What this swimming skill is
Up to now, your child has practised each part of front crawl on its own: staying level, the arms and breathing. Here they do everything at once, with the legs kicking steadily, the arms taking turns and a breath coming at a regular rhythm. It usually starts with short swims and grows from there.
It builds on breathing in front crawl and on the flutter kick, the quick up and down kick with long legs. Once the stroke holds together over a length, the next step is swimming longer distances comfortably.
See it in action
How to Swim Freestyle: How to Do The Basics of Freestyle Stroke
Made for adults learning to swim: arms, kick and side breathing put together, with plenty of breaks.
From the AquaMobile YouTube channel
Why it matters
Real swimming.
This is when your child can swim across the pool on their own, a proud moment for any family.
Reaching the side on their own.
Swimming a steady distance without stopping means your child can get to the edge of the pool by themselves.
Less tiring.
When the pieces work together, each one helps the others, and swimming takes far less effort.
It opens the door to more.
Longer swims, swim teams and swimming for fitness all start here.
Who it is for
This skill is for children, teens and adults who have practised the separate parts of front crawl and are ready to put them together. Children often manage a few strokes before the kick or the breath falls apart, and short, successful swims build it best. If you are learning as an adult, you might have strong arms but a kick that stops when you breathe. At every age, lessons use short swims with rests and let the distance grow as the rhythm settles.
The whole stroke together
The goal
Your child swims front crawl with the legs kicking, the arms turning over and a breath coming regularly, all at once. They can swim 10 metres without stopping, then build up to 25 metres.
Why it matters
This is the point where your child can swim across the pool on their own, with a stroke they can keep going.
What happens in lessons
Short swims first.
Your instructor starts with swims short enough to finish well, so your child feels success every time.
Keeping the legs going.
Your child practises kicking right through each breath, with your instructor alongside.
Finding a rhythm.
Your instructor helps your child find a breathing pattern that suits them and repeat it every time.
Growing the distance.
Swims get a little longer as the rhythm settles, with a rest at the wall whenever needed.
How you can help between lessons
- On the floor at home, your child can lie on their tummy and do some gentle kicking from the hips, legs long and toes pointed.
Common questions
- Why does my child's kick stop when they breathe?
- It is one of the most common habits in front crawl. The brain is busy with the breath, and the legs switch off. Your instructor practises kicking through the breath until it happens without thinking.
- My child can swim 10 metres but not 25 metres. What is the difference?
- Usually the breathing. Over a short swim, a quick gasp gets you by. Over 25 metres, your child needs a steady rhythm of breathing out underwater and breathing in on time.
- Our pool is smaller than 25 metres. How do we measure it?
- Your instructor adds up lengths, with a push off the wall at each end instead of a stop. What matters is steady swimming all the way.
- Should my child practise front crawl between lessons?
- Short, easy swims are great if your pool and supervision allow. Stop while the stroke still looks good. An adult should always be in the water, within arm's reach of a young child.
- Is it too late to learn front crawl as an adult?
- Not at all. Many adults learn it, or tidy up a stroke they taught themselves, in private lessons. You go at your own pace, with an instructor focused only on you.
