Please forgive me, if this has been asked before.
My coach has decided it's time for me to expand my horizons. He's decided that I need to learn fly. I've watched a lot of videos, and I think have the keyhole stroke down. I've looked at a couple of one arm fly drills, and practiced a lot of dolphin kicks too.
What's the best way, in your opinion, to start learning fly. Coach just sends me across the pool and says do 50 Fly (on the fly, so to speak). I'd like to avoid developing as much bad form as I can from the start. He says I almost have it, but hasn't elaborated much past that yet.
I've heard that it may be easier to learn with fins at first, and then I've heard the exact opposites. Opinions??
Parents
Former Member
Coaches will vary on how they teach fly and stick with the methods that work for them. Here's what works for me:
1. I have my swimmers put their hands to their sides and work on an upper-body undulation that is exaggerated as much as possible.
2. I have them isolate three motions underwater before I allow them to try an over-water recovery. I don't teach the key-hole shape or the inward scull because it comes naturally and is often overdone.
One, seperate the hands with locked elbows, just past shoulder width.
Two, press the hands under the elbows (EVF). Everyone's flexibility is a little different but I don't want them to lead their stroke with their elbows (dropping them).
Three, I want them to push back and lift their hands out of the water. Then recover underwater.
When they can do that I progress to the next skill.
1. I want them to lift their head as their hands pass their bellybutton (chin stays near the water).
2. I want them to extend their kick fully as their hands come out of the water and ask them to make believe their body surfing.
*** Remeber, I don't have them use an over-water recovery while performing the above drill. ** Using fins can be helpful
When they can do the above skills I progress to the kick and simply tell them that I want to hear a kick (thump) when their hands seperate and a kick (thump) when their hands are extending for the breath. I don't teach kicking first because I find beginners put them in the wrong place and create flaws that are difficult to correct.
1. I progress to a 10 to 15 yard swim where I ask the swimmers to swim toward me. I ask them to look at me while their hands are extended out of the water.
2. When I have a swimmer who can get their arms out together, extended while looking at me (a level 2 swimmer), I ask them to drop their head in before their hands enter. When a swimmer can drop the head then chest where I can't see the head, before the hands enter, you're golden.
From the above progression we work on fine-tuning where the hands seperate immediately, the EVF, and a finish that becomes fluent where the thumbs nearly touch the water on the recovery.
Good luck, Coach T.
Coaches will vary on how they teach fly and stick with the methods that work for them. Here's what works for me:
1. I have my swimmers put their hands to their sides and work on an upper-body undulation that is exaggerated as much as possible.
2. I have them isolate three motions underwater before I allow them to try an over-water recovery. I don't teach the key-hole shape or the inward scull because it comes naturally and is often overdone.
One, seperate the hands with locked elbows, just past shoulder width.
Two, press the hands under the elbows (EVF). Everyone's flexibility is a little different but I don't want them to lead their stroke with their elbows (dropping them).
Three, I want them to push back and lift their hands out of the water. Then recover underwater.
When they can do that I progress to the next skill.
1. I want them to lift their head as their hands pass their bellybutton (chin stays near the water).
2. I want them to extend their kick fully as their hands come out of the water and ask them to make believe their body surfing.
*** Remeber, I don't have them use an over-water recovery while performing the above drill. ** Using fins can be helpful
When they can do the above skills I progress to the kick and simply tell them that I want to hear a kick (thump) when their hands seperate and a kick (thump) when their hands are extending for the breath. I don't teach kicking first because I find beginners put them in the wrong place and create flaws that are difficult to correct.
1. I progress to a 10 to 15 yard swim where I ask the swimmers to swim toward me. I ask them to look at me while their hands are extended out of the water.
2. When I have a swimmer who can get their arms out together, extended while looking at me (a level 2 swimmer), I ask them to drop their head in before their hands enter. When a swimmer can drop the head then chest where I can't see the head, before the hands enter, you're golden.
From the above progression we work on fine-tuning where the hands seperate immediately, the EVF, and a finish that becomes fluent where the thumbs nearly touch the water on the recovery.
Good luck, Coach T.
