Breaststroke and backstroke are considered 'rest' strokes; crawl stroke, also known as freestyle, and butterfly are known as 'power' strokes. ... The sidestroke and elementary-backstroke are two more rest strokes used in swimming.

What type of stroke is the sidestroke?

The sidestroke is a swimming stroke, so named because the swimmer lies on one's side with asymmetric arm and leg motion and it is helpful as a lifesaving technique and is often used for long-distance swimming.

Is the sidestroke is considered a competitive swim stroke?

While not a competitive stroke, sidestroke is often used by lifeguards to perform in-water rescues.