When the arms are in the power phase, pulling the swimmer forward, the legs are recovering, or preparing for the next kick. The pull of the stroke is broken down into 3 parts. The catch, pull and finish, the power phase is the finish. It is when you are excelerating the pull, the recovery is when you are not pulling. For free, back and fly the recovery is when your arm is above the water. Breaststroke is the only stroke that has an underwater recovery.