Word Pictures of Each Stroke
(for use with verbal-physical teaching method)

By John Leonard

The following word pictures of each stroke are used by John Leonard to describe his personal picture of each stroke that he uses when teaching novice swimmers how to properly perform the strokes. He uses these in a "questions and answer" fashion, to allow young swimmers to create in their mind, a good word-picture of each stroke and position in the water. This also allows for a "short cut" approach to stroke comments. John Leonard comments "with this approach I can literally speak to each swimmer on each return to the wall during a novice swim practice... with just a one or two word comment, they know what I am seeing and what they need to work on. But first, they need to know the language of the stroke and understand it. This makes for great, highly instructive practice sessions."

This concept is presented in detail in every ASCA Level 2 Stroke School presentation to coaches, as a teaching tool for daily, practical use.

Freestyle

1. The body rotates from side to side. (it does not swim flat)
2. The water hits the head at the crown of the head.
3. The body is straight from the back of the head to the heels, and rotates on it's central long axis.
4. Hand enters out in front of the shoulder, index finger first, palm facing slightly out.
5. Hand extends out in front, and deep.
6. Elbow is "up" or pointed towards the side wall of the pool.
7. Fingers point downward. (forearm on the water to pull)
8. Push through, thumb the thigh. (for teaching ONLY)
9. Hand spins out little finger first.
10. Hand recovers close to the body and close to the water.
11. Toes are pointed on the kick, legs fast and relaxed like a whip.

Backstroke

1. Body rotates on the long axis, on it's back.
2. Water just touching the ears.
3. HEAD STILL.
4. Hand enters little finger first, just outside the line drawn just in front of the shoulder joint.
5. Drive the hand down deep. Elbow straight.
6. Hand is deep and wide from the body at the catch, about shoulder level.
7. Hand accelerates rapidly up and out to the hip. Thumb exits first, right next to the thigh.
8. Hip rotates out first, ahead of the exiting hand.
9. Arm is straight on the recovery, and travels forward just above the recovering shoulder.
10. Recovery arm rotates just above the shoulder, to a little finger lead from the thumb lead position.
11. Re-entry just outside shoulder line. Little finger first. Head still.
12. Kick is fast, relaxed and a little deeper than in freestyle.

Breaststroke

1. Breaststroke starts with the streamline position in the water.
2. Face downward all the time, Back of head in line with the spine.
3. Starting position, elbows straight, hand together, index fingers down, palm out. Thumbs together at the bottom of the hand.
4. Press out wide. Hands wider than the elbows.
5. Little finger up at the :corner" on each hand.
6. Hold the elbow up, sweep the hands down and inward. (palm pitched slightly outward)
7. As hands pass under the elbows, squeeze elbows inward and under chin, accelerating the hands forward.
8. Hands fast forward to the start position.
9. Timing is KICK, Stretch, PULL.
10. kick starts with legs extended, toes pointed, ankles rotated inward.
11. Recover heels up and outside the butt, (knees do not bend more than ninety degrees) toes rotate out.
12. Kick back, down and around. Squeeze at the end of the kick.
13. Recover the legs quickly.
14. Breathe downward into the 1 inch of air above the water. (do not look forward, look "downward angled")

Butterfly

1. It's a body stroke. Swim with your body.
2. Hands go in, butt goes up. Timing.
3. hands enter outside the shoulders (wide) palms pitched outward.
4. Hands sweep inward, then outward in a rounded motion.
5. Little fingers exit first.
6. Little fingers lead the hand/arm on the recovery.
7. Arms flat and straight on the recovery.
8. Legs together, giant fin kick.
9. Kick from your mid-chest down.
10. Fast Hips.
11. "Catch/release" the water Body drives the stroke.
12. Small amplitude, fast hip speed.
13. Hands go in, butt goes up.
14. Breathe downward, looking at the water. Back of head in line with the spine.

Comments:
Toes are pointed on the kick, legs fast and relaxed like a whip, some how, “pointed toes” lead to cramps in the arch (the toes pointed term comes from ballet). May I recommend “Long legs, loose knees, & floppy feet”

1. As you well know when the leg down beats, the foot is “pushed” in the opposite direction; when the leg recovers, up beat, the foot is going down on account of the water pressure so if the foot is disconnected then you can create that whip action that is explained in the paragraph of the freestyle.
2. Many beginners point their foot (I think point the toes is a little exaggerated for pointing) and the consequence is very slow propulsion and even a kick that makes you travel downward, in the direction of the feet, toward the wall that you come from… it is not backwards, because lying horizontal prone in water, would be in the direction toward the sky…

Robert Strauss