Steve Haufler proves it's never too early for swimmers to learn Horizontal Body Line.
This swimmer is demonstrating an ideal body position for freestyle. The body is long and nearly horizontal in the
Rehearsing the full butterfly pull and recovery on land starts to break down the few movements there are in this poll. We're going to start in what's called the float position or position, Levan. We'r
One way to start to learn the recovery of Butterfly is to do it on land. Simply hang your hands down to your sides next to your hips, slowly raise them directly up above your shoulders to position ele
Kim swims butterfly, and we focus on her head position during the breath, and the arm recovery.The video, shot from directly above also show the width of the arm entry, and the symmetry of her stroke.
Finding true power or efficiency in swimming means you’ll need to connect everything together. We’ll start with the hands and hips.When you watch a good swimmer, you’re going to notice that the han
Steve Haufler introduces this week's theme, showing how a simple switch from extended release to early release of the hands can transform your butterfly.
In this next section, pay close attention to Aaron’s hips. Most swimmers have been taught to rotate the hips in backstroke, but, for Aaron, rotation means sliding the hips from side to side.Here’s a
Just as in the previous lesson, we connected the hands to the hips on the hand entry. We want to connect the hands to the hips, this time on a hand exit. Notice that the swimmer finishes the pull and
Once they get the butterfly float position, we go to the pull, and the mantra is: Float…Diamond…Angel…Swing.We don’t push back to the legs. We pull in to a diamond……then push out to the side to
Thinking of everything that you've learned up to this point and butterfly and thinking of the mantra of float, Diamond, Angel, and swing, you can see the vertical butterfly or pushing off the bottom a
Here's a very quick drill that works on many small aspects of your swimming.Why do it:
This is a good intense drill that encourages quick flips. When looking further at the drill, to do it well will r
What a great opportunity to spend some time with Israeli Olympic sprinter, Andi Murez. She shared with us her focus on working on the UP kick in her freestyle.Why do it:
When sprinting, the act of ham
Here's where we're headed this week: a clean recovery of the arm during backstroke breakout. By leading with a rotated shoulder, you present a narrow profile to the water and maintain more momentum
Fast feet. This is fantastic to do, Jess. Moments before you're gonna start your main set. Really looking, as you can see here with Niko Andrina, they got good body position, they started looking a li
Watch any elite swimmer and you’ll notice that they have great underwater dolphin skills. Underwater dolphins are so important that they’re now considered to be a fifth stroke in swimming.In order t
Moving forward, just like we did on the back, you're going to extend the hands out front to practice the same movement. You can see that our swimmer here is using a snorkel and fins so he can focus mo
Margaret performing the underwater dolphin. This slow motion clip focuses on Margaret's hands and head as she heads for her first stroke. Watch how gradual the climb to the surface is, not direct, but
Common Breaststroke Mistakes and How to Fix Them
Mistake #4: Improper PullThe problem: pulling too far back or too wide
The fix: use a noodle and drillsTo correct a pull that goes too far back, use a
Right. So the first exercise that we're gonna get started with, with Brad is just basic balance. So from fingertips to toes, you see how his core is nice and stable. His hips are right at the surface.
In this exercise, we’ll start to alternate the head down, with the head up position. Through the entire exercise, the focus is on the lead hand. Making sure the lead hand DOES NOT MOVE.Start in the s
If you’re a sprint freestyler, you know that most races are won or lost by hundredths of a second.In a close race, everything comes down to who can get their hand on the wall first, so this is someth
Another favorite breaststroke drill is swimming breaststroke with fist hands, which takes away the catch element of your hands when they’re pulling through the water.It really emphasizes the roll thr
Maintaining a stable core is an important part of a good freestyle. This standard drill is a good one to remember to help accomplish this.Why Do It:
Freestyle is faster when you rotate through a solid
For the 6th and final step in Kristian’s flip-turn progression, he flips at the wall. Don’t rush! Swim smoothly into the wall, with eyes focused on the bottom and not on the wall. As you approach t
For Roller Balance you need a therapy-grade foam roller. While Kristian does not use a mat, it would be a good idea to use a mat – one that’s large enough to extend from head to toes underneath the
So progressing forward with this exercise. Again, we started with nothing. Now when you move the poor boy all the way down to the ankles, it puts a little bit more weight on the core. So the responsi
A quick video showing how James uses the FINIS Axis Buoy. James is a FINIS sponsored athlete, so uses many of their products in his training. These videos will serve as short introductory videos as t
Here's another twist on combining two strokes into one drill to keep the mind firing on all cylinders.
