Screw Kick Fixer: Matching Duck Feet
Fixes a screw kick (one foot turned out, the other pointed) by checking both feet poolside, at the wall and then on the move with a float.
- Stages
- Stage 4, Stage 5
- Difficulty
- Developing
- Skills
- Breaststroke Kick
- Equipment
- Float
- Age
- 7–99 years
- Group size
- 1–10 swimmers
- Time
- About 6 minutes
- In a lesson
- Skill Development 1, Skill Development 2
- Shared by
- Richard May
Safety notes
- Space swimmers along the wall: breaststroke kicks go wide. Check the poolside is not slippery before the sitting part.
What it develops
- Show early actions for all four strokes
- Show an effective breaststroke leg action
How to run it
- Sit swimmers on the poolside with their lower legs in the water. Everyone makes "duck feet" (toes turned out) with both feet at once, then kicks round slowly and looks down to check both feet match.
- Move to the wall, holding on with the body flat on the front. Do 4 slow kicks, then stop in a long shape so the teacher can check both feet turned out.
- Push off holding a float in front and swim one width of slow kicks with a glide between each one.
- Finish with a width on the back, float hugged on the chest, knees staying under the water. Swimmers can now feel whether both feet push the water back.
Teaching cues
- Both feet turn out at the same time.
- Heels come up together, knees level.
- Push back with the inside of both feet.
- Kick, glide, check.
Make it easier
- Stay on the poolside and kick with the teacher holding one foot in the turned-out position.
- Do it on the back with a noodle under the arms so the head can stay up.
Make it harder
- Kick on the front with arms in a streamline, breathing every two kicks.
- Count kicks per width and try to lower the number while keeping both feet matching.
Common faults
- One foot stays pointed (usually the weaker side) while the other turns out.
- Hips roll or one knee drops lower than the other.
- Kicking fast, so there is no time to set the feet.
Corrections
- 'Duck feet on both sides.'
- 'Flex the lazy foot: toes up to your shin.'
- 'Slow it down: heels up, feet out, kick, glide.'
Assistant / L1 role
- Kneel or stand beside one swimmer at a time and guide the pointed foot into the turned-out position, then let them try it alone.