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.

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Hi, Mark here. I hope all is well with you.

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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.

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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:

• Six Beat cycle
• Four beat cycle
• Two beat cycle

Where one 'beat' refers to one leg kick.

​Click here for a more detailed explanation of these timing patterns.​
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A Common Front Crawl Timing Mistake

It 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.

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Everything You Need To Teach Successful Freestyle Coordination

Perfect 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.

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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.

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That's it for this week. Take care and stay safe.

Happy swimming!

Cheers

Mark

​Swim Teach​

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