Keep the Engine Running
A partner watches the swimmer's feet: the legs must keep kicking while the arms work – fixes kicks that stop when arms start.
- Stages
- Stage 3, Stage 4, Stage 5
- Difficulty
- Developing
- Skills
- Front Kick, Front Crawl, Backstroke, Coordination
- Equipment
- None
- Age
- 6–99 years
- Group size
- 2–12 swimmers
- Time
- About 5 minutes
- In a lesson
- Skill Development 1, Skill Development 2
- Shared by
- SwimShare Resource
Safety notes
- Watchers stay in standing depth and walk, not run.
What it develops
- Swim about 10 metres on the front
- Kick on the front, back and side
- Show early actions for all four strokes
- Swim front crawl with side breathing
- Swim backstroke with a recognisable arm action
- Front crawl with breathing timed to the arm action
How to run it
- Pairs: one swims front crawl across the width, one walks beside watching the feet.
- The watcher shouts 'engine off!' if the kick stops.
- Swap roles.
- Repeat on the back with backstroke.
Teaching cues
- Legs never stop.
- Small fast kicks.
- Arms and legs together.
Make it easier
- Kick with one arm pulling only.
- Float in one hand.
Make it harder
- Add side breathing without stopping the kick.
- Longer distance.
Common faults
- Kick stops during the breath.
- Big slow kicks that sink the legs.
Corrections
- Count kicks aloud while breathing.
- 'Kick faster than you pull.'
Assistant / L1 role
- Act as the watcher for swimmers without a partner, giving 'engine off' reminders.