What this swimming skill is
On the back, you cannot see where you are going. That can feel unsettling, and it is how people drift off course or bump the wall. This skill is about using landmarks, like a roofline, a fence or a tree, to stay straight. Near the end, your child slows down and reaches back with a hand.
It comes after your child can swim backstroke without stopping. Once they can steer and find the wall calmly, they are ready to swim longer distances and, later, to learn turns.
Why it matters
Safer backstroke.
Knowing where the wall is means your child finds it with a hand, not their head.
More relaxed swimming.
When your child is not worried about what is behind them, they can relax and enjoy the stroke.
Sharing the pool.
In a shared pool, swimming straight keeps your child in their own space and out of other people's way.
Confidence in new pools.
Using landmarks helps your child feel at ease in any pool, not just their own.
Who it is for
This skill is for children, teens and adults who can swim backstroke without stopping. Children love turning landmarks into a game, and counting strokes suits them once they can count reliably. If you are an adult swimming lengths in a shared pool, this skill makes backstroke feel much safer. Older adults often find backstroke more relaxing once they know exactly where the wall is.
