actions for visualization of flows of conduct in individual sports (e.g. Castañer et al., 2009; Louro et al., 2009a; Lyon et al., 1994).

Our study was based on observational methodology. In this context the design of this study was classified as punctual, nomotetic, multidimensional (Anguera et al., 2001). Punctual, since the acquired data were obtained in a single moment, or a single session. Nomotetic, since our sample comprised four subjects with a common bond, cycles of the butterfly swim. It also seeks to investigate the conduct in which several dimensions of technical execution occur simultaneously (multidimensional character).

In the exploratory phase, we defined the behavior to be observed, based on deductive explanation. The units of measurements were defined as units of events, or events.

The sample comprised four international level swimmers, all with a male performance sports with more than 750 points in the table of FINA for 100m butterfly. The athletes involved were representative of the national team of Portugal in absolute Olympics in butterfly.

For the record of the image a Sony Mini-DV Camera (50 Hz) was used, and recorded in real time, connected via Firewire to the hard disk of a laptop (Centrino Airis, 1700 Mhz). The camera had been protected by a sealed housing Ikelite. To perform the capture of the image to digital format the MovieMaker software was used and the display of images was carried out using Quintic Software. All procedures were conducted in an indoor 50m swimming pool.

We used an Ad-hoc reference (Anguera et al., 2000). The instrument has been configured by the nature of research: (i) criteria, (ii) system of codes and, (iii) units of coding. The structure of the observation was taken as individual events at the discretion of time and order (Anguera, 1990; Anguera and Blanco, 2003), representing one or more specific technical behavior of a hand cycle.

The adaptation of the Observing System Performance in Butterfly Technique (SOCTM) was conducted based on four core criteria: EMA, PAP, SAP and SMRB, as Table 1 (Louro et al., 2009a), characterizing the conduct considered critical in the cycle of the butterfly swim. Each criterion represents a stage of a complete cycle gesture, adding movements and actions that represent the technical conduct, independent of any existing variant. Each criterion is divided into two phases, comprising a few frames of video sequence.

The conduct was in accordance with the temporal characterization delimiting the beginning and end of each stage. In each of these stages a list of key points were defined, being critical to the implementation in the exploratory phase. To each of them an alphanumeric code was assigned.

In this context, the analysis of data was conducted based on the following settings on two occasions: (i) for the moment that determines the entry in the time period and, (ii) relating to the movement performed by the first moment that marks the entrance to the following criterion. This means that we have a characterization of temporal sub- events, characterizing the technical achievement of the swimmer for a given time of the swimming cycle. Table 1 represents the four criteria.

For this study the instrument was set with 83 alphanumeric codes. Each swimmer can get 40 different settings by examining a hand cycle, i.e., eight settings, or events, per cycle, making 40 in all the five cycles.

The sample was represented by many observational records, 259 alphanumeric codes and a total of 160 configurations, or lines of code per event, used to catalog the performance of each swimmer during the five hand cycles.

Each subject performed the overall butterfly swimming technique in a distance of 25m. The filming was conducted in a sagital plane with rotation from right to left, following the motion of swimming, to permit the viewing of five complete cycles of swimming. The camcorder had been fixed, protected by a sealed housing and was placed perpendicular to the direction of displacement at a 6m distance from the swimmer and about 30cm deep, protected by a sealed housing.

Five cycles were extracted to ensure the behavioral sequence, taken from closer to the midline of the focal center, 8 to 10m after finishing between 18 and 20m.

The descriptive analysis was performed by the number of codes, settings and levels of stability (I) and variable (Iv). The stability is given by the ratio between the highest point on the frequency of occurrence and the total on each moment of observation. The closer to 1, the greater the stability is and was used to interpret each of the moments in study, or parts of the movement. This index is important for analysis of a single subject, or several subjects. The variability was given by the ratio of n-frequency settings recorded and the maximum possible settings for time of observation. For all the swimmers analysis, n = 20 was performed. The lower the index, the more similarity between swimmers executions in each moment of observation is observed.

