Home › Stage 6

Snap Finish

Swimmers finish the breaststroke kick by snapping the feet together – adds power at the end of the kick and a tidy streamline.

Stages
Stage 6, Stage 7
Difficulty
Advanced
Skills
Breaststroke Kick, Stroke Efficiency
Equipment
None, Float
Age
8–99 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

  • 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

  1. Kick breaststroke with a float.
  2. Accelerate through the kick and finish with the feet snapping together, toes pointed.
  3. Hold the streamlined legs in the glide.
  4. Progress to full stroke.

Teaching cues

  • Kick round, snap together.
  • Toes pointed at the end.
  • Hold it long.

Make it easier

  • On the back, watching the feet.
  • Wall kick focusing on the finish.

Make it harder

  • Count kicks per width.
  • Full stroke with a strong snap and short glide.

Common faults

  • Feet stopping apart at the end of the kick.
  • Toes staying flexed in the glide.

Corrections

  • 'Clap your feet together.'
  • Flex to push, point to glide.

Assistant / L1 role

  • Watch from the end of the lane and say 'snap' or 'open' after each kick for one swimmer.

Helps with