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.
Front Crawl Coordination: The Mistake You Didn’t Know You’re Not Making - Teachers, Help Your Swimmers Nail Their Freestyle Timing
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Do you think you've got your front crawl timing and coordination all wrong? There is a good chance it is actually okay. Confused? Read on. Hi, Mark here. I hope all is well with you. What Exactly Is 'Timing'?When we talk about timing, we usually refer to the number of leg kicks per arm pull cycle—that is, how many times our legs kick in the time it takes for our arms to complete one arm pull cycle. Which Timing Pattern Works For You?Some timing patterns will suit some swimmers better than others. Much will depend on an individual's levels of coordination. There are three common timing patterns:
Where one 'beat' refers to one leg kick. Click here for a more detailed explanation of these timing patterns. A Common Front Crawl Timing MistakeIt is easy to kick with a fast leg kick and unknowingly allow the arm action to also speed up. This results in a loss of arm technique and overall body shape, leading to poor and inefficient swimming strokes. 'Catch up' is the best swimming exercise to establish a correct timing and coordination cycle, and experiment with different timing cycles as the delayed arm action slows down the exercise. The 'catch up' drill is illustrated and explained, along with loads more basic drills in my book How To Swim Front Crawl. Click here to check it out. Everything You Need To Teach Successful CoordinationPerfect arm pull, leg kick and breathing techniques to really make freestyle swimming sleek and smooth. Grab some basic drills and lesson plans and take your pupils’ front crawl to the next level. The Swimming Teaching Resources section on my site contains everything you need, along with tons of basic drills covering all four swimming strokes.
Do you know a new swimming teacher learning to teach who might benefit from this information? Forward this email to them, or share the link. It could make someone's day easier. That's it for this week. Take care 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.
How is your breaststroke timing and coordination? Download a free drill to help perfect it. Teachers - do your pupils make a mess of it? Scroll down to find my 'How To Teach Breaststroke' guide. Hi, Mark here. I hope all is well with you. This week, we are talking breaststroke timing, and I have a great printable timing drill for you to help you get things right. Breaststroke timing and coordination is a continuous alternating action where one propulsive phase takes over as one ends....
How do I float, and why do I sink? It's a question commonly asked by beginners learning how to swim. Hi, Mark here. Hope all is well with you. This week, we are talking about why we sink. Scroll down and discover the science behind floating and sinking, and how it may help you understand more and even help you stay afloat when you swim. Firstly, I have a lesson plan for teaching floating and gliding for swimming teachers. Teach Your Pupils How To Stay Afloat. The 'floating and gliding' lesson...
Struggling to move efficiently through the water despite vigorous kicking? You're not alone. Many swimmers find that their efforts don't translate into speed or distance. The key lies in refining your technique. Hi, Mark here. I hope you've had a great week. This week, we unpack the secrets to a powerful front crawl leg kick. Stay tuned to the end of this week's newsletter for a free Front Crawl Cheatsheet for you to download, save and print out. It's right at the end. Why Your Kick Matters A...