What it is
The front glide script is a spoken sequence of cues, used every lesson with every swimmer, that guides a supported front glide from full support through to limited support. It is taught within Supported Front Floats.
Essentials
- Lock your thumb
- Squeeze your ears (behind)
- Look down
- Hands on shoulders
- Hands in hands
- Brief glide alone, then hands in hands
Progression
- Hands on shoulders (full support)
- Hands in hands (limited support)
- Brief glide alone, then hands in hands (limited support)
The broader glide progression moves from support → position 11 → streamline.
What goes wrong
- Swimmer jumps up to start the glide → will result in immediate sinking. Cue: start low, push off on the surface plane, as horizontal as possible.
- Swimmer lifts head up → provide support immediately; do not let them struggle.
- Swimmer begins to doggy-paddle out of fear or need to breathe → build trust by providing support and remaining close.
- Up-and-down leaps during the push-off → focus on pushing off along the surface plane, as horizontal as possible.
How you know it worked
A smooth, flat glide: hips, feet, head, and shoulders all remain near or at the surface throughout, with the face aimed down. The swimmer can hold the glide with face in the water for 1–2 seconds without support.
How you teach it
Practice saying the script aloud and repeat it frequently; it should be spoken every lesson to every swimmer. The first three cues—lock your thumb, squeeze your ears, look down—are the three things that make a great streamline; show good streamline while you say them. The last three cues track the support progression: hands on shoulders is full support, hands in hands is limited support, and the brief solo glide before returning to hands-in-hands is the bridge to independence.
A great front glide is also Position 11. Every swimming stroke flows through this position, so the script is not just a float drill—it is the body-position foundation for every stroke. Focus on forward horizontal movement; body, line, and posture are the three keys to gliding.
In the water, stand, kneel, or sit at the swimmer's level (knees in water, not looming). Build trust by providing support and remaining close. Avoid letting a swimmer struggle; if they lift their head or start to doggy-paddle, step in immediately. Smooth glide is best over fast or far—encourage position 11 or streamline while kicking to cross distance.
In a lesson sequence the script appears at three challenge levels: (1) swimmer falls forward onto your shoulders (full support), (2) you stand just outside reach and catch their hands after a brief one-second independent glide, (3) swimmer starts at their comfort distance from the wall, glides with face in the water for 1–2 seconds without support, grabs the wall, then blasts off to the start location or bench. Use the script every time at each stage.