Streamline (skill)
Definition: A distinct push-off/glide posture used for face-down strokes, push-offs, and starts. Stack both hands and lock the top thumb around the bottom hand; arms are straight overhead, elbows squeezing the ears; eyes/face are down. This is not Position 11. Position 11 is a separate drill/reference position that skills move through (R9). Do not merge or use interchangeably.
Core cues (3 max per attempt, R11):
- Lock your thumb.
- Squeeze your ears.
- Look down.
Coach interpretation:
- Lock your thumb: stack both hands and lock the top thumb around the bottom hand.
- Squeeze your ears: arms are raised straight overhead; the elbows do the squeezing.
- Look down: whole head or face down, eyes on the bottom.
Refinement cues (add only when the swimmer is ready for one more adjustment):
- Lock your elbows; keep arms straight.
- Squeeze your core; legs together; toes pointed.
Prerequisites:
- Comfort with whole-head submersion (Underwater Progression: Chest → Shoulders → Chin → Lips → Nose → Eyes → Whole head).
- If fear or resistance appears, stop, return to the last comfortable step, and rebuild trust (R15–R17); never force (R7).
Teaching progression:
- Stand in shallow water: practice the hand stack, arm raise, elbow squeeze, and head-down shape.
- Push off from the wall into a 5–10 yard Streamline glide; swimmer walks back (R2).
- Add body-line refinements.
- Test in a challenge as the third segment of Activity → Activity → Challenge (R3/R4).
Usage:
- Every push-off or start begins in Streamline (R9/R10).
- Streamline is the starting position for strokes that begin face down; Position 11 is a separate drill/reference point used when teaching the four competitive strokes — keep the two distinct.
- After the surface glide, transition briefly through Position 11 before the skill begins (R9).
- Feedback on every attempt (R5), delivered while the swimmer walks back (R8).
- Keep adjustments limited: one acknowledgement + up to two reminders per attempt (R11).
Safety:
- Complete a water-safety check before every activity (R6).
- If anything is unsafe, stop immediately (R12/R14).