Opposite Arms
As one hand enters, the other leaves the water at the thigh – continuous backstroke arms with no pause.
- Stages
- Stage 5, Stage 6, Stage 7
- Difficulty
- Developing
- Skills
- Coordination, Backstroke Arms, Stroke Timing
- Equipment
- None, Pull Buoy
- 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
- Standing with shoulders under, practise: one arm up, one arm down, swap together like a windmill.
- Swim backstroke keeping arms on opposite sides of the circle.
- Say 'in-out' as one enters and the other exits.
- Aim for a smooth, even rhythm.
Teaching cues
- One in, one out.
- No waiting.
- Keep the windmill turning.
Make it easier
- Practise standing, then with a pull buoy.
- Slow tempo.
Make it harder
- Hold the rhythm for a length with rotation.
- Teacher claps a tempo; match it.
Common faults
- Resting an arm at the thigh.
- Both arms ending up at the top together.
Corrections
- 'When one hand goes in, the other must come out.'
- Count 'in-out, in-out' aloud.
Assistant / L1 role
- Clap the in-out rhythm beside the lane for a swimmer who pauses.