Kick Rhythm Choices
Explore a steady six-beat kick and a relaxed two-beat kick in front crawl, then choose the rhythm that suits a longer swim.
- Stages
- Swimming – Stage 10
- Difficulty
- Advanced
- Skills
- Front Kick, Stroke Timing, Endurance & Pace
- Equipment
- None
- Age
- 10–99 years
- Group size
- 1–16 swimmers
- Time
- About 6 minutes
- In a lesson
- Skill Development 1, Skill Development 2
- Shared by
- SwimShare Resource
Safety notes
- Allow rests between widths and a clear lane direction.
What it develops
- Front crawl technique held over longer distances
- Plan and control pace for a longer swim
How to run it
- Width 1: front crawl with a continuous kick – about six kicks per arm cycle.
- Width 2: a relaxed kick timed with the arms – one kick as each hand enters (two kicks per cycle).
- Swimmers notice how hard they're breathing after each one.
- Swim a longer distance using whichever rhythm keeps them smooth and comfortable, and explain why they chose it.
Teaching cues
- Same long body line with either kick.
- Kick with the hand entry on the two-beat.
- Choose what you can keep going.
Make it easier
- Compare a strong kick and a gentle kick without counting beats.
Make it harder
- Switch kick rhythm halfway along a length without breaking the stroke.
Common faults
- Legs drop on the relaxed kick.
- Kick and arms out of time on the two-beat.
Corrections
- 'Relaxed kick, not no kick – keep your hips up.'
- 'Right hand in, left foot kicks.'
Assistant / L1 role
- Watch one named swimmer's legs on the two-beat width and tell the teacher whether the hips dropped.