RE: Eggbeater Kick Drills

Former Member — Wed, 06 Dec 2006 09:41:27 GMT

start on your belly horizontal in water (hips near surface of water)- balance body with head above water, hands sculling, legs apart make quick breaststroke style jabbing kicks without the "squeeze" one leg at a time. slowly push your body a little more vertical (dropping hips) - when you feel tired go back to a more horizontal position. You can go back and forth in a pool like this. Try different moving in different directions forward, backward, right, left. Build up your "strength" to be totally vertically in the water while treading and sculling. Then try not using hands, then hands out of the water, then elbows, then weights, and so on. It's not really about "strength" as it is getting the feel of the water and being comfortable - don't fight it.

RE: Eggbeater Kick Drills

Former Member — Wed, 06 Dec 2006 08:49:08 GMT

I can't think of what a drill would be to learn it, but this is how I taught my kids... The right leg rotates in a counter-clockwise circle, while the left leg rotates in a clockwise circle. They should be at the 30 minute mark apart. Does that make sense? Your arms/hands can be used for balance until your legs get stronger to support you all the way. I don't think anyone's kick looks exactly the same as anyone else's, so don't worry about exact form. Just feel comfortable and make sure it's not painful on your knees. After you start feeling comfortable doing your version of the kick start traveling a little, back and forth, say halfway down the pool and back. Then you can try to raise your hands above the water for a few minutes. After that, try raising them higher--to your elbows, then above your head. You'll notice that the higher your hands go, the faster you need to make your legs circle. Eventually you can start lifting metal chairs above your head doing laps like the waterpolo players do! :D