Aquatics Coaching Guide - Special Olympics

Special Olympics Aquatics Coaching Guide
Created: February 2004
Teaching Aquatics Skills - Stroke Development
Swimming Starts
Pool-Edge Starts - Freestyle, Breaststroke and Butterfly
Practice the freestyle, butterfly and breaststroke start while standing on the edge of the pool.
Teaching Points
Breaststroke Pool-Edge Start
1. Stand on pool, curling toes over edge.
2. Bend slightly at waist.
3. Extend both arms behind the body.
4. Look toward the opposite end of the pool.
5. Throw both arms forward at the same time.
6. Push off of the pool edge as the arms are extended.
7. Drop the head just before entering the water, squeezing the arms
close to the swimmer’s head achieving a streamlined body
position.
8. Begin the kick immediately for freestyle or butterfly.
9. Perform a split stroke, then pull down and kick under water for
breaststroke.
10. Start swimming once the hands/body have broken the water.
.surface.
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