What it is
The four highest-leverage focus points for teaching glides, chosen so that a small portion of instructional effort produces the majority of swimming outcomes.
Essentials
- Starting with face in the water
- Support that removes fear
- Swimmer's body posture; tall and long
- Kicking that provides movement
Progression
- Guppies, Level 1, Level 2 (zero-depth water, chest-deep water)
- 20% things for Front crawl with breathing
- 20% things to improve Breaststroke
What goes wrong
- Head up → Aim head down
- Poor kick → Focus on kicking that provides movement
- Sinking belly → Aim head down, hands to position 11
- No position 11 or streamline arms → Hands to position 11
How you know it worked
The swimmer holds a tall, elongated body line with face submerged, and the kick is visibly propelling them forward rather than flailing in place.
How you teach it
Support is the vehicle, not the goal. Provide physical support under the swimmer to eliminate fear of the water, then fade it as confidence builds. On the first day, establish trust through simple tasks with actual physical contact—hold the hand to enter, place a hand on the shoulder or back, say "I'm here to help you." Move from chin-in to face-in incrementally, praising each step.
When in doubt, say something. Silence and withholding feedback is the worst option. Say something, see how it works, and remember if it gets results. Keep feedback short, immediate, and targeted to one of the four core items. Ask yourself: "Will this feedback increase my swimmer's ability to [core skill]?" Avoid mentioning things that do not matter—do not spend lesson time correcting which foot pushes off the bench or where hands go when climbing out. Limit correction to one item per attempt; children can only focus on one thing at a time, and too much correction overwhelms them into doing nothing. Make feedback action-oriented ("aim your whole face down," "squeeze your ears") rather than prohibitive ("don't lift your head"). A small quick change is more effective than a complete reworking of a skill.
When you see a disaster, the most essential fix is: aim head down, hands to position 11. Doing these two things leads to a good body position and allows the kick to move the person forward.
Use zero-depth water for Guppies, Level 1, and Level 2. Ideal depth for swimmers of all abilities is chest-deep—comfortable standing, easy to stand up. Without deep water, use benches or platforms to adapt depth. Deep water should only be used for swimmers who can move independently without support and without touching the wall or bottom.
Strategically position swimmers and instructor to maximize time spent doing swimming. Lane lines provide natural separation for ability and levels. Do what works well over and over, but make small changes to the routine to keep it interesting and successful. The four core items are so challenging you can approach them in infinite and varied ways; the same skill is never boring when the activity changes around it.