Why do it:
Balance, coordination, and understanding the potential relationship between the body a
Why are freestyle and backstroke pulls so different? Since working with Aaron Peirsol, we've learned to think about the backstroke pull as being similar to a freestyle pull on the back. Here's a quick
Obviously, this can also be a butterfly drill, but chances are you'll feel the adjustments, or at least the ability to vary your timing more easily in breaststroke than in butterfly.Why Do It:
For swi
Looking to overload your fly just a bit more? Here’s a stabilization exercise that overloads both the front and back of your butterfly.Why do it:
This drill forces you to connect early with the catc
Benefits:
• Improves breathing efficiency
• Increases awareness
• Develops focus
• Relaxation response Cues:
• Start by placing one hand onto your stomach and one hand on
In breaststroke, most of our propulsion comes from the kick.If the way to maximize your pull is to reach full extension, the way to maximize your kick is to finish each kick. When you focus on finishi
Introducing variations on standard techniques MAY allow an athlete to gain an advantage in another area of their swimming.
This specific technique comes with pros and cons, but there is a logical app
Common Breaststroke Mistakes and How to Fix Them
The problem: knees too wide
The fix: tools, mirrors, and self-correction drills
One technique to fix “wide knees” is to use a 7-inch rubber band, whi
In the final step in this progression, we move to swimming.You can introduce this drill while using fins, but you’ll want to move this forward to regular swimming as soon as possible.
Start in the si
Backstroke Float & Double-Arm Backstroke
Karlyn begins her clinics by having swimmers float on their back. Extend your arms over your head so that they form a “V,” and push off at the surface. Kick
To teach the push-off, have the swimmer start in the ready position.
Release the wall hand, and watch the hand as it travels toward the ear -- as if you were “answering the phone.”As the hand leaves
When I think about the kick, I’m also thinking about rotation.Many swimmers tend to kick only when they’re flat on their back or when they’re on their side. They don’t kick through the rotation, b
Head-Lead Kick on Your Back teaches correct body alignment for backstroke. Hold your hands at your sides, keep your chin tucked in, and look directly UP at the ceiling. Kick with a steady, gentle kick
Visit our website to find more sequences, classes, and resources that will enable you to effectively and efficiently incorporate yoga into your training.
Benefits:
• Improves posture
•
While visiting the Dayton Raiders, we were reminded, not all drills or training are about perfect bodyline or balance. Sometimes the focus is about training and power.
Why do it:
For your more advance
This drill is similar to the popular “Backstroke Wave” drill, but calls for a bit of extra technique and skill. The difference is that…as the recovering hand enters the water, it pauses and SCULLS
Freestyle Swim Lesson #1: Breath Control and Rhythmic Breathing
When we watch someone with a good freestyle stroke, it’s easy to get caught up in how they kick and pull…when one of the most i
If you’re having a hard time identifying a good backstroke pull, this drill may help.
