Look down (cue)
Definition: The head should be aiming at the floor during most streamlines. Aim the entire face down; avoid looking forward. Backstroke SL is "Look up."
Core cues:
- "Look down"
- "Tell swimmers to be Pinocchio and drag their long lying noses on the ground."
- "Drag your Pinocchio nose" on the bottom.
- "Aim the entire face down."
- "Breathe quickly by lifting the head up then quickly returning to the balanced face aiming down position."
- "Return to looking down quickly after breath"
Coach interpretation:
- Look down: The head should be aiming at the floor during most streamlines.
- Pinocchio nose: Swimmers drag their long lying noses on the ground; on the bottom.
- Aim the entire face down: Avoid looking forward.
- Breathe quickly: Lift the head up then quickly return to the balanced face aiming down position; return to looking down quickly after breath.
- Watch for: Most incorrect SL body position is because swimmers want to see where they're going.
Teaching strategy:
Put mirrors on the bottom of the pool to encourage swimmers to aim their face at the bottom. Tell swimmers to be Pinocchio and drag their long lying noses on the ground. Breathe by lifting the head quickly and then aiming it down again. Breathing will interrupt their body position at the surface; it is a good way to constantly reinforce finding a good body balance and posture in the water again after the disruptive "banana" bend to the torso to breathe.
Common errors and corrections:
- Swimmers want to see where they're going: Most incorrect SL body position is because swimmers want to see where they're going; aim the entire face down.
- Sinking during breathing: Breathing causes the most sinking issues; reinforce a "strong kick you breath" to keep the swimmer at the surface throughout, and return to looking down quickly after breath.
Progression:
Comes after the streamline hand and ear squeeze work (3 things for Streamline) and within Position 11 (3 things for Position 11). Leads into Front Crawl Arms - Freestyle, where all freestyle swims should begin with a streamline and arms should start and end in Position 11.
Short verified cues (confirmed present; check by eye): “Look down”