To detect the patterns, the software first identifies the relationship between the two types of events and then detects the most complex patterns, using simple combinations. After detecting simple patterns, the user can then add up these patterns and simple patterns become more complex, since it combine with each other. Throughout the process of detection, a selection of models is done by deleting the less complete versions (Magnusson, 1996, 2000).

It is important to note that to interpret behavioral patterns hidden by the hierarchical structures of the graph obtained in the output, in this study it was defined that it would be only subjected to analysis the patterns whose events represent the four phases, regardless the use, or not, of the eight moments of integrated observation of the four criteria.

This filtering options selected in the software, also took into account the temporal distances of each event and the context of sequences during the swim.

The results of the patterns, that are found for the time period of five cycles and to find a pattern to the events, must occur at least twice during this period. Not all the events that occur are mentioned twice, because the software filters them and exposes only the events that have a higher chance, in the critical time.

The representation of this information differs from swimmer to swimmer; a type case study. Natural condition of implementation, the maximum speed, regardless of each swimmer, compels us to explore different types of settings.

The results that are presented refer to the table of frequency events, and analysis of the behaviour pattern of relationships through the sequential and critical intervals.

Noting, for example, the table of frequencies of a swimmer, representing a codification of the system of gestures over five cycles (Table 2). One can easily visualize the structure of the settings of each criterion and its variations in performance.

In terms of technical description of the conduct, we can observe the conduct stable (I) and the overall implementation from the configurations obtained. Values less than or equal to 0.5 are considered weak, between 0.5 and 0.75 reasonable, less than 0.75 very reasonable, and 1.0 is considered excellent.

We can observe that the swimmers had a high stability. All values are above 0. 79, i.e. very close to 1.

In Table 3 we can verify the events and changes occurred. At the entrance of the hand in the water (EMA) in the 1st time, there was a variation in the position of the hands relative to shoulders position being near (i.e. 0.40) or distant (i.e. 0.60), with variation of the heels being below the water line (i.e. 0.20) or above (i.e. 0.80). In the 2nd time the change happens in the path of the hands ranged from down (i.e. 0. 40) and down and out (i.e. 0.60). During the first propulsive support (PAP), there were variations in the second swirl around the hand (i.e. 0.60) and vorticity (i.e. 0.40), and changes from below the knee (i.e. 0.80) or near the surface of the water (i.e. 0.20). During the second propulsive support (SAP), the behaviour change occurred between cycles, due to the position of the head for breathing, above (i.e. 0.40) and below (i.e.0.60) the waterline. We also found a variation in the position of the gluteus, near the waterline (i.e. 0.20) or below (i.e. 0.80). In the last criterion, on the output of the recovery of the arms and hands (SMRB), the variation was due to the head being above (i.e. 0.40) and below (i.e. 0.60) and in the 2nd time, due to the posture of the trunk, showing a dorsi-flexion (i.e. 0.40) or a flat position (i.e. 0.60).

The patterns displayed by the software Theme give us an overview of the behavioural interaction between times and between cycles. The output gives us three levels to view the same graph. The lower representation allows the visualization of time in which the default occurs, in the total sample time, and vertically, as characterized the diagram. The top right gives the relationship between time cycles. In the upper left corner we find the tree structures corresponding to the cycle times and the lines of events and their relationships within cyclical.

In terms of data description in a swimmers’ study, the pattern was classified as incomplete (five lines of events). In terms of general description of the technical conduct, interpreting Table 1, we can describe that we also obtained the settings, but now all related through a critical time interval (t-pattern) for the five cycles. Figure 1 the first class has two settings: 1b9, 1t6, 1t7 (Ic 0.60) for the 2nd time of EMA. These data give a trajectory of the hand downwards, with the trunk in flexion, tilted and below the hip. Its stability is considered reasonable. Regarding the second configuration, 2b2, 2b5, 2C2, 2t1, 2t4, 2p4 (Ic 1) refers to 1 when considered the PAP, indicating that the hands are in the extension of the shoulders, elbows away from the line of water (below this), head below the water line, gluteus above and below the trunk, tilted hip and heels above the water. These two events are crucial to the remaining structure. Its stability is excellent. The second branch corresponds to the event 2b7, 2p9 (Ic 0.60), for the 2nd time of PAP, characterized by a turbulent flow around the hand and knees below the waterline; reasonable stability. The second event 3T5, 3t8 (Ic 1) is the 2nd time of SAP, indicates that the trunk has a flat and inclined position above the hip; it has an excellent stability. Moreover, the third line shows only the configuration of the events 4B1, 4C2, 4t2, 4t4, 4p4 (Ic 0.60) which corresponds to 1 when the SMRB occurs, which reveals the hands out and behind the elbows; the head and shoulders are above the water line, close to the gluteus and well below the heel; its stability is reasonable.

