Backstroke Flip Turn
Backstroke turn: count strokes from the flags, roll onto the front, one stroke, then a forward roll and push off on the back.
- Stages
- Stage 6, Stage 7
- Difficulty
- Advanced
- Skills
- Backstroke, Turns
- Equipment
- None
- Age
- 9–99 years
- Group size
- 1–10 swimmers
- Time
- About 5 minutes
- In a lesson
- Skill Development 1, Skill Development 2
- Shared by
- SwimShare Resource
Safety notes
- Swimmers approach the wall on their backs – count strokes and use flags; one swimmer turning at a time.
What it develops
- Efficient backstroke with rotation and catch
- Turns with streamlined push-offs and underwater phase
- Efficient backstroke over distance
- Turns suited to each stroke
How to run it
- Swim backstroke; count your strokes from the flags to the wall (learned in Flags to Wall).
- On the last stroke, roll onto the front.
- Take one arm pull, then forward roll.
- Push off on the back in a streamline.
Teaching cues
- Flags, count.
- Roll, pull, flip.
- Push on your back.
Make it easier
- Touch the wall on the back, then do an open turn.
- Practise the roll away from the wall.
Make it harder
- Add three dolphin kicks on the back after the push.
- Turn without looking.
Common faults
- Gliding on the front before the flip (not allowed in races and loses speed).
- Misjudging distance.
Corrections
- Recount strokes from the flags until consistent.
- Flip immediately after the single pull.
Assistant / L1 role
- Count strokes from the flags for one swimmer and tell them their number.