Silent Kick Challenge
Kick as effectively as possible with as little splash as possible – fast, small kicks from the hip beat big, noisy ones.
- Stages
- Stage 4, Stage 5, Stage 6, Stage 7
- Difficulty
- Developing
- Skills
- Front Kick, Back Kick
- Equipment
- None, Float
- Age
- 6–16 years
- Group size
- 2–16 swimmers
- Time
- About 4 minutes
- In a lesson
- Introduction / Warm-up, Skill Development 1, Skill Development 2, Game / Consolidation
- Shared by
- SwimShare Resource
What it develops
- Swim front crawl with side breathing
- Swim backstroke with a recognisable arm action
- Front crawl with breathing timed to the arm action
- Backstroke with shoulder rotation and a steady rhythm
- Efficient front crawl with rotation and rhythmic breathing
- Efficient backstroke with rotation and catch
- Efficient front crawl over distance
- Efficient backstroke over distance
How to run it
- Kick on the front with a float (or streamlined).
- Listen: the goal is to move well with barely any splash.
- Teacher points out the quietest effective kickers.
- Repeat on the back.
Teaching cues
- Small and fast.
- Kick from your hips.
- Toes just under the surface.
Make it easier
- Shorter distance.
- Fins for a feel of a long kick.
Make it harder
- Streamlined silent kick.
- Silent kick on the side.
Common faults
- Knees bending so feet crash down.
- Kicks too deep and slow.
Corrections
- 'Point the toes, floppy ankles.'
- Keep the kick close to the surface.
Assistant / L1 role
- Listen from the side of the lane and name the quietest swimmer who is still moving well.