Aquatics Coaching Guide - Special Olympics

Training Session 6
Special Olympics Aquatics Coaching Guide
Created: February 2004
Teaching Aquatics Skills - Stroke Development
Stroke Development Training Plan
Goal
1. To assess and revise freestyle practiced in training sessions 1-3 and 5.
Kick with board, single and alternate arm catch up, full freestyle stroke and tumble turns.
2. To assess and revise backstroke skills practiced in training sessions 1-3 and 5.
Kick with/without board and with/without fins, backstroke arms and turns.
3. To introduce the following freestyle skills.
Length of the freestyle stroke – using alternate arm drill
Warm-Ups
Stretches
Dry Land Drills
Teach tumble turn onto the wall with a streamline push off.
Teach pivot turn to swimmers not ready for tumble turn skills.
Water Warm-Ups
Water Practice
1. Practice as revised freestyle skills practiced in training sessions 1-3 and 5.
2. Introduce the following freestyle skills.
3. Assess and revise backstroke skills practiced in training sessions 1-3.
Alternate Arm Catch Up without a Kickboard
Emphasis: stroke length
Teaching Points
1. Using the alternate arm catch up in training session 3, swimmer begins freestyle arm stroke with the arm
extended out in front of his/her head.
2. Pull arm under the body in a type of “S” pattern.
3. Hand leaves water once it has brushed past the leg at the thigh.
4. Encourage swimmer to not cross over body’s center line.
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