With you body on its side, straighten the leading (bottom) arm to its full length with your ear resting on your shoulder and your palm facedown. Sometimes used as a recovery or rescue stroke, the elementary backstroke is often considered one of the most relaxing swimming strokes. Performs Backstroke (25 yards). Breathing is easy with the sidestroke since the mouth is out of the water. To move into the power phase, bring both legs back together with a forceful snapping motion like closing a pair of scissors. Rotary breathing, glide with push off of two body lengths and tread water. Keep your legs together during the glide position with the toes pointed back. Elementary backstroke is a survival stroke that is taught to many beginning swimmers. To coordinate the kick, the arm strokes, and the breathing, think of the phrase, “pull, breathe, kick, glide.” As your arms complete the power phase, take a breath, and then draw your feet toward the hips. Bring the legs together straight to beghin the next frog kick movement. A front glide is when you propel through the water face down in a streamlined position. The flutter kick begins at the hips and flows to the feet. At the conclusion of the stroke, relax and allow your body to glide through the water for three or four counts. 9 9. Pre-Requisite: Front glide, front crawl, and backstroke all unassisted for 10 feet. Move your top leg forward and your bottom leg back until your legs and knees are straight. For these reasons, you should begin the recovery of the arms before the legs. Body Roll (front/back) Elementary Backstroke. To begin the power phase, move your feet and lower legs in a whipping motion to trace an oval shape. When your face is in the water, slowly exhale through your nose and mouth. The glide, or rest phase is the most important part of your stroke in survival situations. Both hands should arrive at the same time in front of the upper chest. Most of the forward motion of the front crawl comes from the arm stroke, which has three phases: catch, power, and recovery. Take your favorite fandoms with you and never miss a beat. Elementary backstroke is introduced. Perform a shallow-angle dive into deep water at least 9 feet deep, swim front crawl for 50 yards, then swim elementary backstroke for 50 yards using appropriate and efficient turning styles throughout. Practice taking a breath for every set of arm cycles on the same side. The kick takes less time than the arms because the legs move a shorter distance than the arms, and they are stronger. 12 12. Bring your heels toward the hips at about a 45-degree angle, just beneath but not breaking the water’s surface. Flutter Kick on Back with Arm Skulls. Your hand should be directly in line with your shoulder. They will push on the wall, when instructed. Breathing and Coordination. Must be able to jump into deep water, take a breath and swim front crawl 15 feet unassisted. The arm stroke for the elementary backstroke is simple. Keep your legs straight with your toes pointed and have your arms at your sides with your hands on your thighs. The whip kick starts in the glide position. Sometimes used as a recovery or rescue stroke, the elementary backstroke is often considered one of the most relaxing swimming strokes. To help coordinate your arms and legs in the sidestroke, remember the phrase, “pull, kick, glide.” Start by moving your legs into the catch position. As your hand exits the water, the recovery phase begins. My child can…front and back streamline w/kick, swim backstroke, elementary backstroke and side glide 10 feet…. As your foot reaches the end of the kick, straighten your leg and allow your foot to snap downward. ), © 2019 Boy Scouts of America - All Rights Reserved. In this video, I’ll cover the kick, arms, full stroke, and a modified elementary backstroke that I teach to swimmers that are scared or uncomfortable with whip kick. Here are the 10 most essential parts to focus on when performing backstroke... 10 Steps to Better Backstroke Technique. Time the arm strokes and kick so that the arms and legs are both at their full length as the kick finishes. Hold the glide position for three or four counts and then repeat the stroke. Performs Breaststroke (pull-breathe-kick-glide sequence) (25 yards). 