I've been teaching swimming for over 30 years and I built Swim Teach so that I can share all my knowledge, wisdom and experience from the thousands of swimming lessons I have had the pleasure of teaching. Take a look back through my previous newsletters and see what you missed.
Breaststroke Kick Technique Step-By-Step, Common Mistakes Plus 6 FREE Lesson Plans to Download
A breaststroke leg kick that provides little or no power is frustrating. No problem, there are plenty of drills to correct it. Also, download a bunch of lesson plans to help you teach breaststroke.
Hi, Mark here. How are you? Hope you have had a great week.
This week it's all about breaststroke - the leg kick to be precise. The common mistakes made, how to put them right and some lesson plans for teaching all parts of the stroke.
Breaststroke Legs: Step By Step...
We can break breaststroke leg kick down into 3 basic steps.
Step 1:
Knees bend as the heels are drawn up towards the seat. At the same time, the legs need to bend at the hips, effectively drawing the knees up under the body.
Step 2:
Feet and toes are turned out, exposing the surface area of the soles of the feet to the water, ready for them to drive the water backwards.
Step 3:
The legs sweep outwards, around and slightly downwards in a flowing circular path, accelerating as they kick.
Common Breaststroke Leg Kick Mistakes
The feet cause most of the problems when it comes to breaststroke kicking. Failure to turn the feet out will result in a lack of power and that feeling of going nowhere.
Failure to turn out both feet and only turning out one foot will result in something known as a screw kick. This is where one leg kicks correctly and the other swings around providing no propulsion at all.
The best exercise for correcting these common faults is to swim on your back (supine) with a woggle or floats held under the arms for support. Then the swimmer is able to sit up slightly and watch their own leg kick as they perform it.
Kicking in slow motion at first making a conscious effort to turn out both feet and ensure both legs and feet are symmetrical is best before attempting to add power.
Give Me More Basic Drills!
You asked, so I delivered...
For beginner swimmers to practice and swimming teachers to give extra support to your pupils - my eBook 'How To Swim Breaststroke' is yours to download for less than $5. From body position to arm pull, leg kick, breathing and timing, with all the teaching points, focus tips and common mistakes you could possibly need. Click here to go to the download page, or click the cover for a preview.
Breaststroke Lesson Plans To Download
Here I give you 6, yes SIX, breaststroke lesson plans to download, print if you want to and use when you are teaching. They are each around 30 minutes and cover each stroke part at basic level. You can of course adapt them to suit your pool, pupils and lesson timings. Click here to download your lesson plans or click the button below.
| Show me the Breaststroke Lesson Plans |
Forward this email to your fellow swimming teachers or friends learning to swim. You never know, it could make their teaching and learning experiences awesome!
That's it for this week. Enjoy your week.
Happy swimming!
Cheers
Mark
ps - did someone forward this to you? Subscribe here.
Hi! I'm Mark, creator of Swim Teach
I've been teaching swimming for over 30 years and I built Swim Teach so that I can share all my knowledge, wisdom and experience from the thousands of swimming lessons I have had the pleasure of teaching. Take a look back through my previous newsletters and see what you missed.
Hi, Mark here — I hope you’re doing well as we reach the end of the year. This is the time when routines shift, pools get a little quieter, and many people focus on family, work, rest, or celebration. If you’ve found your swimming slowing down recently, please know this is completely normal - and nothing to feel guilty about. Learning to swim as an adult takes courage, consistency, and patience. And sometimes the best thing you can do for your progress is simply to pause, breathe, and come...
Hi, Mark here — I hope the end of term is treating you kindly. As we reach that time of year when routines shift, the pool quietens down, and many people focus on family, rest, and celebrations of all kinds, it’s natural for swimming to slip a little lower on everyone’s list. Teachers are wrapping up blocks of lessons, parents are juggling end-of-year commitments, and many of us are simply ready for a breather. This calmer period can actually be a gift.A chance to pause, reflect, and reset...
Are you striving to make every second count in your 30-minute swim lessons? Are you lessons working as hard as you are? Hi, Mark here. I hope all is well with you. Are you striving to make every second count in your 30-minute swim lessons? A well-structured plan is the cornerstone of effective teaching, ensuring your students progress confidently and efficiently. Crafting the Perfect 30-Minute Lesson An impactful swim lesson encompasses several key components: 1. Lesson Type & Level: Define...