Home › Artistic Swimming – Stage 9
Bent-Knee Lift Preparation
From a back layout, slide one foot up the other leg to a bent knee and hold it – the preparation for leg lifts, kept firmly at introductory level.
- Stages
- Artistic Swimming – Stage 9, Artistic Swimming – Stage 10
- Difficulty
- Advanced
- Skills
- Sculling, Body Control, Body Positions
- Equipment
- None
- Age
- 9–99 years
- Group size
- 1–14 swimmers
- Time
- About 5 minutes
- In a lesson
- Skill Development 1, Skill Development 2
- Shared by
- SwimShare Resource
Safety notes
- Introductory position only – no extended leg lifts that strain the back or hips. Stop if anything hurts.
What it develops
- Body positions with full extension
- Perform a short sequence
How to run it
- Hold a back layout with a strong support scull.
- Slide one foot along the inside of the other leg until the toe is beside the knee, thigh vertical-ish and shin parallel to the surface.
- Hold for a count of four, then slide back to the layout.
- Alternate legs; then try lifting the lower leg a little towards vertical for one count only if the hips stay up.
Teaching cues
- Toe slides along the leg.
- Hips stay up – scull harder.
- Extended leg stays long at the surface.
Make it easier
- Hold the wall or lane rope with one hand for balance while the other hand sculls.
Make it harder
- Hold the bent-knee position for eight counts.
- Change legs without returning to the layout.
Common faults
- Hips sink as the knee lifts.
- Straight leg drops.
Corrections
- 'Hands work harder when your leg lifts.'
- 'Press the straight leg to the surface.'
Assistant / L1 role
- Demonstrate the leg shape sitting on poolside with legs out straight, so swimmers can see it, while the teacher gives feedback.