Back Glides (skill)
Definition: Body flat at surface, belly and knees underwater, gentle kick for movement.
Core cues:
- "Turn away from me."
- "Put your shoulders in the water."
- "Tilt your head back to me."
- "Push off with my support."
Coach interpretation:
- "Turn away from me.": The swimmer must turn away from the instructor to begin the back glide.
- "Put your shoulders in the water.": The instructor ensures the swimmer's shoulders are submerged in the water.
- "Tilt your head back to me.": The swimmer tilts their head back toward the instructor.
- "Push off with my support.": The swimmer pushes off while the instructor provides support.
Teaching strategy:
Progress slowly. Swimmers are upside-down and backwards; it can be very scary. Build trust through support. Earn your swimmer's trust. Build trust by supporting the swimmer unconditionally. Do not let go. No surprises. Provide full head and body support so that the swimmer's body can relax. A relaxed swimmer will float easier. Start back glides with a flat body; the head and chin are in a neutral, normal, position. Not tucked, not aiming up or back. As confidence and mastery grows, then back glides and backstroke should slightly tuck the chin towards the chest creating a "banana" shape to the body. Like all supported glides the back glide begins with complete and total support. The instructor will hold the child at or above the water with their entire body supported by the instructor's shoulder and arms. Head on Shoulder: The instructor puts their shoulders in the water. The swimmer rests their head on the instructor's shoulder; their body is supported by the instructor's hands on their legs or lower back. Move backwards together singing songs and kicking. Can hold swimmer by the knees and kick for them or allow independent kicking. Priority: comfort in support laying on back.
Common errors and corrections:
- Tucked chin: Start with a flat body; the head and chin are in a neutral, normal, position. Not tucked, not aiming up or back.
- Fear: Build trust by supporting the swimmer unconditionally. Do not let go. No surprises.
Progression:
Full support progresses to independence. Head on shoulder. Like all supported glides the back glide begins with complete and total support. As confidence and mastery grows, then back glides and backstroke should slightly tuck the chin towards the chest creating a "banana" shape to the body.
⚠ Language below was not found in the source — do not publish as-is. Most often this means the original sits inside a table or a multi-column layout that extraction could not read cleanly:
- “We start back glides with a flat body; the head and chin are in a neutral, normal, position. Not tucked, not aiming up or back.”
Short verified cues (confirmed present; check by eye): “Body flat at surface”, “Turn away from me.”, “Head on shoulder”