Mirror Feet Kick
Breaststroke kick at the wall while a partner watches both feet like a mirror – are they doing exactly the same thing at the same time?
- Stages
- Swimming – Stage 8
- Difficulty
- Developing
- Skills
- Breaststroke Kick
- Equipment
- Float, Noodle
- Age
- 8–99 years
- Group size
- 2–16 swimmers
- Time
- About 5 minutes
- In a lesson
- Skill Development 1, Skill Development 2
- Shared by
- SwimShare Resource
Safety notes
- Partners stay out of range of the kicking feet.
What it develops
- Breaststroke: symmetrical kick with a controlled glide
How to run it
- Swimmer holds the wall with both hands, body on the front, and performs slow breaststroke kicks.
- Partner stands behind (well clear of the feet) or watches from poolside, checking both feet turn out and drive back together.
- Partner says 'match' or names the foot that is different.
- Swimmer then kicks a width with a float, keeping the 'match' feeling.
Teaching cues
- Both feet turn out together.
- Heels towards your bottom.
- Kick round and together.
- Finish with feet touching.
Make it easier
- Kick on the back with a noodle under the arms so the swimmer can see the knees and feet.
Make it harder
- Kick in streamline without a float.
- Kick on the back with arms in streamline.
Common faults
- One foot points down while the other turns out.
- One knee drops lower.
- Kick finishes with feet apart.
Corrections
- 'Show me the soles of both feet.'
- 'Knees the same height.'
- 'Clap your feet together at the end.'
Assistant / L1 role
- Partner any swimmer without a pair and use the words 'match' or 'left foot/right foot' only, so feedback stays consistent with the teacher's.