Catch-Up Crawl
One hand waits on a float until the other arm catches up – slows front crawl down so swimmers can feel each part.
- Stages
- Stage 3, Stage 4, Stage 5
- Difficulty
- Developing
- Skills
- Front Crawl, Coordination, Front Crawl Arms, Stroke Timing
- 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
- Keep widths short while coordination develops.
What it develops
- Swim about 10 metres on the front
- Show early actions for all four strokes
- Swim front crawl with side breathing
- Front crawl with breathing timed to the arm action
How to run it
- Swimmers hold a float out in front with both hands and kick.
- One arm does a full front crawl stroke and returns to the float.
- Only then does the other arm go.
- Add a side breath on one arm's stroke.
Teaching cues
- One arm waits.
- Pull all the way back.
- Touch the float, then swap.
Make it easier
- Only one arm for a width, then the other.
- Standing practice first.
Make it harder
- No float – hands touch in front instead.
- Breathe every three strokes.
Common faults
- Both arms leaving the float at once.
- Short pulls.
Corrections
- 'Tap, then go.'
- 'Thumb brushes your leg.'
Assistant / L1 role
- Walk alongside and say 'tap' each time a hand returns to the float to reinforce the rhythm.