Spinal Axis

Spinal Axis (cue_set)

Definition: The line along which the hips and head twist together to breathe in Front Crawl. Face touches the water. Hips and head twist together.

Core cues:

1. Turn the head and rotate the hips together.
2. Twist head away from the extended arm.
3. The hips and head twist together along the spinal axis to breathe.
4. Face touches the water. Hips and head twist together.
5. To breathe, turn the head and the hip to the side towards the surface.
6. Stop turning when enough of the face is over the water line; roughly 2/3 of the face.
7. After the breath, return the face down, into the water with a twist of the head and hip.
8. The head should be aiming down when not breathing.

Coach interpretation:

• Turn the head and rotate the hips together: watch that the head and hips initiate and complete the twist as one unit, not the head alone.
• Twist head away from the extended arm: the head turns away from the arm that is extended forward.
• The hips and head twist together along the spinal axis to breathe: monitor the body line; the twist runs along the spinal axis rather than bending at the waist.
• Face touches the water. Hips and head twist together: keep the face in contact with the water as the hips and head twist.
• To breathe, turn the head and the hip to the side towards the surface: both head and hip turn toward the surface side.
• Stop turning when enough of the face is over the water line; roughly 2/3 of the face: limit the rotation to about two-thirds of the face clearing the water.
• After the breath, return the face down, into the water with a twist of the head and hip: the return is also a twist of head and hip together.
• The head should be aiming down when not breathing: check that the head aims down between breaths.

Teaching strategy:

Practice breathing to the side in Front Crawl or Freestyle repeatedly in a way that develops good habits. Avoid letting learners create sloppy or tilted breathing. Teach the twist of the head and hip together, with the face touching the water, and have learners stop turning when roughly 2/3 of the face is over the water line, then return the face down into the water with a twist of the head and hip.

Common errors and corrections:

• head bending: avoid bending the body like a banana; the hips and head twist together along the spinal axis to breathe.
• sloppy or tilted breathing: practice breathing to the side repeatedly in a way that develops good habits.

Progression:

Front Crawl Breathing; Precise breaths.