Stroke Timing – swimming activities

Rhythm and timing of arms, legs and breathing.

Activities

• Breathe with the Pull – Timing drill: the head starts to turn as that arm begins to push back, and returns as the arm recovers.
• Bubble, Bubble, Breathe – A breathing rhythm of every third stroke, so swimmers breathe out steadily and learn to breathe to both sides.
• Catch-Up Crawl – One hand waits on a float until the other arm catches up – slows front crawl down so swimmers can feel each part.
• Chin on the Water – Butterfly breathing drill: the chin stays on the water surface as the swimmer breathes forward, early in the pull.
• Clap the Rhythm – The teacher claps a steady stroke rhythm; swimmers match their strokes to it – helps timing on breaststroke and butterfly especially.
• Fins for Rhythm – Short fins give enough speed for swimmers to feel the full butterfly rhythm – then the fins come off and the rhythm stays.
• Mirror Swimming – Pairs swim side by side trying to stay perfectly in time – stroke for stroke – which needs a steady, controlled rhythm.
• Opposite Arms – As one hand enters, the other leaves the water at the thigh – continuous backstroke arms with no pause.
• Single-Arm Butterfly – One arm does butterfly while the other stays extended in front – timing the kick with the arm and breathing without the effort of full stroke.
• Two-Kick Rhythm – Butterfly timing: one kick as the hands enter, one as they push past the hips – the rhythm that makes the stroke flow.