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 individuals 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 and More 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. Find all you need along with tons of basic drills covering all four swimming strokes in the Swimming Teaching Resources section on my site.
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. |
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.
A breaststroke leg kick that provides little or no power is frustrating. No problem; there are plenty of drills to correct it. Also, download a bunch of lesson plans to help you teach breaststroke. Hi, Mark here. Feeling frustrated? I've prepared a Breaststroke Kick Technique printable tip sheet to ease your frustrations. It has a great basic drill to help fine-tune your leg kick, along with some of the most common mistakes to look out for. Breaststroke Legs: Step By Step... We can break...
Teaching children how to swim can be a frustrating process, especially if they scared or anxious. That is, until you turn it all into a game! Hi, Mark here. I hope all is well with you. My popular book 'Teach Your Child To Swim Through Games and Play' uses games to teach all of the essential basics of swimming. Use the power of play to teach basic swimming skills to your children. Teaching them to swim could not be easier! Click here or the cover image below for a preview. Amazon Review...
Are you getting out of breath long before you think you should be? Which breathing technique is the right one for you? Also, swimming teachers, the definitive guide to teaching outstanding swimming lessons is here. Grab your copy today! Hi, Mark here. I hope all is well with you. This week we are talking about breathing techniques. I've been asked a lot of questions lately about breathing techniques. Questions like how, when, how often and why do I get out of breath so easily? Let's dive in...