As Laurie Lawrence says “If you can’t kick, you can’t swim”
Ask any swimming teacher and the biggest thing that differentiates good swimmers from bad swimmers is the kick. There are 2 types of kickers, freestylers & breastrokers. This is due to the natural way the foot will move from the ankle, either pointing or flexing whilst kicking up & down. Unfortunately swimming favours those who are inclined towards pointing their feet whilst kicking upwards and downwards in the water. These kickers are natural freestyle kickers and with this foot position the same in 3 strokes: freestyle, backstroke & butterfly, they will find it easier in majority of swimming styles.The children who we call breastrokers flex their feet whilst kicking upwards and downwards and naturally feel the water in the arch of their foot which is how we kick back in breastroke.
Both styles of kicking are a challenge to learn well for each type of foot. I have seen success in all types of children learning how to kick. My tips for producing good kicking are:
• Start young with kicking, as early as 6 months, in practicing good freestyle kicking technique. Join a good swim school to help.
• If your child flexes their feet to kick on their own from 2 years onwards you can practice kicking on dry land as well as in the water. Lie down on the floor at home and practice kicking with pointed toes. The more you do this the sooner you will re-train your child’s brain to point those toes!
• I love telling children to ‘tickle their toes’ whilst kicking. This will bring their focus to their feet and off their knees, which is a problem in teaching young children how to kick.
• Persevere and you will gain good kicking results. I never let children get away with bad habits, although you can break bad habits over time with some hard work.
• Talk to your children’s swim teacher and make sure they are aware of your concern about good kicking technique.
• Make sure that the swim school you attend practices kicking in their lessons in many different ways and also gives correction. Kicking with and without a kickboard, kicking front and back, kicking with and without the use of fins and more…
It is possible for children who are flexed feet kickers to become great freestyle kickers and likewise, pointed toe kickers can learn how to kick in breastroke well. It does take time and energy, but it will happen!!
About the author
Sasha arrived in Australia from Europe at 4 years of age and started swimming at 5 years of age – a little late, by her own admission! Having conquered the dog paddle she went on to win NSW State medals in all four strokes; her best being Gold in the 100 metre butterfly at the age of 10. The Olympics became her dream, although unfortunately a variety of health factors ended the dream at 13.
Sasha returned to the pool 10 years later staring into the eyes of young toddlers wanting to learn how to swim. She has since worked for nearly 10 years as a swim teacher teaching infants, children & adults to swim, teaching junior stroke development and squads. She now runs her own ?In The Deep? Swim School in Sydney, looking after 250 children in the area.
Her passion is giving children skills to enjoy the water safely & skilfully and within that, to gain the confidence to succeed through all of life’s challenges.
Sasha can be contacted by clicking here.
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