Aquatics Coaching Guide - Special Olympics

Teaching Aquatics Skills - Stroke Development
Stroke Development Training Plan
Arm Stroke Drills
Single Arm Catch Up with Kickboard
Emphasis: Practice making bubbles and turning head to the same side as the arm being used
Teaching Points
1. Holding the kickboard in both hands, with arms fully extended in front, swimmers complete six beats of the legs
(i.e., counting, 1-2-3, 1-2-3) while exhaling in the water to make bubbles.
2. Next, pull left arm and turn head to left side to breathe, completing the stroke back to the hold position.
3. Repeat on right side.
Coaching Tip
Swimmer practices with and without fins to develop proper arm/breathing action.
Alternate Arm Action Catch Up with Kickboard
Emphasis: Practice making bubbles and turning the head to breathe on both sides - bilateral breathing.
Teaching Points
1. Same as Single Arm Catch Up with a Kickboard
2. Use arms alternately, and turn to breathe on alternate sides.
Coaching Tips
Learning to breathe to both sides will help develop an even, fluid stroke and will ensure even development of
the upper body.
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Encourage swimmer to start learning terms like “bilateral.”
Swimmer practices with and without fins to develop proper arm/breathing action.
Push and Glide Drill – Streamlining
As skills develop, the swimmers will be able to develop their streamlining to go past the backstroke flags before
resurfacing, in readiness for competitive swimming.
Teaching Points
1. One hand is placed on top of the other.
2. Arms are held straight, with elbows behind the ears (can be referred to as an ear sandwich).
3. A breath is taken.
4. An underwater push off wall is encouraged at the beginning of all drills. This drill is known as torpedoes.
Coaching Tip
Swimmers are taught streamlining to get them in the habit of always protecting their heads on entry into the
water from all heights and takeoffs, as well as the wall, for efficient swimming.
Special Olympics Aquatics Coaching Guide
Created: February 2004