What this swimming skill is
In this turn, your child swims front crawl, the stroke many people call freestyle, into the wall. They touch it with a hand, tuck their knees up, turn to face back down the pool, take a breath and push off. The head stays near the surface, so they can breathe during the turn.
It comes after your child can push off the wall and swim a length of front crawl. Later, they learn a two-hand version for breaststroke and butterfly, and some go on to flip turns.
Why it matters
Swimming without stopping.
Your child can swim length after length without standing up at each end. In a home pool, that makes a big difference.
There is always a breath.
The face stays near the surface, so your child can breathe during the turn. It feels safe and relaxed.
A skill for life.
Many adults use this turn every time they swim laps. There is no need to learn a flip turn unless you want one.
A step towards swim team.
Children heading for a swim team need smooth turns. This is where they start.
Who it is for
This is for children, teens and adults who can swim a length of front crawl and push off the wall on their own. Your child is ready when they arrive at the wall without a bump and push off happily with their face in the water. If you are learning as an adult to swim laps, this is often one of the most useful things we teach. Older adults can keep the tuck gentle and still turn smoothly.