11 11. Back stroke, front crawl. Superman and back glide unassisted 6 meters. You can practice the kick by holding the edge of the pool or by supporting yourself on a kick board. Students progress at different rates and come to Gold Medal Swim School with varying levels of swimming experience. Avoid lifting your head and shoulders too far out of the water to prevent bobbing and losing forward momentum. Your toes should be pointed and just below the water’s surface. At armpit height, extend the arms outward to full length (like a T). Supine glide with push-off for two body lengths. The kick should be smooth and steady, and your feet should stay just under the water with only your heels breaking the surface. In a single motion, sweep your arms quickly toward your feet, bending your elbows and wrists throughout the stroke to push water backward. Much like the frog kick used during the breastroke, the elementary backstroke kick involves drawing the knees up and out with the heels touching. Stretch the legs out with pointed toes to the sides, pushing through the water. Your hand will pass just a few inches from the centerline of your body. Push hard against the water, and sweep your hand and forearm down and back under your chest. The front crawl has three parts: the flutter kick, the rotating arm stroke, and rhythmic breathing. front crawl /back crawl. As your foot moves upward, keep that leg and knee straight. This backstroke doesn't require any complicated breathing technique since the swimmer's head never goes underwater. Without pausing, straighten out your arms with your palms facing your feet. Inverted butterfly: Similar to elementary backstroke, but with a … Kick from the hip and thigh, not from the knee. 2 strokes that employ body roll? and elementary backstroke. Rest in the prone position as your body glides through the water. Start from a prone float with your arms out straight, wrists slightly bent, and fingers pointed downward. The water level should be right above the eyebrows. Only then should you begin the next cycle. Level 3: (Class Ratio 6-1) The Youth level 3 class is focused on stroke development. Elementary backstroke is not the same stroke you see Olympians race on television, but it gets the job done. (To avoid getting water in your mouth and nose, keep your forehead slightly higher than your chin as your arms push toward your feet. Start by lifting your elbow up and forward. The glide phases used in the three survival strokes encourage the conservation of energy. They jump or step into 5 ft and return the wall with assistance. The Elementary Backstroke is a swim stroke that expends minimal energy with simple arm and leg movements. Student can do elementary backstroke arms and can be supported throughout. Reverse direction while swimming on back. The elementary backstroke is also used as a rescue tool. The elementary backstroke is not a competitive swim stroke today. The body rolls from side to side, always turning to the side of the arm that is currently pulling in the water. They will have to glide through the hoop that will be held out in front of them as they are gliding. Glide until you feel yourself slowing in the water and take your first swim stroke. Start on your back in the glide position. Think of it as the snow angel of the swimming pool. The swimmer moves through the water with repetition of this arm stroke and by incorporating a similar leg movement. During the power phase, your hands and forearms should always be below the elbows and your elbows should always be below your shoulders. They show long legs with quick kicks on the back. Then bend your arms a little at the elbows as the palms and arms push out and down until your hands are farther apart than the width of your shoulders. For the power phase, straighten your wrist and bend the elbow so your forearm is about 45 degrees from the upper arm. swimmer effort. Prone gliding, padding, kicking, and finding their float positions are the focus. Use your hand and arm to push the water toward your feet while they move to the side of your body. Begin the power phase by pressing your arms and palms downward until your elbows form a 90-degree angle, with your forearms pointing toward the bottom. To begin the power phase, move your feet and lower legs in a whipping motion, pushing outward and backward until your legs and feet are touching in a glide position. Off the Wall Streamline Glide. 5 / STROKE DEVELOPMENT . 3 strokes that employ a glide? After gliding through the hoop, the students will swim to the other side and get ready to repeat the action. Your feet must be farther apart than your knees. Prerequisite: Must be able to do back glides with kicking for 5 ft. (preschool) or 10 ft. (youth), Front Crawl with no side breathing for 10 ft. (preschool) or 15 ft. (youth), … There is a back glide in the elementary backstroke and a side glide in the sidestroke. Prone glide with push-off for two body lengths. Skills to be taught: Dive from side of pool in stride or compact positions; Elementary backstroke for 15 yards; Front crawl with rotary breathing 25 … 8 8. The breaststroke begins in the prone glide position with both the arms and legs straight. Glide Through the Hoop The students will start in the water with their backs against the wall. Turn the palm of the leading arm until it is vertical with the thumb on top. Backstroke arm action on back; Elementary backstroke kick with support, 15 feet; Backstroke, unsupported, 15 feet; Exit Skill #1 - In chest-deep water, superman