Backstroke Windmills
Swimmers kick on their back and add one arm at a time, lifting it straight up and over like a windmill.
- Stages
- Stage 3, Stage 4
- Difficulty
- Developing
- Skills
- Back Kick, Backstroke, Backstroke Arms
- Equipment
- Float, Noodle
- Age
- 5–99 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
- Clear lane – swimmers travel head-first.
What it develops
- Swim about 10 metres on the back
- Show early actions for all four strokes
- Swim backstroke with a recognisable arm action
How to run it
- Swimmer kicks on the back, float hugged on the tummy with one hand.
- The free arm lifts out of the water by the leg, straight up past the ear and back in behind the head.
- Push the water down to the leg under the water.
- Swap arms each width, then try alternate arms without the float.
Teaching cues
- Arm brushes your ear.
- Little finger goes in first.
- Keep kicking.
Make it easier
- Noodle under the arms and only one arm stroke at a time.
- Standing practice first.
Make it harder
- No float, alternate arms.
- Count strokes to cross.
Common faults
- Arm crosses over the head.
- Head lifts to watch the arm.
Corrections
- 'Hand goes in behind your shoulder, not your head.'
- 'Look at the ceiling.'
Assistant / L1 role
- Walk beside the swimmer's head and gently guide the recovering arm past the ear for the first few strokes.