The pattern formed by the Sub 2 when EMA occurred and 1st when PAP is the triggering of other behaviour, consisting of a sub standard and a range of events, thus the standard of the swimmer but an incomplete one.

In Figure 2 one can observe the pattern correspond-ing to the inspiratory cycle which is the 4th and 5th cycle. Here is the relevant combination, the first branch of the 1st moment of EMA with the 1st PAP, first registered in the found patterns (1B2, 1b4, 1c3, 1t2, 1p4) (Ic 0.60), which means the hands from the extension of the shoulders, placing the hands before the elbow, guiding the vision down, gluteus near waterline and position of heels below the waterline, which seems to explain the association between the height of the body with the time of hands’ entry; its stability is reasonable. The second branch, connecting the 2nd stage of the SAP with 1 out of hands, seems to explain the importance of acceleration of the arms in the output to compensate the breathing movement.

We found that the behavioural patterns of the swimmer were incomplete, and five events were the most complete ones. The behavioural pattern of Figure 2, corresponding to the inspiratory cycle, is only the event corresponding to the time path of the SAP.

In Figure 3 the swimmer presents a stable technical execution. We can describe his technical side conduct using the In Table 4 configurations obtained in five cycles. In the first configuration, at the entrance of the hand in the water (EMA), there is a variation in the trunk, may be in dorsiflexion (i.e. 0.60) or flexion (i.e 0.40). In the second configuration, there is a support in the first propulsive variation between the head above (i.e. 0.20) or below (i.e. 0.80) the waterline, the gluteus above (i.e. 0.40) or near (i.e. 0.60) the water line. There is still variation between knees next (ie 0.20) or below (i.e. 0.80) the waterline. In the second propulsive support (third configuration), there is variability in the criteria when the head is above (i.e. 0.60) or below (i.e. 0.40) the waterline, and the heel is above (i.e. 0.40) or below (i.e. 0.60) the water. Even the trunk varies from plan (i.e. 0.80) to a dorsiflexion position (i.e. 0.20). In the fourth configuration, In and Out of the Hand and Arms Recovery, the change occurs in close heels (i.e. 0.20) or below (i.e. 0.80) the water line.

There are two cycles’ patterns where there is inspiration and a behaviour pattern not incomplete in inspiratory cycles.

This swimmer presents a complete pattern (eight events). He presents a great stability in swimming. The pattern of Figure 4 and 5">5 corresponds to two cycles (3 and 5), which are inspiratory ones, as verified by the code 3c1 where the head is above 2 during the propulsive support.

In terms of technical description of the conduct, we can observe that the first branch presents a configuration relating to 1 when the EMA occurs: 1B2, 1b4, 1c3, 1t2, 1p4 (Ic 1) correspond to the behaviour of the swimmers’ hands on the extension of the shoulders, elbows or before the hands’ entering, guiding the vision down, legs bends heel and below the waterline; in this time an excellent stability was found.

This event is crucial for the rest of the action. There is a link of this single event to the following event configurations, which constitute various sub-standards. In the following sub-standard we have two configurations:

The first configuration corresponds to two events. The first, 1b8, 1t5, 1t7 (i.e. 0.60), corresponding to the 2nd time of EMA, when the swimmer displays a out and down trajectory of the hand, trunk in dorsi-flexion position and tilted down the hip; a reasonable stability.

The second configuration, 2b3, 2b4, 2C2, 2T2, 2t4, 2p4, (i.e. 0.40), refers to the first of PAP, indicated that the hands are outside the extension of the shoulders, elbows close to the water line (below this), head below the water line, trunk tilted and below the hip and heels below the water line; the stability is poor.

