Dolphin on the Back
Dolphin kick on the back with arms by the sides – swimmers can breathe freely while learning the undulating kick.
- Stages
- Stage 3, Stage 4, Stage 5
- Difficulty
- Developing
- Skills
- Backward Travel, Dolphin Kick, Body Wave
- Equipment
- None, Float, Noodle
- Age
- 6–99 years
- Group size
- 1–10 swimmers
- Time
- About 4 minutes
- In a lesson
- Skill Development 1, Skill Development 2
- Shared by
- SwimShare Resource
Safety notes
- Clear path for head-first travel.
What it develops
- Swim about 10 metres on the back
- Show early actions for all four strokes
- Show dolphin kick and early butterfly movement
- Butterfly rhythm with early full-stroke arms
How to run it
- Swimmers lie on the back, arms by the sides.
- Kick both legs together with a small wave from the hips.
- Travel head-first across the width.
- Progress to arms streamlined overhead.
Teaching cues
- Legs together.
- Small waves from your hips.
- Tummy up.
Make it easier
- Float hugged on the chest.
- Noodle under the arms.
Make it harder
- Streamlined arms.
- Switch between dolphin and flutter kick every four kicks.
Common faults
- Big knee bends so the knees break the surface.
- Hips sinking.
Corrections
- 'Knees stay under the water.'
- 'Push your tummy up.'
Assistant / L1 role
- Walk beside swimmers and watch the knees, giving 'knees under' reminders.