Aquatics Coaching Guide - Special Olympics

Teaching Aquatics Skills - Stroke Development
Swimming Turns
Coaching Tips
158
Swimmer kicks to wall if he is too far away, following the last stroke.
Assist swimmer with proper foot placement so he/she is not too shallow or too deep.
Swimmer practices a mid-turn drill. Swimmer swims about eight strokes, and then does a somersault in the
water. This drill can be done over 25 meters.
Freestyle Turns - Faults & Fixes Chart
Error Correction Drill/Test Reference
Turning too early into the wall. Swimmer touches wall with one
hand before executing a
somersault.
Pushing off wall with one foot. Encourage swimmer to push off
with both feet.
Hands on wall, kick hard, then
somersault, pushing off wall in a
streamlined position.
1. Swimmer conducts a
vertical somersault, feeling
feet pushing off bottom of
pool.
2. Swimmer feels feet
pushing off edge of pool
then moves into a
streamlined position.
Special Olympics Aquatics Coaching Guide
Created: February 2004