Thumbs Up, Pinkies In
A simple rhyme for backstroke hands: thumb leaves the water first, little finger enters first.
- Stages
- Stage 3, Stage 4
- Difficulty
- Developing
- Skills
- Backstroke, Coordination, Backstroke Arms
- Equipment
- None, Float
- Age
- 6–99 years
- Group size
- 1–12 swimmers
- Time
- About 4 minutes
- In a lesson
- Skill Development 1, Skill Development 2
- Shared by
- SwimShare Resource
Safety notes
- Space swimmers so arms don't hit each other.
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
- Standing, practise: arm starts by the leg, thumb up, lift the arm straight.
- Turn the hand as it passes the ear so the little finger enters the water first.
- Kicking on the back, swimmers call 'thumbs up' and 'pinkies in' for each arm.
- Swim a width focusing on quiet hand entries.
Teaching cues
- Thumbs up out.
- Pinkies in first.
- Quiet hands.
Make it easier
- One arm only with a float.
- Practise standing with the teacher.
Make it harder
- Alternate arms continuously.
- Keep the head totally still (try a floating toy on the forehead).
Common faults
- Back of the hand slapping the water.
- Bent arm on the recovery.
Corrections
- 'Make a quiet entry – no slap.'
- 'Straight arm like a windmill blade.'
Assistant / L1 role
- Stand beside the swimmers' heads and say the rhyme in time with their strokes.