This subdivision of the event is a crucial link to the next cycle of events.

This subdivision consists of a sub-standard with two events for the 2nd time of PAP, 2b6, 2p9 (I 0.80), characterized by a flow of vortices around the hands and knees below the waterline, and a reasonable stability.

In the 1st stage of the SAP, 3b1, 3b4, 3c1, 3T3, 3p4 (Ic 0.40), the swimmer presents the elbows close to the chest, the thumbs close, the head above, the gluteus above, the heels below the water line. In this stage the movement presents a low stability.

These two settings, plus the subdivisions that have previously mentioned, presented a strong relationship with the end of the observations of the cycle, thus creating a line of the event and a bunch of two configurations.

The first corresponded to the 2nd time of SAP. The event 3T5, 3t8 (Ic 0.80) indicates that the trunk has a flat and inclined position above the hip, and a reasonable stability.

This event is related to the two configurations corresponding to the observed movements of the SMRB, being the configuration composed by the event.

The second configuration, 4B1, 4C1, 4t2, 4t4, 4p4 (Ic 0.40), corresponds to the 1st time of SMRB where the hands leave the water behind the elbows, the head and shoulders are above the water line, the gluteus close to the water line and the heels below. The second configuration corresponds to the moment when the hands leave the water and the arms recovery (4t7, 4t12), indicating that the trunk is flat and below the hip; this event has a low stability.

This swimmer presents stability between cycles. It is important to notice that he has two (in five) breathing cycles which are the 3rd and 5th cycles, respectively.

Examining the technical conduct in Table 5, minor changes and / or variations van be noticed, which correspond to: (i) at the entrance of water (EMA) the elbows can enter after the hands (i.e. 0.20), simultaneously or before (i.e. 0.80), (ii) in the PAP there is variation between the gluteus above (i.e. 0.80) or near (i.e. 0.20) the waterline, (iii) in the SAP there is variability in the head, being above (i.e. 0.20) or below (i.e. 0.80) the waterline, and with respect to the heels, they stay above (i.e. 0.80) or below (i.e. 0.20) the water. The trunk can change from plan (i.e. 0.80) to a dorsiflexion position (i.e. 0.20) and, (iv) in the SMRB there is variation in the heels position being close (i.e. 0.20) or below (i.e. 0.80) the water line.

The default behaviour of the swimmer is incomplete; there are 7 recordings of the event observation. The pattern indicated in Figure 6 and 8">8 occurred in consecutive cycles (3 and 4). It is important to stress that there is a breathing movement in the 3rd cycle.

The technical description of the pipeline indicates that the swimmer has a sub-standard with two events corresponding to the entry of the hand. In the first event 1B2, 1b4, 1c3, 1t2, 1p4, (i.e. 0.80) the swimmer present the hands away from the extension of the shoulders, the elbows enter at the same time or before both hands, guiding the vision downwards and heels below the waterline; this time the stability is quite reasonable. In the second event 1b8, 1t6, 1t7 (i.e. 1) the swimmer presents a down and outsweep path of the hand, with the trunk in flexion, tilted and below the hip; there is an excellent stability.

This setting affects all the rest of the pattern because it is from this setting that the other sub-standard is created and gives us the pattern and their temporal relations.

This configuration will connect with another configuration consisting of an event linked to two events. The event 2b3, 2b4, 2C2, 2t1, 2t4, 2p4 (i.e. 0.80) is the 1st time of PAP and indicates that the hands are outside the extension of the shoulders, the elbows are close to the water line (below this line), the head is below the water line, the gluteus are above, the trunk is tilted and below the hip and the heels are below the waterline. The stability is quite reasonable. The second event has two settings. The configuration of the two events is the 2nd time of PAP 2b6, 2p9 (i.e. 1), characterized by a flow of vortices around the hands and knees below the waterline; the stability is excellent. In the 1st stage of the SAP 3b1, 3b4, 3c2, 3T3, 3p3, (i.e. 0.60) the swimmer presented the elbows close to the chest, the thumbs close together, near the head, gluteus above, and the heels below the water line. The stability has a reasonable value.

