Kick Tempo Changes
Swimmers switch between slow, long kicks and fast, small kicks on the back and front – they feel the kick coming from the hip.
- Stages
- Stage 4, Stage 5
- Difficulty
- Developing
- Skills
- Front Kick, Back Kick
- Equipment
- Float, Noodle
- Age
- 6–99 years
- Group size
- 2–16 swimmers
- Time
- About 4 minutes
- In a lesson
- Introduction / Warm-up, Skill Development 1, Skill Development 2
- Shared by
- SwimShare Resource
What it develops
- Swim front crawl with side breathing
- Swim backstroke with a recognisable arm action
- Front crawl with breathing timed to the arm action
- Backstroke with shoulder rotation and a steady rhythm
How to run it
- Kick on the back with a float held over the thighs (or streamlined).
- Teacher calls 'slow' – long, relaxed kicks – then 'fast' – small, quick kicks.
- Knees must stay under the float on both speeds.
- Repeat on the front.
Teaching cues
- Kick from your hips.
- Knees hidden.
- Fast and small.
Make it easier
- Sit on the edge and kick first.
- Noodle under the arms.
Make it harder
- Streamlined arms throughout.
- Keep the fast kick for a whole width.
Common faults
- Knees bump the float.
- Fast kick becomes a splashy cycle.
Corrections
- 'Long spaghetti legs, floppy ankles.'
- Shorten the fast kick.
Assistant / L1 role
- Watch the knees on the back kick and call 'bump' when they touch the float.