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’re Not Making
|
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 Freestyle 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 - have you missed any of my previous newsletters? Click here for a list of them all. PPS - did someone forward this to you and you're looking to subscribe? 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.
One of the most common questions I get asked by adult swimmers is, 'Why do I get so tired swimming front crawl? Hi, Mark here - hope the week’s going well. One of the most common issues adult swimmers bring up (and one you’ve probably heard too) is: “Why do I get so tired swimming front crawl?” It’s easy to assume it’s a breathing problem, but more often it’s about timing, body position, and energy control. I recently heard from a swimmer who said: “We all end up completely winded after just...
One of the most common questions I get asked by adult swimmers is, 'Why do I get so tired swimming front crawl? Hi, Mark here - hope you’re doing well. If you’ve ever climbed out of the pool wondering why front crawl feels so exhausting, you’re definitely not alone.It’s one of the most common questions I get from adult swimmers: “Why do I get so tired so quickly when I swim front crawl?” Most people assume it’s all down to breathing - but it’s usually a mix of timing, body position, and how...
Hi, Mark here. Hope all is well. Butterfly is often seen as the hardest stroke — but with the right breakdown, anyone can learn it. Think of it less as a power stroke and more like a rhythmic wave. Here’s how to get started: 🐬 The Basics Arms: Enter shoulder-width, sweep out and in, then relax on recovery. Kick: Drive from your hips with two dolphin kicks per arm cycle. Breathing: Lift just enough during recovery to inhale, then return your face smoothly.👉 Full technique guide ⚠️ Common...