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Basic Swimming Strokes Made Easy

Welcome to Swim Teach - where I make the different swimming strokes simple to learn and easy to teach. Whether you're a swimming teacher, a beginner learning to swim or a parent teaching your child, there's a mountain of tips, tricks and support here for learning about the basic strokes in swimming and everything else to do with teaching and learning one of the essential life skills.  


What Do YOU Need From Swim Teach?


Are you a frustrated beginner? Stress no more. Here at Swim Teach, you will find the four basic swim strokes broken down into separate parts, along with tons of tips and support for all areas of learning to swim.

Maybe you're a swimming teacher looking for some fresh ideas. I have a huge selection of resources, including pre-written lesson plans and basic drills to help keep your swimming lessons efficient, professional and fresh. Find what you need by clicking here.

Are you a parent in need of some tips and tricks to help teach your child how to swim? I've got you covered. Click here to learn more. 


Basic front crawl technique for beginners

Front Crawl Stroke

Basic breaststroke technique for beginners.

Breaststroke 

Basic backstroke technique for beginners.

Backstroke

Basic butterfly stroke technique for beginners.

Butterfly Swimming Stroke

"Hi, I'm Mark Young, experienced swimming teacher, creator of Swim Teach.com and author of  Teach Your Child To Swim, and How To Be A Swimming Teacher. 

I built Swim Teach to help beginners and average swimmers like you to fix the most common technique mistakes and make the whole learning to swim process easier.

No secrets, just logical, straight forward, practical tips and illustrations that explain what different parts of your body should be doing as you swim. Swimming technique explained in a way that anyone can understand and succeed with.

If you're a fellow swimming teacher and are looking for some resources to help support your teaching practice, then I have a whole section just for you."

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    Safety First! 

    It's important to stay safe in and around water, so remember:

    • Never swim alone
    • Learn the basics
    • Use buoyancy aids correctly
    • Stay within your depth
    • Get professional lessons

    For more essential swimming safety tips, click here.

    Basic Swimming Strokes For Beginners

    Good swimming is all about efficiency, and good efficiency is all about effortlessly cutting through the water.  Easier said than done you might think, but if you break each stroke down into it's individual parts it is possible to fine-tune those parts and control what each part of your body should be doing.  

    Put the stroke parts back together and you will move several steps closer to becoming the swimmer you always wanted to be.


    Swimming Technique For Beginners

    Front Crawl

    front crawl techniquesmooth front crawl technique

    When swum correctly, this is the elegant, smooth swimming stroke that everyone wants to master.  The fastest of the four basic strokes, front crawl gets it’s power from the alternating arm pull and it’s efficiency from the streamlined body position, while the relaxed leg kick keeps the overall stroke balanced.  However it is the breathing technique that causes people the most problems.  Click here for the full stroke, or click a stroke part below for more details.

    Front Crawl Stroke Parts

    Effective front crawl body position for efficient stroke technique

    Body Position

    Effective front crawl kick technique for smooth efficient stroke

    Legs

    Smooth front crawl arm technique for an efficient swimming stroke

    Arms

    Efficient front crawl breathing technique for an easier swimming stroke

    Breathing

    Effective front crawl timing for coordination of arms, legs and breathing techniques.

    Timing

    Breaststroke

    breaststroke techniquesmooth breaststroke technique

    The most inefficient swimming stroke due to it’s underwater arm and leg actions, breaststroke gets it’s smooth movements from the precise timing sequence.  The power and momentum comes from the whip-like leg kick whilst the arm pull assists the breathing technique and keeps the whole stroke balanced.  Click here for the full breakdown, or click a stroke part below for more details.

    Breaststroke Stroke Parts

    Optimal breaststroke body position for a smooth efficient swimming stroke

    Body Position

    Learn breaststroke kick in stages for efficient swimming technique

    Legs

    Effective breaststroke arms make for a smooth swimming stroke

    Arms

    Steady breaststroke breathing technique in time with the arm and leg action

    Breathing

    Effective breaststroke timing and coordination makes the swimming smooth and efficient

    Timing

    Backstroke

    backstroke swimming techniquebackstroke swimming technique

    The fastest stroke swum in a supine (face up) position, backstroke gets it’s power and momentum from the arm pull action.  The efficiency is maintained through the flat and streamlined body position whilst the leg kick balances the stroke and provides minimal propulsion.  Swimmers tend to get that sinking feeling if the timing and coordination compromise the flow.  Click here to discover more, or click a stroke part below for more details.

    Backstroke Stroke Parts

    Correct backstroke body position is vital for an effective swimming stroke

    Body Position

    Backstroke kick should be smooth and relaxed

    Legs

    A steady backstroke arm technique helps to make the stroke smooth and efficient

    Arms

    Backstroke breathing is regular and rhythmical

    Breathing

    Backstroke timing and coordination is vital for an efficient swimming stroke

    Timing

    Butterfly Stroke

    butterfly stroke techniquebutterfly stroke technique

    The most physically demanding of the four basic stroke, butterfly stroke gets its power and momentum from the constantly undulating body movement and simultaneous downward leg kick action.  The huge arm action compliments the other body movements while the explosive breathing technique fits seamlessly into the timing and coordination sequence.  Great strength and stamina are required to swim butterfly efficiently.  Click here for the breakdown, or click a stroke part below for more details.

    Butterfly Stroke Parts

    Butterfly stroke body movement

    Body Position

    Butterfly stroke leg kick technique

    Legs

    Butterfly stroke arm technique

    Arms

    butterfly breathing technique

    Breathing

    Butterfly timing and coordination

    Timing

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