Aquatics Coaching Guide - Special Olympics

Coaching Tips
Special Olympics Aquatics Coaching Guide
Created: February 2004
Teaching Aquatics Skills - Stroke Development
Butterfly
Swimmer is encouraged to start breathing on the start of the stroke to ensure that correct timing is developed.
The coach may support the swimmer under the waist, if necessary.
The swimmer kicks twice for each full stroke.
The first kick happens as the hands enter the water. The second kick is made as the hands exit past the hips.
Swimmer pushes chin forward and up to breathe on the start of the initial arm stroke.
Swimmer tucks the chin back down just as the hands enter the water.
Swimmer says out loud: “Kick in (hands in)” as the hands enter the water and “Kick out (hands out)” as the
hands leave the water.
Two kicks per full arm cycle. Practice the stroke on the pool deck, concentrating on pushing the hands outward
and then inward until the hands are almost touching under the stomach. The swimmer should practice
“exploding” the hands past the hips to assist the recovery.
Butterfly - Faults & Fixes Chart
Error Correction Drill/Test Reference
Uneven stroke. Ensure swimmer’s legs and arms
are moving simultaneously.
Breathing too late. Have swimmer start breathing
earlier.
Kick is low, body not streamlined
and weak kick action.
Swimmer doing short, fast strokes
with body upright, (i.e., feet and
hips too low).
Encourage swimmer to make
a strong second kick.
Encourage swimmer to move
whole body, not just the legs.
Swimmer may not be pulling
through past legs before
recovery phase.
Check for two kicks per arm
cycle.
1. Practice fly kick with/
without fins and kickboard;
streamlined on surface and
below surface.
2. Practice arm action with fins.
3. Practice arm rotations on
pool deck.
1. Use specific drills.
2. Swimmer breathes every
third or fourth stroke.
Swimmer practices whole body
movement with fins.
1. Practice kicking fast over
short distances with/without
fins.
2. Encourage high body
position and feet breaking
waterline.
3. Practice pulling arms
through to side of legs;
emphasize touching thumbs
to side of legs before arm
comes out of water.
4. Practice without breathing
for short distances so that
breathing is not part of the
stroke.
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