Why do it:
Making sure you’re using a nice bent arm catch in your backstroke is very important. Not everyone can
Additional Drills for Teaching Bent-Arm Pull
Sculling DrillsI use 3 sculling positions to help swimmers master the backstroke bent-arm pull.The first is the “waving-at-your-feet scull.”I use this w
Advanced Freestyle Swim Lesson #8: Correct Head Position While Breathing
When a swimmer breathes, her head should be horizontal. If the head is horizontal, the rest of the body will most likely be ho
Haufler Top Freestyle Drill #9: Water ScooterThis swimmer is doing the Water Scooter Drill while using a kick board. The non-swimming arm is stretched out in the middle of the kick board. She must kee
While working on the Backstroke - Rate drill, we did notice that our swimmer's head was a bit high.Here is the quick progression during the lesson that we worked on to integrate the RATE focus, along
Sometimes, when swimmers watch my stroke and try to imitate what I do, they lose sight of the main goal, which it to send your body forward. They see how high I come out of the water…or how big my ki
Starting with your arms behind you, press down with the head and chest.Allow the hips to rise to the surface on the press, and allow the legs to whip through as they follow the flow of the body.Amanda
While this is swum the same way as the TURN SPRINT 25, there is more emphasis placed on the legs.Matt starts in a vertical kick position, kicking flutter kick with his arms crossed over his chest. His
Great turns start with great posture, and the easiest place to teach this is on land.Step #1
Have the swimmer stand on deck, with feet parallel and together, and both arms extended. Position one hand
Helping swimmers develop faster hands out front, sometimes starts at the back.Why do it:
Flutter kick breaststroke leaves behind the undulating movement of the body by stabilizing the legs and hips. T
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Here's another twist on combining two strokes into one drill to keep the mind firing on all cylinders.
Why do it:
Balance, coordination, and understanding the potential relationship between the body a
Beyond the High Elbow Catch
The High Elbow Catch, or early verticle forearm, is an extremely important skill for any freestyle swimmer. However, there's so much more to the stroke than just that! Watc
Why are freestyle and backstroke pulls so different? Since working with Aaron Peirsol, we've learned to think about the backstroke pull as being similar to a freestyle pull on the back. Here's a quick
When Bruno practices the underwater dolphin portion of his starts, first he goes slow and builds the feeling he wants to maintain when going fast.Think of doing these in slow motion at first. Notice a
Practicing backstroke with a cup or bottle on the forehead is not just a try-it-once-and-done drill. Think how often the Minnesota AquaJets do this drill to achieve this level of excellence.
WHEN you start your dolphin kick will depend on many factors:
- length of race
- your ability in underwater dolphins
- your fitness level
- the experimentation with your coach to determine how fast yo
We all have to realize that even though the majority of time at swim practice is spent going back and forth, it's the switching from one direction to the other that is more important than ever.Coaches
So working with all kinds of different people, whether they're great swimmers or not, swimmers at all. Learning a kick rhythm and learning how to kick is sometimes very difficult. And working with a l
Part of our 2017 FALL COLLECTION, or WHAT WE'RE WORKING ON NOW!Head position in breaststroke varies by athlete, but Anton shows purpose in his movement.Lifting the head and eyes for the breath, to bet
When people see me swim, it’s hard not to notice a couple of things. One is that my hands are open all the way through the pull...... and the other is that I have a loping stroke or a kind of “gallo
Glenn uses a freestyle/backstroke combination drill to transition from breathing drills to actual swimming. Focus on keeping the head and neck aligned and keeping the head low to the water.
We're going to specifically think about the hands there that important in this lesson.Try to have the hands scraping the surface of the water. Even when you breathe, especially when you breathe, the t
This exercise uses multiple positions you’ve already learned.Start in the ready position.
Drop to a push on your back.Pull one hand back to your side and end up in the balance position with the arm e
So if you follow us on social media, you may have seen some of our great triathletes doing some breathing exercises. And so the breathing exercises are to make sure that the rotation of the head is in
Position 11 - Triple Switch, helps you build a balanced and rhythmic freestyle. It’s just like our last drill…Single Switch…except that you’ll get into Position 11 THREE times before you roll to y
Israeli Olympian Andi Murez takes Position-11 Balance to a whole new level. She's been working on this for years. Can you do it?
To position 11 freestyle is just to work on a standard balanced bo
Position 11 Freestyle is really just a series of Position 11 drills, but with a varying degree of pause IN Position 11.Start by leaving the wall in Position 11, then alternate dropping and recovering
Once they get the butterfly float position, we go to the pull, and the mantra is: Float…Diamond…Angel…Swing.We don’t push back to the legs. We pull in to a diamond……then push out to the side to
Robert Margalis is another 400 IM specialist who finds efficiency with the hands closer together at the base of the diamond. Watch for all the elements of the pull: float, diamond, angel, swing.