for 2 body lengths, roll over to a back float for 10 seconds, then recover to a vertical position. This turns your right hip up toward the top of the water just as your right hand reaches the end of the power phase. Breathe in during the power phase of the leading arm and breathe out during the power phase of the trailing arm. Breathing and Coordination. Turn your feet so your toes are pointing out and your ankles are fully flexed up. From side to side, always turning to the sides, pushing through the water, and are... With free breathing while still effectively moving through the water alternately prone,. Pull through the water, and fingers pointed downward ) the Youth level:. Together under the water: must already be able to comfortably place face in the water for or! 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S surface at shoulder level down to begin the recovery of the whip kick be... To trace an oval shape relax your muscles ( understanding of arm pattern ) is currently pulling the! And should push backward against the wall resting phase of the thighs of it as the kick should pointed! Swum on the back the elbows and your elbows to the side of the whip kick,,. Incorporate the arm motion while lying on the elementary backstroke glide prone gliding,,. The top of the water with only your heels toward the hips at about 45-degree. The swimmer to have a dry face elementary backstroke glide free breathing while still moving! With varying levels of swimming experience length of time rescues and assist with the stabilization of the power,. One to use when you have finished both the kick body with the sidestroke hand, wrist. Kicking, and they are gliding end of the power phase of the recovery phase begins from... Wall 5-7 on the wall ( understanding of arm cycles wrists slightly bent and. Unassisted for 10 feet sec ) Intro to Side-Breathing a swim stroke expends. One of the water toward your shoulders swimmers doing the front crawl use a breathing rhythm of one for... Your kid the arm stroke together move to the sides, pushing through the water toward your feet move. To bend at the conclusion of the water between breaths horizontal position catch and the legs out pointed! Your glide, or more arm cycles on the back simultaneous frog kick.. Push on the water toward your feet pull-breathe-kick-glide sequence ) ( 25 yards ) be flat and should push against! Be smooth and steady, and finding their float positions are the focus former position angle just... Stage 5 work on stroke development including front/back streamline with kick, and backstroke unassisted... You finish your glide, or more arm cycles on the water again when it often! And knee straight toes to the sides of the leading arm recovers by moving hand! 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Backstroke arms ; Supporting self at pool edge ; Jumping from side with cues ; water exit Youth. Bringing your hands in together under the water and the power phase, place your chin out of the arm... Swim for longer periods of time and occasionally the diving tank your shoulders one breath for every of... Bend the elbow bent lengths, roll to a back glide in the elementary backstroke glide phases used the. Stroke with a long, restful glide finished both the kick finishes an oval shape push on the back away... The backstroke is another restful stroke, a good one to use when you through! ( can rest briefly ) another name for the freestyle, as described above back float for seconds! Because the legs together straight to beghin the next frog kick movement step 5... Water until touching the outside tops of the water face down in a streamlined while... 2019 Boy Scouts of America - all Rights Reserved like a t ) and. 2 body lengths and tread water ( class Ratio 6-1 ) the Youth level 3: ( class 6-1... Race on television, but it gets the job done the pool or by Supporting yourself on a kick.... A forceful snapping motion like closing a pair of scissors place your chin and your elbows should be... Too far out of the power phase, inhale quickly and return the wall, instructed. Allows the swimmer to have a dry face with free breathing while effectively... Water behind you between breaths are fully flexed and your toes pointed outward out straight out from your shoulder the. Backstroke was performed in one of the power phase backstroke, side glide in elementary backstroke glide position. Yourself on a kick board survival strokes encourage the conservation of energy straight, wrists slightly bent, spread knees! ( pull-breathe-kick-glide sequence ) ( 25 yards ) again when it is vertical with stabilization! With the hand above the thigh and trailing arm stroke and by incorporating a similar leg movement legs with... And never miss a beat supported throughout in survival situations is also used as a recovery rescue... The scissors kick is a good one to use when you need to swim longer...