Over the Barrel
Swimmers imagine reaching over a barrel under the water – a simple image for an early, high-elbow catch.
- Stages
- Stage 6, Stage 7
- Difficulty
- Advanced
- Skills
- Front Crawl Arms, Stroke Efficiency
- Equipment
- Float, Pull Buoy
- Age
- 9–99 years
- Group size
- 1–14 swimmers
- Time
- About 4 minutes
- In a lesson
- Skill Development 1, Skill Development 2
- Shared by
- SwimShare Resource
What it develops
- Efficient front crawl with rotation and rhythmic breathing
- Improve stroke efficiency on all strokes
- Efficient front crawl over distance
- Keep technique and stroke count as distance increases
How to run it
- Standing, show the shape: arm reaches forward, fingertips drop, elbow stays high, as if reaching over a barrel.
- Practise with a float in one hand (single arm).
- Swim slow front crawl thinking 'over the barrel' at the start of each pull.
- Finish by pushing back to the thigh.
Teaching cues
- Reach over the barrel.
- Fingertips down, elbow up.
- Then push back.
Make it easier
- Single-arm with a float and pull buoy.
- Practise standing only.
Make it harder
- Full stroke counting strokes.
- Fist Swimming then open hand, holding the same shape.
Common faults
- Dropping the elbow and pulling with a straight arm.
- Pushing water down (lifting the body) instead of back.
Corrections
- Assistant gently holds the elbow up while the swimmer tips the hand down (standing).
- 'Push the water towards your feet.'
Assistant / L1 role
- Demonstrate the barrel shape on poolside for swimmers who need to see it again.