**Teaching breaststroke** – from scratch – requires patience and repetition…and a step-by-step approach for teaching the pull, the kick, and then the timing that pulls it all together.  This week we turn to Steve Haufler and Glenn for their teaching ideas, and point you toward the GoSwim lessons and courses that can help you teach the BEST stroke!

**Monday**

**Haufler Breaststroke: Breaststroke Teaching Progression – Step #1**

Steve Haufler follows a 5-step progression for teaching breaststroke. Step #1: Teach breaststroke body position on land.

<https://www.goswim.tv/lessons/1465-breaststroke-teaching-progression-step-1> 

:13 - thumb lock - missle position

:19 - standard streamline

:30 - fantastic alignment - THE LINE

:46 - same position as on land

:50 - throw them like a dart

:56 - small adjustments - arms UP to alignment

1:15 - keep the chin off the chest

1:28 - see the tendency of the chin - even with focus

1:33 - look at the arms out front - continue to teach

1:44 - toes - finish the job

1:52 - stay narrow

**Tuesday**

**Haufler Breaststroke: Breaststroke Teaching Progression – Step #2**

Teaching breaststroke kick requires patience, repetition, and a huge bag of tricks and techniques. Steve Haufler shares his wisdom and secrets.

<https://www.goswim.tv/lessons/1466-breaststroke-teaching-progression-step-2> 

:05 - on land

:07 - point

:08 - flex

:11 - turn out

:12 - circle and point

:15 - practice point and flex

:25 - practice turn out and point

:30 - practice them all

:46 - the goal

:49 - on the side of the pool… feel the connection to the water

:58 - feet flat on the surface in the point

1:05 - allow the knees to bend the feet to the wall

1:09 - feet slightly apart

1:17 - show the flex

1:35 - front point, bring the heals to the wall

1:37 - pivot the feet out to the flex position

1:40 - circle and point

1:43 - getting it

1:53 - focus on the finish

2:03 - with some athletes, adding some pressure will give them a better sense of what to push with

2:09 - the flex position is a bit strange for newer swimmers - breast is the only kick with the inside

2:19 - practice some small kicks on your back

2:25 - hold the board over the legs and don’t kick the board

3:01 - practice stomach and back and try to minimize the hip drop and leg tuck

3:17 - show the heels coming up, not the knees tucking under

3:44 - knees barely outside the shadow of the body and show the flex

3:50 - hydrodynamic catch position

4:17 - direct push back to point

4:41 - torso to knee line without manipulation

4:42 - keeping the knees up

4:43 - torso to knee line with manipulation

4:47 - pretty good line

4:48 - reverting to big bend. Always keep practicing

**Wednesday**

**Foundations of Breaststroke: Wall Kick**

We love this drill for teaching breaststroke kick. It isolates the kick, and makes it super easy for the coach to SEE the kick and offer verbal corrections in real time.

<https://www.goswim.tv/lessons/3063-wall-kick>

:02 - hanging on the wall… flat

:05 - recover the heels behind to the flex position

:06 - kick back to point

:15 - flat against the wall

:19 - line from torso to knees

**Thursday**

**Haufler Breaststroke: Step #3: Teach Breaststroke Pull**

To teach breaststroke pull, Steve Haufler starts with the swimmer on deck. He introduces one of our favorite mantras: “I…Y…Scoop…and Shoot.”

<https://www.goswim.tv/lessons/1471-step-3-teach-breaststroke-pull> 

:04 - missle position laying on the deck

:10 - use a noodle to keep the elbows forward

:23 - proper head position at this point in the stroke - letter I

:38 - separate the hands to a Y

:53 - flex the arms to point the hands backward, or toward the wall

1:09 - THE picture - elbows in front of shoulders - hands pointed down

1:22 - scoop IN UP and FOWARD

1:27 - keep the wrist straight

1:48 - keep the initial practice SLOW

2:11 - continue practicing with isolation of the arms

2:28 - return to a float in missle position

2:33 - get the swimmer to outsweep gently to the Y position

2:44 - gently move them to the EVF position

2:56 - scoop and shoot forward

3:17 - “I” “Y” “SCOOP” “SHOOT”

**Friday**

**Haufler Breaststroke: Step #4: Teach Breaststroke Timing**

Steve Haufler explains one of the most effective drills for teaching breaststroke timing: Breaststroke Separation Drill

<https://www.goswim.tv/lessons/1472-step-4-teach-breaststroke-timing> 

:13 - finishing each stroke before starting a new one is imperative in teaching

:21 - thumb lock missle position and glide

:25 - be patient in this teaching and always spend more time in the line

:30 - front of the body is ready to accept the kick

:37 - separation drill without breathing

:47 - pull without kicking

:49 - initiate the kick after the swimmer is back in the line

:51 - the mistake = proper timing

1:00 - start the legs just a bit sooner

**Saturday**

**Haufler Breaststroke: Step #5: Teach Breaststroke Breathing/Timing**

Steve Haufler teaches breaststroke breathing as a separate – and very important -- lesson. Teach it correctly and you’ll help the swimmer avoid a host of hard-to-break bad habits.

<https://www.goswim.tv/lessons/1474-step-5-teach-breaststroke-breathing-timing> 

:02 - start teaching breathing by not breathing

:03 - focus the swimmer on what happens on the scoop or insweep - the rise

:06 - with a more powerful swimmer, the head may automatically rise above the surface

:12.9 - swimmer about 1” away from air

:15 - now rise to air without kicking

:19 - alternate no breath with breath

:35 - the real LIFT occurs when the hands are coming IN

:38 - avoid the LIFT on the outsweep

:41 - head still under when hands are WIDE

:44 - IN and UP to air

:53 - maintain head stability in going to air

:54 - no breath

:56 - with a breath

1:10 - keep the neck aligned with a tennis ball

1:11 - in and up to air

1:20 - watch the in and up to air - hips drawn - legs buckle

1:31 - release the ball

**Sunday**

**Haufler Breaststroke: Step #6: Teach Full-Stroke Breaststroke**

Once the swimmer has mastered the pieces/parts of breaststroke, it’s time to put it all together. Steve Haufler shares his secrets.

<https://www.goswim.tv/lessons/1475-step-6-teach-full-stroke-breaststroke> 

:04 - review the glide

:11 - review the kick

:22 - review the pull

:27 - review the timing

:34 - review the breathing

:42 - start swimming

**Bonus**

**Foundations of Breaststroke: Kick, Sit on the Side**

<https://www.goswim.tv/lessons/3062-kick-sit-on-the-side>

**Foundations of Breaststroke: Kick on Your Back**

<https://www.goswim.tv/lessons/3064-kick-on-your-back>

**Davo Drills: Breaststroke with an Extra Kick**

<https://www.goswim.tv/lessons/187-2-up-1-down>

**Foundations of Breaststroke: Lane Line Pull**

<https://www.goswim.tv/lessons/3068-lane-line-pull>

Mention (for teaching):

Davo Drills

Roque Santos course

Breaststroke Drills (the course)

Foundations of Breaststroke

Glenn in Endless Pool breaststroke videos


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Feb. 20, 2024 - Teaching Breaststroke Zoom