The Swim Teach Weekly 1–2–3

One teaching goal. Two ways to communicate it. Three phrases to try.

Hi there, Mark here. Hope all is well with you.

Welcome to this week’s Swim Better Weekly - one small change to make swimming easier.

The problem

Your arms and legs seem to be working constantly during breaststroke, but you don’t travel very far.

You may feel as though you’re fighting the water, getting tired quickly and putting in far more effort than the stroke should require.

Why it happens

Breaststroke works best when each action has its own place in a clear sequence.

If your arms and legs move at the same time, they can work against one another and create extra resistance. You also miss the streamlined glide - the moment when your body becomes long and travels forwards with less effort. Go here for more on the timing and glide for breaststroke.​

Try this in the pool

Slow the stroke down and practise the rhythm: pull, breathe, kick, glide.

1. Pull with your arms and lift your head gently to breathe.
2. Stretch your arms forwards as your legs perform the kick.
3. Finish in a long, narrow shape and count “one” before beginning the next pull.

Practise this for around 5 minutes before trying the same rhythm during a short, easy swim.

A quick safety reminder: never swim or practise alone. Use a supervised pool and stay within a depth that feels safe for your current ability. If you’re nervous or unable to swim independently, practise with a qualified swimming teacher or another responsible person close by.

Watch out for…

Don’t pull with your arms and kick with your legs at the same time.

This makes your body less streamlined and can cause the two actions to work against each other. Keep them separate and always complete the stroke with one clear moment of glide.

Remember

Pull, breathe, kick - and glide.

Want more help?

Once the sequence becomes familiar, breaststroke can feel smoother, calmer and much less tiring.

How To Swim Breaststroke contains focused guidance and practical exercises to help you improve breaststroke timing, coordination and overall technique.

See you next week,

Mark
Swim Teach

P.S. If breaststroke feels rushed, make the glide slightly longer - not the movements faster.