So your favorite thing is one eye breathing. So staying low. So let's just kind of focus on that. What I mean, we just got done talking about the, the, the low breath. So have you ever tried to breath
One of the first things you'll learn as a new swimmer is to gloat on your stomach. It's such an important skill that Olympian Brad Tandy practices it every time he goes to the pool. Check out his te
If your pool has low or wash over gutters, some people find it easier to get out at the side or end of the pool.One method of climbing out is the twist. Use the leverage of both arms to start to lift
To really master rhythmic breathing, let’s really look at the inhale and exhale while doing standing bobs.Our swimmer has his mouth slightly open, but you can see there is no air coming out of the mo
Forward thinking is about trying new things that sometimes appear more radical. This past week at the University of Tennessee and Tennessee Aquatics, Coach's Matt Kredich and Marshall Goldman showed u
Here's a very quick drill that works on many small aspects of your swimming.Why do it:
This is a good intense drill that encourages quick flips. When looking further at the drill, to do it well will r
Here's where we're headed this week: a clean recovery of the arm during backstroke breakout. By leading with a rotated shoulder, you present a narrow profile to the water and maintain more momentum
Fast feet. This is fantastic to do, Jess. Moments before you're gonna start your main set. Really looking, as you can see here with Niko Andrina, they got good body position, they started looking a li
The difference between a powerful length of butterfly…and a painful length of fly is often the breakout. In this lesson, we’ll take a closer look at the kind of breakout that helped James Guy win a
We finish the week with underwater footage of an elite-level butterfly start and breakout, demo'd by Estonian Olympian Martin Liivamagi. The clip has no voiceover but, by now, you know what to look fo
FREESTYLE TECHNIQUE - KEEP YOUR HEAD DOWN
The late, great Fran Crippen had many tricks for maintaining a balanced bodyline during the breath. Check 'em out in today's video.
Even in open water, w
Extended Balance - Nose Up/Nose Down teaches you to stay long and horizontal, even as you rotate your body. It also introduces rhythmic breathing, a skill you’ll need when you start swimming freestyl
HEAD LEAD FLUTTER KICK ON YOUR BACKTo begin setting up a balanced body line, the simplest way to start is to kick on your back with your hands held down toward your side.Because these next drills will
Common Breaststroke Mistakes and How to Fix Them
Mistake #4: Improper PullThe problem: pulling too far back or too wide
The fix: use a noodle and drillsTo correct a pull that goes too far back, use a
When we look at all the parts of James’s stroke, from fingertips to toes, several things stand out. His head is low – you can see almost all of it under the surface – and his hips are high. As a re
Another favorite breaststroke drill is swimming breaststroke with fist hands, which takes away the catch element of your hands when they’re pulling through the water.It really emphasizes the roll thr
When we start thinking about full stroke breaststroke, we want to start with the pull. And in order to build to a proper pull, we're going to start understanding how deep the pull is or how far back t
Maintaining a stable core is an important part of a good freestyle. This standard drill is a good one to remember to help accomplish this.Why Do It:
Freestyle is faster when you rotate through a solid
So progressing forward with this exercise. Again, we started with nothing. Now when you move the poor boy all the way down to the ankles, it puts a little bit more weight on the core. So the responsi
A quick video showing how James uses the FINIS Axis Buoy. James is a FINIS sponsored athlete, so uses many of their products in his training. These videos will serve as short introductory videos as t
While in Santa Clara, we had the opportunity to talk to our friend Brendan Hansen about how to warm up at a crowded meet.We decided to use this as our Drill of the Week, since it's great advice for al
Obviously, this can also be a butterfly drill, but chances are you'll feel the adjustments, or at least the ability to vary your timing more easily in breaststroke than in butterfly.Why Do It:
For swi