Breaststroke screw kick
Anne Hansen
(9-10 years old)?
Hardy Rodde
often described, but concentrate on the following simpler movements, trying
all the time to keep 'tummy flat on the water'.
1 Legs straight, heels TOUCHING.
2 Raise heels (still touching) to bottom, ALLOWING KNEES TO PART.
3 Turn TOES out.
(This usually happens as legs are raised, without having to think about
it).
4 Straighten legs by simply extending knee. (ie do not alter angle of
foot or hip)
5 Snap legs together forcefully until HEELS TOUCH again.
To further simplify the stroke the arm pull may be made whilst the legs are
in this extended position, so that the child need only think about one thing
at a time. Arms, legs, arms, legs etc. (Begin leg movement again as arms
are thrust forward, where they wait until legs are once again extended.)
This has the added benefit of encouraging a long gliding stroke.
Add to this the idea of 'swimming in time to your breathing' rather than
'breathing in time to your swimming' and your children should feel less
'rushed' to complete the stroke and gasp for air, bringing an element of
relaxation into the glide.
Be careful teaching breaststroke legs to younger children, attempting it too
early (before about 8yrs) can adversely affect hip joints.
Good Luck!
Anne Hansen wrote in message <01be3cee$a3eaa720$453fac3e@imzyausv>...
Allan Wood
>>Can anyone suggest corrective practices for a screw kick in young swimmers
>>(9-10 years old)?
Hardy Rodde wrote:
>Try suggesting that they no longer think of kicking "round and out" as is
so
>often described, but concentrate on the following simpler movements, trying
>all the time to keep 'tummy flat on the water'.
>
>1 Legs straight, heels TOUCHING.
>2 Raise heels (still touching) to bottom, ALLOWING KNEES TO PART.
>3 Turn TOES out.
> (This usually happens as legs are raised, without having to think about
>it).
>4 Straighten legs by simply extending knee. (ie do not alter angle of
>foot or hip)
>5 Snap legs together forcefully until HEELS TOUCH again.
>
When the legs are fully recovered, look at the soles of the feet.... they
should face UPwards (not BACK), then check the knees, they should be about
hip-width apart. Good teaching points to use for children " soles face the
ceiling (or sky)" and "knees close".
>Add to this the idea of 'swimming in time to your breathing' rather than
>'breathing in time to your swimming' and your children should feel less
>'rushed' to complete the stroke and gasp for air, bringing an element of
>relaxation into the glide.
>
Useful teaching points are "blow as you go" and "blow your hands away every
stroke". A glide is really useful during the learning stage but get rid of
it as soon as possible when they want to race!
>Be careful teaching breaststroke legs to younger children, attempting it
too
>early (before about 8yrs) can adversely affect hip joints.
>
I agree wholeheartedly - so many problems are caused by old-fashioned
teachers insisting on breaststroke as the first stroke. As well as the hip
problems one must realise that the breaststroke is the most difficult to
time correctly - as well as asking the limbs to work in patterns for which
they were never designed! Good teaching should use ALL strokes (yes -
including early butterfly movements), each child will naturally favour one
stroke and they should be encouraged to develop that one first (if it is
breaststroke then so be it). The resulting success will motivate them to
want to master the other strokes as well.
Incidentally - does the child have a genuine 'screw' kick, or is it simply
uneven? A screw kick has one leg moving in a true corkscrew action with the
foot pointed (plantar-flexed). A more common fault is where one foot
attempts to push water back with the sole (inefficient) whilst the other
sweeps around and back with the inside of the foot and lower leg (correct).
The faulty leg usually has the knee thrown out much wider than the other and
the leg is often drawn under the body as well.
For really stubborn cases I have a more drastic method which has worked well
for me. If you need it just e-mail me and I'll reply direct as well as
posting it on the newsgroup.
>
Allan (UK coach)