Aquatics Coaching Guide - Special Olympics

Teaching Aquatics Skills – Squad Level Training
Breaststroke Drills
Breaststroke Kick with Hands on Buttocks
Purpose of the Drill
Feel the heels/feet coming back as far as possible to the buttocks.
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Develop a strong kick action.
Teaching Points
This drill can be done either in prone (on front) or supine (on back) position. Generally, it is much easier to do this drill
while on the back, especially for the beginner. The more advanced swimmer may be able to successfully do this drill
while on his/her front.
1. Have swimmer lie on his/her back.
2. Arms and hands are on each side of buttocks.
3. Swimmer performs breaststroke kick while on back and attempts to touch heels to hands.
Coaching Tips
Encourage swimmers to push their hips and chest up high in the water.
Encourage swimmers to keep head back, eyes to roof.
Encourage swimmers to keep knees together during whole phase of kick.
Check that the swimmers have toes pointing up during whole phase of kick.
Ask swimmers if they were successful in touching heels to hands.
Breaststroke Pull - Kick Drill
Purpose of the Drill
Encourage correct breathing timing.
Encourage correct arm action.
Encourage swimmers to recover in streamline position.
Encourage swimmers to perform correct kick action.
Special Olympics Aquatics Coaching Guide
Created: February 2004