This subdivision in three events has a crucial link with the configuration described above. Together they will influence the rest of the swimming cycle behaviour, being connected by two settings: (i) the connection time to the 2nd SAP 3T5, 3t8 (i.e. 0.80) indicates that the trunk has a flat and inclined position above the hip and a reasonable stability and, (ii) the 2nd time of SMRB corresponds to 4t7, 4t12 (i.e. 1) indicating that the trunk is flat and below the hip; excellent stability.

In Figure 7 it was found an incomplete pattern, where the eight observed moments are seven events that occur in at least two cycles of the five observed. We have a pattern that occurs in cycle 2 and 4 and they are not breathing cycles.

The event 4B1, 4C1, 4t2, 4t4, 4p4, (i.e. 0.40) corresponds to 1 when the SMRB occurs. The hands leave the water behind the elbows, the head and shoulders are above the water line, the gluteus are close to this line and the heels are far from the water line; its stability is poor.

After the analysis of Table 6, we found some stability in the technical execution, but some changes occurred: (i) at EMA, we have variations of gluteus position, near (i.e. 0.80) or below (i.e. 0.20) the water surface, (ii) in the PAP a variation exists between the gluteus position above (i.e. 0.40) and near (i.e. 0.60) the water surface and, (iii) in the SAP there is variability in the head criterion, being above (i.e. 0.20) or below (i.e. 0.80) and the gluteus near (i.e. 0.20) or below (i.e. 0.80) the waterline.

Analyzing the pattern behaviour of the swimmer it was found that it is a stable behaviour containing a line of events with frequencies higher than 4. There is less stability in the 1st observation time PAP and SAP, i.e., in moments of propulsive actions.

We also note that this swimmer contains another technical indicator of stability, presenting 15 events during the course of five cycles.

In Figure 9 and 10">10 The pattern is incomplete (five events) and their description is easily performed, where the first subdivision corresponds to the 2nd moment of EMA with the settings 1b8, 1t6, 1t7 (i.e. 1) corresponding to the behaviour of the swimmer’s hand with a down and outsweep path, with the trunk in flexion, tilted and below the hip; the stability is excellent.

This action is crucial to the performance of the swimmer in the cycle, because this action manages the entire behaviour pattern. The event is connected to a configuration consisting of two more configurations separated by a bunch of events.

The following sub-standard has two settings, with an event corresponding to the 2nd time of PAP 2b6, 2p9 (i.e. 1), characterized by a flow of vortices around the hands and knees below the waterline; reasonable stability. The second event is the 2nd time of SAP 3T5, 3t8 (i.e. 0.1) indicates that the trunk has a flat and inclined position above the hip, with an excellent stability.

These two configurations are connected to other events that characterize the cycle.

The second sub-pattern consists of 2 branches, one corresponding to the configuration 4B1, 4C1, 4t2, 4t4, 4p4, (i.e. 1) which belongs to the 1st moment of SMRB, when the hands leave the water in a position behind the elbows, the head and shoulders are above the water line, the gluteus near the water line, and the heels below this line. The other branch corresponds to 4t7, 4t12 (i.e. 1) and corresponds to the 2nd time of SMRB, indicating that the trunk is flat and below the hip.

It is important to stress that the 4th cycle is a breathing cycle.

This incomplete pattern of the swimmer has a triggering event for all the other events the 2nd time of EMA. From this event, a sub standard event take place composed of the 2nd time of PPA and the 2nd time of SAP, which will connect differently to the events of the 1st time of SMRB and the “Moment SMRB”. We only found one pattern in this swimmer; although we can point out that it happens in 3 of the 5 cycles.

When analysing Table 7 we can verify the index of variability of each event in the sample.

There is great variability in the 1st stage of the SAP and SMRB (0.45), corresponding to the most propulsive phases of the butterfly stroke. There is less variability is the 2nd time for each of these phases, because of the degree of freedom of each criterion and the small number of criteria observed.

