Please ensure you have a safe space when practising at home. Leave enough space around you and remove any objects which may create hazards. Remember these drills are intended for dry land practice, not in the water.

You’ll be kicking goals in the water in no time with this exercise on kicking technique.

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Why teach kicking?

As young swimmers move towards swimming strokes in the pool, a key part of effective technique is in kicking. Correct kicking technique will provide propulsion for swimmers as they move through the pool, and also reduces drag meaning they can swim for longer.

Before you start…

Remember these pointers for correct kicking technique. To help picture it, think of it as being a similar action to walking on land.

• Use a whole long leg action – kick from the hip!
• Point your toes
• Floppy ankles

Skills – Practice kicking technique at home

These skills are suitable for kids aged 3+ years old

Many young swimmers bend their knees to much when kicking.  This creates a lot of drag as the legs sink low in the water. This exercise will help swimmers get into the habit of keeping long straight legs as they kick in the water.

1. In a seated position, slowly move legs up and down. Be sure not to bend your knees, keep your toes pointed, and relax your ankles.
   Equipment – Chair
2. As you kick, keep your legs quite close together. Your big toes should brush past each other.
3. Once you’ve started, you can gradually increase your kicking speed, ensuring your technique stays the same.
4. Parents can help by manipulating legs to keep kick under control. When manipulating legs parents should let the calves lay in the palms of their hands and have thumbs on the shins.
5. Now move to a bed or a couch, lying on your back or your stomach with your legs hanging over the edge. Practice your kicking technique as if you were swimming through the water.

Extension – Ankle Rotations

An additional part of aiding propulsion in kicking technique is mobility from your ankles. This simple warm-up exercise is great for promoting mobility and flexibility in your ankles.

1. In a seated position, extend your legs out just like the exercise above.
2. Instead of kicking, rotate your right ankle in clockwise circles.
3. Now repeat, this time with your left ankle.
4. Repeat steps two and three, this time rotating in an anti-clockwise circle.
5. Once you’ve got the hang of this technique, try rotating both ankles at the same time.

Please ensure you have a safe space when practising at home. Leave enough space around you and remove any objects which may create hazards. Remember these drills are intended for dry land practice, not in the water.

Download our activity sheet to print and easily follow along at home

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Why focus on your breathing

Focusing on your breathing is a fantastic exercise to improve your swimming. This skill is introduced in K4-K5 at Kingswim, and is an essential skill for intermediate swimmers to continue to practice.

Breathing is very important in swimming and this skill helps to control your head position, ensuring you have a streamlined stroke.

Steps

1. Swimmers – lay flat on your tummy on the edge of couch or bed. Lay on the couch or bed so that your preferred breathing arm is on the outer edge.
2. Extend both arms out in front of you and start in the eyes down position.
3. As your preferred breathing arm starts to pull downward, turn your head to the side and breathe in (with your ear resting on your shoulder).
4. With your head in the breathing position, continue to push your arm all the way back until your thumb touches your leg.
5. Raise your elbow, with your hand hanging in a relaxed position, thumb in line with the tip of your elbow (scarecrow arm).
6. Maintain your scarecrow arm position as you begin to move your arm forward.
7. Lead with your forearm as your arm moves forward.
8. As your hand moves past your face and eyes, turn your head to the face down position and exhale.
9. Continue to move your arm forward in front of your shoulder until it is straight.
10. Exhale and blow your bubbles
11. With both arms straight out in front of you and your head down, pause in this position for three seconds before repeating these steps
12. Repeat this around 10 times.

Remember

• Don’t lift your head – turn it.
• Don’t look forward.
• Make sure your thumb pushes all the way back to your leg.
• Once your thumb has touched your leg, focus on lifting your elbow up nice and high to make a scarecrow arm, your hand should be relaxed.
• Make sure your scarecrow arm has:
  • high elbows with your fingers down
  • hand hanging loosely from elbow
  • thumb should be in line with the tip of your elbow
• Breathing – exhale slowly!