Glide Count Ladder
Breaststroke with a counted glide – 3, then 2, then 1 – so swimmers find a glide that is long enough but not too long.
- Stages
- Stage 5, Stage 6, Stage 7
- Difficulty
- Developing
- Skills
- Breaststroke Timing, Stroke Efficiency
- Equipment
- None, Float
- Age
- 7–99 years
- Group size
- 1–14 swimmers
- Time
- About 5 minutes
- In a lesson
- Skill Development 1, Skill Development 2
- Shared by
- SwimShare Resource
What it develops
- Breaststroke with effective kick, glide and timing
- Swim with fewer, longer strokes
- Breaststroke with strong propulsion and controlled glide
- Improve stroke efficiency on all strokes
- Efficient breaststroke over distance
- Keep technique and stroke count as distance increases
How to run it
- Swim a width of breaststroke counting 'one, two, three' in each glide.
- Next width: count 'one, two'.
- Next width: 'one'.
- Count strokes each width and discuss which felt best.
Teaching cues
- Kick, then glide.
- Count your glide.
- Stay long.
Make it easier
- Kick only with a float and counted glide.
- Arms and legs separately (Pull, Breathe, Kick, Glide).
Make it harder
- Keep a 'one' glide at a faster pace.
- Match your glide to the teacher's clap tempo.
Common faults
- No glide – arms start straight after the kick.
- Glide until nearly stopped.
Corrections
- Start from the 'three' count, then shorten.
- 'Start pulling while you're still moving.'
Assistant / L1 role
- Stand at the side and count glides aloud for a swimmer who rushes.