I've been teaching swimming for over 30 years and I built Swim Teach so that I can share all my knowledge, wisdom and experience from the thousands of swimming lessons I have had the pleasure of teaching. Take a look back through my previous newsletters and see what you missed.
Fine-Tune Front Crawl Arm Technique With A Basic Drill and Lesson Plan
Front crawl arm technique needs to be smooth, streamlined and continuous. The arms must also move in perfect harmony with the rest of the swimming stroke.
Hi, Mark here. I hope all is well with you.
In this edition of Swim Teach News we are looking at front crawl arm technique and a basic exercise to help practice and fine-tune the movement. If you're a teacher, I have a lesson plan that will help beginners master the basics of the arm action.
Arm pull technique using a kickboard.
A great exercise to try out is a single arm practice holding a kickboard in one hand. This practice allows you to develop arm technique whilst maintaining body position and leg kick. Holding a kickboard with one hand gives you the security of some buoyancy and and allows you to focus on a single arm.
Key Actions
Keep your fingers together
Pull hard under the water
Brush your hand past your thigh
Elbow exits the water first
Reach over the water surface
Finger and thumb enter the water first
Technical Focus
Fingertips enter first with thumb side down
Fingers should be together
Pull should be either an elongated ‘S’ shape
Pull through to the hips
Elbow exits the water first
Fingers clear the water on recovery
Common Faults
Fingers are apart
Pull is short and not to the thigh
Lack of power in the pull
Arm pull is too deep underwater
Arms are too straight on recovery
For a more detailed look at Front Crawl arm action and exactly how it should be performed, click the link below.
Show me MORE about Front Crawl Arm Technique.
Front crawl arms - basic lesson plan
Here I give you a swimming lesson plan dedicated just to the basics of front crawl arms. After the warm-up, the main part of the lesson takes a beginner from the very beginnings of learning the arm pull, through a process of exercises that gradually build on the previous one. The overall lesson duration is around 30 minutes, but you can tailor it to suit your classes and pupils.
Want More Swimming Lesson Plans Like This One?
'101 Swimming Lesson Plans For Swimming Teachers' is my extremely popular book that gives you exactly what it says on the cover. Every swimming lesson plan you could possibly need. Click here to grab your copy.
That's it for this week. Stay focused, stay in touch and stay safe.
Happy swimming!
Cheers
Mark
ps - did someone forward this to you? Subscribe here.
Hi! I'm Mark, creator of Swim Teach
I've been teaching swimming for over 30 years and I built Swim Teach so that I can share all my knowledge, wisdom and experience from the thousands of swimming lessons I have had the pleasure of teaching. Take a look back through my previous newsletters and see what you missed.
Are you getting out of breath long before you think you should be? Which breathing technique is the right one for you? Hi, Mark here 👋. Hope you're doing well. Let’s talk about breathing.Whether you're a beginner swimmer or a swimming teacher, one of the most common struggles in the pool is getting out of breath too quickly. Sound familiar? I’ve had loads of questions recently like: “How often should I breathe?” “Am I doing it wrong if I’m gasping for air?” “Is there a best breathing style...
"If I kick harder then I will stay afloat and swim further." ...a common misconception among beginners learning to swim. Hi, Mark here. Hope you're doing well! Have you ever heard a beginner swimmer say: “If I kick harder, I’ll stay afloat and swim further”?It’s one of the most common misconceptions out there. The truth? A relaxed, controlled leg kick is way more effective than a frantic, splashy one. Smooth and steady wins the race—literally. In this edition of Swim Teach News, we're diving...
How do I float? Why do I get so tired? Am I too old? As a beginner learning to swim, you have many unanswered questions, and as a teacher, you are constantly being asked them. There are a few that get asked more than others. Hi, Mark here. How are you? I hope all is well. How can I stand up mid-swim? How can I swim without getting tired? How Do I Float? These are just some of the most common questions I get asked. I have listed the most common questions and links to more detailed answers. I...