Aquatics Coaching Guide - Special Olympics

Teaching Aquatics Skills - Stroke Development
Breaststroke
Practice the breaststroke pull in chest-deep water without the kick
Teaching Points
1. Swimmer stands in chest-deep water and places a kickboard or pull buoy between legs.
2. Assume prone float position.
3. Swimmer performs the breaststroke pull.
4. Press the body forward with the hands.
5. When the hands are at the shoulders, “let go” of the water and “shoot” the hands forward to the starting position.
6. As the body slides up and forward, eye contact is made with the end of the pool.
7. At the completion of the stroke, the eyes look back at the pool bottom.
8. Chin is pushed forward to breathe.
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Push hands out, slightly wider than shoulders.
Drive hands down, propelling body forward and out.
Hands come together, facing each other, completing the propulsive
phase of stroke.
Special Olympics Aquatics Coaching Guide
Created: February 2004