improve water feeling
At least 15 meters of windshield wiper movement with as little flutter kick as possible. In this exercise, the arms are bent at the sides of the body. The upper arms, arms, and shoulders form a straight line. The forearms are then moved inward and outward in a bent position. The upper arms must always remain at the water surface, maintaining alignment with the shoulders. The main propulsion should come from the arms, while the legs are used only for stabilization.
Preparation Exercises
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As few strokes as possible
The child swims 25 meters freestyle with as few strokes as possible, ideally under 30. Then, they perform the same exercise in the backstroke style. This exercise forces the child to swim as efficiently as possible, focusing on extension and arm pull. It is recommended to repeat this exercise in future courses.
Land exercise
Demonstrate the exercise to your child on land first. Lean slightly forward and stretch your arms out to the sides. Then move your forearms toward your chest, with the palms facing inward. Stop your hands about five centimeters in front of your chest and rotate them outward. It is important that the upper arms remain in the same position throughout the movement. This land exercise provides children with a clear idea of how to use their hands in the water. However, the primary goal of water-awareness exercises is for children to independently learn how to work with water resistance. This understanding can then be applied to freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, and butterfly arm strokes, enabling them to swim more efficiently. Additionally, the land exercise emphasizes that the upper arms should always stay in the same position.
Dog paddling
In this exercise, the child swims with outstretched arms and alternating legs, with the hands shoulder-width apart. The forearm of the left arm moves towards the chest, while the upper arm and elbow remain in position. The palm of the hand is facing backwards to displace the water. After the forearm has returned to the extended position, the other arm repeats the movement. This is performed alternately for at least ten meters. The exercise is used to train the elbow position when crawling. The forearm initially moves forwards during the crawl, with only the forearm moving backwards and the elbow remaining in place. The elbow only lowers when it is at a right angle to the upper arm. The alternative of pulling with an outstretched arm would direct the force downwards and not generate an effective drive. The elbow position is not yet crucial at this level, but it is good for the children to familiarize themselves with it.
Häufige Fehler
Lowered elbows
For many children, it feels unfamiliar to move only the forearm while keeping the upper arm relatively still. However, the so-called "elbow-forward position" is used in all four main swimming styles and must therefore be learned through exercises like this one.
