Dolphin Kick on the Side
Dolphin kick lying on the side with one arm extended – swimmers can breathe easily and feel the kick go forwards and backwards.
- Stages
- Stage 4, Stage 5, Stage 6
- Difficulty
- Developing
- Skills
- Dolphin Kick, Body Wave
- Equipment
- None, Float, Short Fins
- Age
- 7–99 years
- Group size
- 1–14 swimmers
- Time
- About 4 minutes
- In a lesson
- Introduction / Warm-up, Skill Development 1, Skill Development 2
- Shared by
- SwimShare Resource
What it develops
- Show dolphin kick and early butterfly movement
- Butterfly rhythm with early full-stroke arms
- Butterfly with two-kick rhythm and forward breathing
How to run it
- Lie on the side, lower arm extended, top arm on the thigh.
- Dolphin kick with legs together, kicking forwards and back.
- Breathe freely; swap sides each width.
- Progress to a streamline on the side.
Teaching cues
- Legs together.
- Kick forward and back.
- Wave from your chest.
Make it easier
- Hold a float in the leading hand.
- Short fins.
Make it harder
- Streamline on the side.
- Rotate side-front-side every six kicks.
Common faults
- Legs separating.
- Kick coming only from the knees.
Corrections
- 'Stick your ankles together.'
- Exaggerate the hip movement slowly.
Assistant / L1 role
- Watch the legs from the side and say 'together' when they separate.