Butterfly Stand-Up Arms
Rehearse the butterfly arm path standing chest-deep, then lean forward and try two strokes – so the recovery clears the water before it's swum.
- Stages
- Swimming – Stage 8
- Difficulty
- Developing
- Skills
- Coordination, Butterfly Arms
- Equipment
- None
- Age
- 8–99 years
- Group size
- 1–16 swimmers
- Time
- About 5 minutes
- In a lesson
- Introduction / Warm-up, Skill Development 1, Skill Development 2
- Shared by
- SwimShare Resource
Safety notes
- Standing practice only where all swimmers can stand comfortably, with arm-span spacing.
What it develops
- Butterfly: body wave and two-kick rhythm over short distances
How to run it
- Stand chest-deep with feet apart and lean forward so the shoulders are just in the water.
- Hands enter in front of the shoulders, sweep out slightly, then press back under the body to the hips.
- Swing both arms low and relaxed over the water back to the start, thumbs leading out of the water and little fingers relaxed.
- Repeat five times slowly, then push off and swim two strokes of butterfly with a kick, standing up to reset.
Teaching cues
- Hands enter shoulder width.
- Push all the way past your hips.
- Low, wide, relaxed swing.
- Arms leave the water together.
Make it easier
- Practise one arm at a time while standing.
Make it harder
- Add the breath: chin forward as the arms push back.
- Link three strokes before standing.
Common faults
- Arms stop at the waist so they can't clear the water.
- Hands enter together in the middle.
- Arms lift high and stiff.
Corrections
- 'Thumbs brush your thighs before they come out.'
- 'Two separate railway tracks for your hands.'
- 'Skim the water like flinging off drops.'
Assistant / L1 role
- Stand in front of the group and mirror the arm action slowly while the teacher gives individual feedback; keep to the teacher's cue words.