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Butterfly The butterfly stroke is generally taught after the swimmer has established basic skills in the other three competitive strokes. The butterfly stroke relies on good timing and simultaneous arm and leg actions. The stroke is best taught by breaking it down into three phases: kick, arm action and breathing.   A propulsive kick, called a "dolphin" kick, is used to help move the swimmer through the water. The swimmer's legs stay together and move simultaneously. The kick consists of a downbeat and an upbeat action.   Dolphin Kick on Back (Dartfish)   The arm action is simultaneous with both arms recovering over the waterline. The swimmer's hands enter the water in line with shoulder width. The arm pull/action consists of the entry and catch, out sweep, in sweep, up sweep, and arm recovery. The breathing phase of the stroke starts when the arms begin to sweep outward during the catch, and the swimmer will have taken a breath during the start of the arm recovery. The swimmer's head will be facing forward, and it is good to encourage the swimmer to breath after every second arm cycle (i.e., every second stroke).   Teaching the Butterfly — Arm Stroke Practice the butterfly arm stroke on dry land       Teaching Points   Stand on pool deck, bend at waist and extend the arms straight over the head with the arms pressed against ears. Keep the hands pressed together with palms facing down, fingers pointing slightly down and ready for the catch position.     Press hands outside the shoulders, outward and downward.     Finish the pull with the hands pressing under and past hips.     Recover hands with elbows high. Sweep the hands forward over head with the hands relaxed.     Return to start position Butterfly Arm Stroke (Dartfish)       Coaching Tips Arms begin the stroke with the hands shoulder-width apart. The thumb and forefinger lead hands. Elbows and shoulders follow through the same hole in the water created by the hands. As the hands move through the stroke, they move in an hourglass (or keyhole) pattern. The arms’ speed increases as the stroke progresses. The hands explode past the hips to the recovery phase. As the hands recover, arms will be barely over the water surface with elbows slightly bent. Stand behind swimmer, holding each arm, guiding them through correct arm pattern.     Practice the butterfly stroke in chest-deep water       Teaching Points     Pushing from pool side, take a prone float position, arms extended straight over the head.     Begin the stroke with the arms fully extended over the head and the back of the hands together, pressing outward and downward, fingers pointing slightly downward.     Move both arms at the same time in an hourglass motion.     Hands exit the water with straight elbows at the completion of the stroke. Kick again, and push the chin forward to breathe when the hands exit the water. Sweep the arms over the water with the arms relaxed. Complete three to five arm strokes without pull buoy. Butterfly Arms with Pull Buoy (Dartfish)       Coaching Tips Avoid placing a flotation device around the waist, if possible. This will create more drag. It may be helpful to practice with one arm at a time, holding a small kickboard with the other. Have the swimmer take at least two strokes before breathing. Teaching the Butterfly — Kick   Teaching the Butterfly Kick Practice the butterfly kick in shallow water   Teaching Points Stand in chest-deep water, assume prone float position. Kick the same as the freestyle flutter kick, moving both legs together. Bend knees on the whip-like downbeat. Keep legs straight on the upbeat. Point toes slightly inward. Keep the heels under the water. Repeat three to five times.     Butterfly Kick - Discovery (Dartfish)       Coaching Tips It may be easier to teach the kick first as this will help when teaching the whole body movement. Swimmer stands in chest-deep water and pretends to be a dolphin by pushing off pool bottom. The dolphin kick may also be practiced on the back. Have the swimmer keep the hips fairly flat. It may be easier for the swimmer to learn the kick while holding a kickboard. To get the feel, the swimmer may want to practice leapfrogging — pushing off the bottom, leaping up, out and over the water head first. Be careful that the swimmer does not go too deep and hit his/her head on pool bottom. If available, use fins to help develop the kick action and whole body movement created through the kick.     Practice the butterfly kick for a distance of 15 meters   Teaching Points Swimmer stands in waist-deep water and holds a kickboard with arms extended or kicks without a board with arms extended, whichever is preferred. Assume the prone float position. Kick butterfly kick for one meter. Use fins if available.   Coaching Tips Make sure the toes are pointed slightly inward (pigeon-toed). Make sure the feet stay under the water with the heels just barely breaking the surface. Swimmer can also practice this kick on the back holding a kickboard on the stomach. Add use of fins, if available, encouraging fast, "little" kicks.   Teaching Butterfly Arm Stroke with Kick Practice the butterfly stroke with periodic breathing, arm stroke and kick for 15 meters   Teaching Points Swimmer stands in chest-deep water and assumes prone float position, arm extended straight over the head. Begin stroke with two butterfly kicks. Start first stroke with the hands pressing outward and downward.     Move the arms in an hourglass motion — "S" shape. Push the chin forward to breathe as the hands exit the water. Kick again when the hands exit the water.     Butterfly Arm Stroke with Kick (Dartfish)   Coaching Tips Swimmer is encouraged to start breathing on the start of the stroke to ensure that correct timing is developed. The coach may support the swimmer under the waist, if necessary. The swimmer kicks twice for each full stroke. The first kick happens as the hands enter the water. The second kick is made as the hands exit past the hips. Swimmer pushes chin forward and up to breathe on the start of the initial arm stroke. Swimmer tucks the chin back down just as the hands enter the water. Swimmer says out loud: "Kick in (hands in)" as the hands enter the water and "Kick out (hands out)" as the hands leave the water. Two kicks per full arm cycle. Practice the stroke on the pool deck, concentrating on pushing the hands outward and then inward until the hands are almost touching under the stomach. The swimmer should practice "exploding" the hands past the hips to assist the recovery.   Faults & Fixes Chart   Error Correction Drill/Test Reference Uneven stroke. Ensure swimmer’s legs and arms are moving simultaneously. Practice fly kick with/ without fins and kickboard; streamlined on surface and below surface. Practice arm action with fins. Practice arm rotations on pool deck. Breathing too late. Have swimmer start breathing earlier. Use specific drills. Swimmer breathes every third or fourth stroke. Kick is low, body not streamlined and weak kick action. Encourage swimmer to make a strong second kick. Encourage swimmer to move whole body not just the legs. Swimmer practices whole body movement with fins. Swimmer doing short fast strokes with body upright, (i.e., feet and hips too low). Swimmer may not be pulling through past legs before recovery phase. Check for two kicks per arm cycle. Practice kicking fast over short distances with/without fins. Encourage high body position and feet breaking waterline. Practice pulling arms through to side of legs; emphasize touching thumbs to side of legs before arm comes out of water. Practice without breathing for short distances so that breathing is not part of the stroke.   Coaches' Tips for Butterfly — At-a-Glance Tips for Practice Practice butterfly kicking with/without fins. Encourage fast, little kicks. Encourage whole body movement. Encourage swimmer to have legs together, ankles relaxed and a slight knee bend during kick. Practice kicking with both arms outstretched, face the bottom, complete four kicks, then lift chin to waterline to breathe. Encourage movement from hips. Check arm pull through water, thumbs pushing through at side of legs before recovery. Practice arm recovery in line with shoulder width. Check for correct hand placement ready for catch. Check timing of breathing/arm action.   Tips for Competition Check any medical conditions that may restrict swimmer from performing butterfly. Encourage good streamlining on entry and turn. Encourage streamlining off blocks/wall using strong butterfly kick. Encourage swimmer to breathe every second stroke. Check for two-handed touch on finish and at turns. Encourage swimmer not to look around when competing as this may cause hips to drop, causing uneven leg kick.

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