Single-Arm Butterfly
One arm does butterfly while the other stays extended in front – timing the kick with the arm and breathing without the effort of full stroke.
- Stages
- Stage 4, Stage 5, Stage 6, Stage 7
- Difficulty
- Developing
- Skills
- Dolphin Kick, Butterfly Arms, Stroke Timing
- Equipment
- None, Float, Short Fins
- 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
- Show dolphin kick and early butterfly movement
- Butterfly rhythm with early full-stroke arms
- Butterfly with two-kick rhythm and forward breathing
- Efficient butterfly for a short distance
How to run it
- One arm extended (hold a float at first).
- The other arm pulls under the body and sweeps out of the water low and relaxed.
- Kick as the hand enters and again as it finishes.
- Breathe forwards (or to the side) as the arm pulls. Swap arms each width.
Teaching cues
- Kick in, kick out.
- Long arm.
- Low breath.
Make it easier
- Hold a float in the resting hand.
- Short fins.
Make it harder
- Three left, three right, three full stroke.
- Breathe every other stroke.
Common faults
- Only one kick per arm.
- Lifting the head high to breathe.
- Arm dragging through the water on the recovery.
Corrections
- Say 'kick' at entry and at the push.
- 'Chin on the water.'
- Swing the arm low and wide, thumb down.
Assistant / L1 role
- Say 'kick – kick' aloud in time with one swimmer's arm until they can feel the two kicks.