Side Kick Surfing
Swimmers kick lying on their side with the lower arm stretched out – body balance and a kick that works in any position.
- Stages
- Stage 3, Stage 4
- Difficulty
- Developing
- Skills
- Rotation, Front Kick, Side Kick, Body Position
- Equipment
- Float
- Age
- 6–99 years
- Group size
- 1–10 swimmers
- Time
- About 5 minutes
- In a lesson
- Skill Development 1, Skill Development 2
- Shared by
- SwimShare Resource
Safety notes
- Swimmers breathe freely on the side – remind them not to hold their breath.
What it develops
- Kick on the front, back and side
- Keep a flat, horizontal body position
- Swim front crawl with side breathing
- Push and glide in a tight streamline
How to run it
- Swimmer lies on the side, lower arm stretched ahead holding a float, ear resting on that arm.
- Top arm rests along the side of the body.
- Kick from the hips, travelling in the direction of the stretched arm.
- Swap sides on the way back.
Teaching cues
- Ear on your arm.
- One shoulder up to the sky.
- Kick from your hips.
Make it easier
- Hold a float under the lower arm.
- Assistant supports the top shoulder.
Make it harder
- No float.
- Six kicks on the side, rotate to the front, six kicks, rotate to the other side.
Common faults
- Rolling onto the front.
- Kicking sideways (scissor) instead of forwards and back.
Corrections
- 'Show me one shoulder only.'
- Show the kick direction on poolside.
Assistant / L1 role
- Walk beside swimmers, supporting the top shoulder lightly to keep them on their side until balanced.