What it is
The three-part cue set that defines correct streamline (SL) body position. Instructors use these three cues as the standard reference for all streamline work across levels.
Essentials
- Lock your thumb
- Squeeze your ears (behind)
- Look down
- Body should remain flat and straight, narrow, long
- Head should remain down, in water, perpendicular to bottom
- Streamline and swimming are two distinct events; the streamline comes first
Progression
- Supported front floats: hands on shoulders → hands in hands → brief glide alone, then hands in hands
- Push off the wall on the surface in streamline
- Push off the wall in streamline underwater
- 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
What goes wrong
- Swimmer lifts head vertically on streamline: a bad habit being learned. Correction: encourage looking at the bottom and give actions to get the desired result. Do not let swimmers lift their heads.
- Head not perpendicular to bottom: head must remain down, in water, perpendicular to bottom.
- Streamline held too long: streamline should be short, ~2/3 body lengths; arms should carry the swimmer forward.
- On back: knees bending too much. Correction: knees low in water, not bending too much.
- On back: straining shoulders. Correction: arms straight up to ceiling, pushing water naturally.
How you know it worked
Swimmer demonstrates all three cues simultaneously: thumbs locked together, ears squeezed between fully extended arms, head down and perpendicular to the pool floor, body flat and straight, narrow, long.
How you teach it
Show a good streamline first, then highlight the three things that make it great. Each cue is a concise command targeting a specific action; paired with a visual demonstration they create immediate learning and a change in technique. Use the same phrases every time—consistency builds routine and reduces anxiety. Speak in sentences that end in a period; no trailing "okay," no filler words. Speak and demonstrate simultaneously: show the streamline while saying the cues, or show pictures, videos, or other examples of excellence. Instructors should be underwater to the shoulders throughout the lesson, having demonstrated the skill themselves.
Use "What are all 3 things to SL?" as a daily check-in question. 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."
Give specific, progressive feedback rather than generic praise. Attempt 1: "Well done on kicking, remember to look down too." Attempt 2: "You kept kicking well, and you looked down, but now you forgot to lock your thumb." Attempt 3: "Well done on all 3, Johnny!" Level 2 should be filled with horizontal motion. Kicking is encouraged; catch-up stroke is good too. For back streamline, allow soldier position first, then back crawl arms—back streamline is the ultimate goal but extremely difficult for younger swimmers.