Front Glide: Progressions

Front Glide: Progressions (progression)

Definition: A progression for teaching the front glide that moves at the swimmer's comfort, gradually adjusting support from full support glides to longer glides alone, paved with many many many opportunities to do a front glide alone.

Core cues:

1. "instructor MUST NOT MOVE"
2. "Catch the swimmer first, then walk backwards."
3. "Let them fall to the wall, with their feet on your knees."
4. "Let the swimmer reach for your shoulder, or the wall, or another bench."
5. "Let them fall forward, and PUSH with their feet to your shoulders/arms."
6. "Then, when they can stretch and reach about their body length, take 1 step back."
7. "As mastery grows, start further away."
8. "Staying put earns trust!"

Coach interpretation:

• "instructor MUST NOT MOVE": Once the swimmer initiates an unsupported glide, regardless of the distance, the instructor MUST NOT MOVE. Build and earn trust by being where they last saw you.
• "Catch the swimmer first, then walk backwards.": Catch the swimmer first, then walk backwards.
• "Provide support": We should always support the swimmer based on their ability to remain calm; do what they want.
• "Never move once they start": Never move once they start.
• "Gradually adjust support": Move at the swimmer's comfort. Push swimmer to do things alone.
• "Stretch (push) by asking the swimmer to do a very small, further than normal, distance without support.": Stretch (push) by asking the swimmer to do a very small, further than normal, distance without support.
• "Let them fall to the wall, with their feet on your knees.": Start with holding the swimmer and aiming them at the wall.
• "Let the swimmer reach for your shoulder, or the wall, or another bench.": Let the swimmer reach for your shoulder, or the wall, or another bench.
• "Then, when they can stretch and reach about their body length, take 1 step back.": Then, when they can stretch and reach about their body length, take 1 step back.
• "Let them fall forward, and PUSH with their feet to your shoulders/arms.": Let them fall forward, and PUSH with their feet to your shoulders/arms.
• "As mastery grows, start further away.": As mastery grows, start further away.
• "Staying put earns trust!": Staying put earns trust! Swimmers thrive!

Teaching strategy:

Move at the swimmer's comfort. Push swimmer to do things alone. We should always support the swimmer based on their ability to remain calm; do what they want. Provide support. Never move once they start. Stretch (push) by asking the swimmer to do a very small, further than normal, distance without support. Gradually adjust support. Full support glides → ½ alone ½ supported. The transition to independent attempts is paved with many many many opportunities to do a front glide alone. Start with holding the swimmer and aiming them at the wall. Let them fall to the wall, with their feet on your knees. Grow and increase the distance. Small brave attempts → Longer glides alone. Let the swimmer reach for your shoulder, or the wall, or another bench. Then, when they can stretch and reach about their body length, take 1 step back. Let them fall forward, and PUSH with their feet to your shoulders/arms. As mastery grows, start further away. Staying put earns trust! Swimmers thrive! Once the swimmer initiates an unsupported glide, regardless of the distance, the instructor MUST NOT MOVE. Build and earn trust by being where they last saw you. They're blind, underwater, alone, and desperate for your support. Provide it.

Common errors and corrections:

• Instructor moves once the swimmer starts: The instructor MUST NOT MOVE. Build and earn trust by being where they last saw you.
• Moving too fast for the swimmer: Move at the swimmer's comfort. Gradually adjust support.
• Not catching the swimmer: Catch the swimmer first, then walk backwards.

Progression:

Full support glides → ½ alone ½ supported → Small brave attempts → Longer glides alone. Start with holding the swimmer and aiming them at the wall; let them fall to the wall with their feet on your knees. Grow and increase the distance. Let the swimmer reach for your shoulder, or the wall, or another bench. Then, when they can stretch and reach about their body length, take 1 step back. Let them fall forward, and PUSH with their feet to your shoulders/arms. As mastery grows, start further away.

Short verified cues (confirmed present; check by eye): “they want, and...”, “Provide support”, “without support.”, “Provide it.”