Flip Turns

Flip Turns (skill)

Definition: Flips are difficult for beginners because of two main things: discomfort with water up the nose and fear of getting lost underwater. The flip turn should have feet hit the wall with the swimmer laying on their back.

Core cues:

1. "close your mouth and hum"
2. "DO NOT TWIST ON THE WALL."
3. "After a streamline tuck the chin and lift the hips and the feet will roll over the body."
4. "Push off the wall in streamline on the back. Roll to stomach during the streamline before surfacing."
5. "Look up and blow bubbles."
6. "Fully submerge and practice spinning in a ball."

Coach interpretation:

• "close your mouth and hum": Teach bubbles to keep water out of the nose.
• "DO NOT TWIST ON THE WALL.": Watch that the swimmer does not twist on the wall.
• "After a streamline tuck the chin and lift the hips and the feet will roll over the body.": After a streamline, the chin tucks and hips lift so the feet roll over the body.
• "Push off the wall in streamline on the back. Roll to stomach during the streamline before surfacing.": The push off is in streamline on the back; the roll to stomach happens during the streamline before surfacing.
• "Look up and blow bubbles.": With shoulders on bottom and feet touching wall, the swimmer looks up and blows bubbles.
• "Fully submerge and practice spinning in a ball.": The swimmer sinks and spins in a ball.

Teaching strategy:

Build to flip turn with a progression of skills and activities. Teach bubbles and body control to keep water out of the nose and enable return to surface without fear. Teach bubbles by saying "close your mouth and hum." Build to comfort by doing challenges and activities that integrate flips and twisting. Layer in foot targeting against the wall. Flips from standing are more difficult than moving. Lay on the bottom: shoulders on bottom, feet touching wall, look up and blow bubbles. Sink and spin body: fully submerge and practice spinning in a ball. Handstands and turning into flips: this is fun! Practice this often. The flip happens immediately after holding handstand for 3 seconds.

Common errors and corrections:

• Discomfort with water up the nose: Teach bubbles by saying "close your mouth and hum."
• Fear of getting lost underwater: Teach bubbles and body control to keep water out of the nose and enable return to surface without fear.
• Twisting on the wall: DO NOT TWIST ON THE WALL.

Progression:

Lay on the bottom → Sink and spin body → Handstands and turning into flips. Flips from standing are more difficult than moving. After a streamline tuck the chin and lift the hips and the feet will roll over the body. Flip turn should have feet hit the wall with the swimmer laying on their back. Push off the wall in streamline on the back. Roll to stomach during the streamline before surfacing.

Short verified cues (confirmed present; check by eye): “Lay on the bottom”, “Sink and spin body”