The objective of this study was to introduce a method to examine the data and to analyse the inter-temporal relationship between the structures of events (movements) in the butterfly technique. Thus, the SOCTM instrument respects all the procedures of the observational method (Campaniço et al., 2006; Cardoso et al., 2008; Oliveira et al., 2001). This instrument allows us to collect data from temporal relations of sequences of events and, in particular with regard to our context, the way the technical characteristics of the swimming style are hierarchically related, represented in graph as a temporal pattern.

Methodologically, observation in sport is particularly suited to the implementation of unobtrusive procedures to appraise the behaviour of an individual. Amongst the observational methodology advantages are its flexibility, its ability to adapt to very different behaviours and situations, its rigor in the application of the various procedural operations and the non-restrictive and unobtrusive nature of its appraisal of real situations. In swimming analysis, observational methodology allows to explain the temporal relations, the relations between the technical components and the structure of a motor pattern (Louro et al., 2009b).

The performance in swimming is dependent on the swimmer’s technique. Thus, the systematic observation and analysis during training and competition, seems to be a determinant procedure to the evaluation of the swimmer’s performance. During several years, the qualitative observation in swimming was carried-out using list point methods, where the focus was based on the technical deviations from the model. However, this evaluation seems to be limited due to the one-dimensional character of the analysis. Throughout the observational method, several behaviour patterns are presented, allowing observing relevant characteristics of the motor behaviour, especially its stability and variability during the actions. Moreover, this method can be applied in natural context, allowing the data collection in a simple and non-invasive way.

Therefore, this analysis leads us to attempt to identify patterns of implementation of a direct, but through the analysis of discrete data, it is only possible if we use the Theme software (hidden patterns between discrete data). Furthermore, we can verify the existence of different line of research using the same software and algorithm (Anguera and Jonsson, 2003; Anguera et al., 2007; Borrie et al., 2002; Jonsson, 1998; Lyon et al., 1994; Magnusson, 1996, 2000), although using different areas of technical performance. For instance, Theme software was used to analyse technical patterns having for reference biomechanical criteria, in the consolidation of motor conducts in learning, in observational and cognitive expertise in the sport performance, in recording and reproduction of technical actions, oriented for the study of conducts in an interaction context.

The current study is based on the movement analysis, especially on the technical evaluation of the swimmer through the definition of specific motor patterns. Although the important data raised by this study, this study has some limitations. This kind of studies requires that the observer has a good knowledge of the swimmer’s movement. The ad-hoc instrument used in this study needs to be adapted to other movements if one wants to apply this methodology into another context. During the imaging recording, we only used one underwater camera, which can limit the observation of the movement in all the space orientations. Therefore, in further analysis, this limitation should be corrected using more than one camera in different plans.

In the future, it seems also interesting to analyse the swimmers’ patterns in a larger scale. Within this study, only four swimmers were evaluated. Thus, generalisations from a very limited sample size should always be presented with special careful. Furthermore, the analysis of swimmers of different performance level (Olympic finalist/medallist swimmers and non-expert swimmers) and female swimmers can improve the quality of this kind of evaluations.

We note that each of the swimmers have their own behavioral pattern, each pattern adjusted for individual characteristics. In each swimmer the criteria are observed from changes in each cycle on the adaptations and adjustments that the swimmer performs, which is shown with different events at the same time of observation, both with the same swimmer among the swimmers observed.

Moreover, the behavioral patterns are different at both intra- individual and inter-individual because they are tailored to each specific need of different swimmers. Thus, each swimmer will have patterns with different complexities, because they change the number of events by pattern, depending on the changes and adjustments that the swimmer makes on their action.

Although different patterns between cycles and between swimmers were observed, it seems that they have similarities between them, adjusting his style to the technical model.

For the stability we observed that this behavior changes with the swimmer and also between phases and moments observed. We found higher values of stability in swimmers who presented the best times in butterfly technique. This fact seems to suggest that the swimmers who present greater stability of the swimming pattern could obtain the best performance results.

On the other hand, the variability is found in higher stages of acceleration of the swimming cycle, corresponding to phases of greatest propulsive force production.

We conclude that, although the standard model is a reference, each swimmer adapted their swimming pattern in a unique and distinct way.