Locked Thumb, Squeezed Ears, Look down (cue_set)
Definition: The three-part cue set that defines correct streamline (SL) body position. Instructors highlight these three things to a great SL and use them as the standard reference for all streamline work across levels.
Core cues:
- Lock your thumb
- Squeeze your ears (behind)
- Look down
Coach interpretation:
- Lock your thumb: Instructor watches for the swimmer's arms extended overhead with thumbs locked together, forming the narrow, long streamline shape.
- Squeeze your ears (behind): Instructor watches for the arms fully extended so the ears are squeezed between them, confirming the head is in line with the body and not lifted.
- Look down: Instructor watches for the head remaining down, in water, perpendicular to bottom. The swimmer's gaze is directed at the pool floor, not forward.
Teaching strategy:
- Show good streamline first, then highlight the three things to a great SL.
- Start pushing off the wall on the surface, build up to pushing off the wall in streamline underwater.
- Use the question "What are all 3 things to SL?" as a daily check-in (Question of the day).
- In Level 2, the cues appear as "Locked Thumb, Squeezed ears, Looking down / up" to accommodate both front and back streamline.
- In Level 3, the phrasing shifts to "Locked Thumb, Squeezed Ears, Face down" to emphasize the front-facing position.
- In the Skills Review for instructors, the imperative form is used: "Lock your thumb, Squeeze your ears (behind), Look down."
- Body should remain flat and straight, narrow, long.
Common errors and corrections:
- Swimmer lifts head vertically on streamline: Every time a swimmer picks their head up vertically on streamline and freestyle they're learning a bad habit. Correction: encourage swimmer to look at bottom and give actions to get desired result. Avoid letting swimmers lift their heads.
- Head not perpendicular: Head should remain down, in water, perpendicular to bottom.
Progression:
- Before: Supported front floats (hands on shoulders → hands in hands → brief glide alone, then hands in hands).
- After: Streamline and then front crawl arms 5 body lengths (Level 2); Streamline with all 3 things as a prerequisite for Level 3; Streamline + Position 11 combinations in Level 3 and 4.
Short verified cues (confirmed present; check by eye): “- Locked Thumb”, “- Squeezed ears”, “- Looking down / up”, “- Lock your thumb”, “- Look down”