Shoulder Peek
Kick on the back and roll so one shoulder then the other peeks out of the water – the rotation that powers backstroke.
- Stages
- Stage 5, Stage 6, Stage 7
- Difficulty
- Developing
- Skills
- Rotation, Backstroke, Body Position
- Equipment
- None, Float
- Age
- 7–99 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
- Backstroke with shoulder rotation and a steady rhythm
- Swim with fewer, longer strokes
- Efficient backstroke with rotation and catch
- Improve stroke efficiency on all strokes
- Efficient backstroke over distance
- Keep technique and stroke count as distance increases
How to run it
- Kick on the back, arms by the sides.
- Roll so the right shoulder lifts out, hold for three kicks, then the left.
- Head stays still and looking up the whole time.
- Progress to adding the arm recovery on the lifted side.
Teaching cues
- Shoulder up, shoulder down.
- Head still.
- Roll from your hips.
Make it easier
- Hold a float on the chest.
- Roll every six kicks.
Make it harder
- Full backstroke with a shoulder peek every stroke.
- Balance a small floating toy on the forehead while rolling.
Common faults
- Head rolling with the shoulders.
- Rolling too far onto the front.
Corrections
- 'Your head is a still lighthouse.'
- Just enough for the shoulder to show.
Assistant / L1 role
- Stand at the finishing wall facing the swimmer and check the head stays still while the shoulders roll.