Two-Kick Rhythm
Butterfly timing: one kick as the hands enter, one as they push past the hips – the rhythm that makes the stroke flow.
- Stages
- Stage 5, Stage 6, Stage 7
- Difficulty
- Advanced
- Skills
- Dolphin Kick, Butterfly, Stroke Timing
- Equipment
- None, Short Fins
- Age
- 8–99 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
- 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
- Standing, clap the rhythm: 'kick in – kick out'.
- Dolphin kick in a streamline, then add one full arm stroke every two kicks.
- Say 'kick in, kick out' as you swim.
- Build to three continuous strokes.
Teaching cues
- Kick in, kick out.
- Two kicks every stroke.
- Keep the rhythm.
Make it easier
- Single-Arm Butterfly first.
- Short fins.
Make it harder
- Five strokes keeping the rhythm.
- Match a teacher's clap tempo.
Common faults
- Only one kick.
- Pausing between strokes.
- Kicks at random times.
Corrections
- Count out loud.
- Short fins to feel the rhythm, then remove.
Assistant / L1 role
- Clap the two-kick rhythm from the side for the swimmer to follow.