Hi Sigma Swim and Stroke Schoolers!
I hope everyone had fun working on their backstroke with last week's lesson. It's a wonderful option to break up the general structure of learning freestyle basics in a beginner curriculum. With this week's topic, we will pivot towards something that can benefit both freestyle AND backstroke: flutter kicking. Swimming is a sport that requires constant coordination of the whole body. At the grassroots level, we find our kick. Developing a purposeful kick is an essential step to swimming mastery and will provide a baseline for improvement in other disciplines in the future.
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Without a good kick, swimmers are just endlessly "climbing the ladder" - pulling themselves through the water without any true motor behind them. The first step to learning flutter kick is working from the deck. Giving malleable beginners an opportunity to actually observe themselves on the deck can mediate some of the in-water translations. Obviously, this is not foolproof. We can't (really) float or roll breathe with the same efficacy on the deck. Fortunately though, kicking is a perfect activity for deck demonstrations and practice. Learning how to keep the legs loose and kick from the hip out of the water should translate seamlessly in water. And, too, it should be a little more intuitive since the primary motion is within the body line (as compared to freestyle arms which deviate from the center line). With a little practice, our beginners will be off to the races and kicking their way to new adventures!
Fact of the week: Similar to most watercraft (boats, jet skis, etc.), our most consistent engine of propulsion is in the back. Our legs push us through the water in the most streamlined while our arms just offer added bonus. Kicking is the foundation of power in our swimming, and as such, we should hope to maximize it. Not only does a strong kick make you an effective swimmer, but it also affords some added coordination bonuses. For the young beginner, it may be difficult to master the rhythm of both arms and legs. Working on a strong, consistent flutter kick is a perfect way to start!
How does my child move up? Come to every swim class, bring your progress report, earn those stickers, and ask your child's instructor or location's deck manager if you have questions.
Kick off your growth! Glad your swimmer is learning to swim with us!
The Sigma Team