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Backstroke - Marching Soldier

Posted by Glenn Mills on Jul 22, 2008 12:00PM (19,342 views)

Sometimes you get introduced to a drill that's so tough, you just have to try it. Marching Soldier is one of those drills.

- Check out the greatest backstroker of all time - Aaron Peirsol's DVD

Why Do It:
Marching Soldier is an extremely challenging drill that not only works your coordination, but also is very taxing on your legs. This drill can help you with body positioning when you're under tremendous strain. Yeah... in other words... it's a LOT of fun.

How to Do It:
1. Start on your back, kicking flutter kick.
2.  Have one arm extended above your head, and the other down by your side.
3.  Move each arm above the water in different directions, one from back to front, like a recovery...
4. ...the other from front to back, like a reverse recovery... moving both arms at the same time.
5.  Don't let the arms stop, or relax. Keep switching from front to back, and back to front, above the water.
6.  Maintain your body position as best you can, by kicking and leaning into the water with your upper back.

How to Do It Really Well (the Fine Points):
If you're having a tough time with this because your kick is not that great, put on a pair of fins. While fins won't turn this into an EASY drill, they'll at least allow you to experience it.

As fatigue sets in, you may also notice it's not easy to keep your arms going straight back overhead for the recovery. If you notice your arms flailing a bit out to the side... it's time to take a break.

backstroke, kick, fins, recovery

Responses

Ahelee	Responded Jul 22, 2008 08:47PM Who does this drill and where did it come from??
Barbara Hummel	Responded Jul 22, 2008 08:54PM lol. Prior to GoSwim, I taught at another swim school. We used to see this sometimes when we started to teach 6-count backstroke (slow backstroke with a pause with one arm up and one arm down).
Glenn Mills	Responded Jul 22, 2008 08:54PM I wanted to credit the coach that showed it to me, but he wouldn't allow it. He said he got it from somebody else and didn't deserve the credit. So now I'm going to get stuck with it, but it's NOT MINE! It's TOUGH though and well... sorta fun. If nothing else, your master's swimmers will be complaining about their legs. The cool part is that they'll be so focused on waving their arms, they may not realize how much they're working. :)
Alx	Responded Jul 24, 2008 09:28PM We are practising this drill quite often, although the arms are not necessarily moving this fast (slower motion). As a result you'll have to kick more to stay afloat. Another version of this one is what we call the aerial catch up very effective for shoulder rotation...
sprinter	Responded Jul 26, 2008 09:10AM oh, wow, that's a hard one. Very very nice drill!!!
Ahelee	Responded Jul 27, 2008 04:15PM Actually, after I read about this drill I told the masters swimmers about it during my announcements at the start of the evening practice. One of them looked at me in horror and said "OMG - thats one of the drills Dave Salo used to make us do when he sub-d in to coach our practices!" I think this is just one of many great but difficult drills you creative coaching types have concocted! Thanks and keep them coming :)
jeff	Responded Jul 29, 2008 01:43PM This one is tough, but certainly raised a few eyebrows when we gave it a whril at the pool yesterday!
AMR SALEM	Responded Jul 30, 2008 10:32AM i see some swimmers make this drill fast and some make it slow what is the different?
Glenn Mills	Responded Jul 30, 2008 01:44PM Give it a shot and let us know what you experience. Try it both ways, and see. Thanks. :) Nice one Jeff. It's always good to get a few raised eyebrows. Edited Jul 30, 2008 02:09PM
Trout	Responded Aug 07, 2008 12:13AM ALL backstroke drills are ridiculous.
Glenn Mills	Responded Aug 07, 2008 12:49PM Spoken like a true breaststroker.
wonderboy	Responded Sep 11, 2008 07:35PM Correct me if I'm wrong but I'm thinking this could also be used to work on arm tempo or stroke rate? Having to get all of your propulsion from the kick while keeping the arm recovery fairly fast would seem to target that aspect of the stroke. I've been trying to find a good drill for backstroke stroke rate besides the spin drill.
Glenn Mills	Responded Sep 12, 2008 01:00AM Love the icon wonderboy.
Juliette	Responded Nov 10, 2008 12:23PM Hi,......I'm Juliette and 8 years old........my dad says this exircise is tough.....but I'm shure going to try it!!!!!...seems like fun......any tips for a kid like me????
Barbara Hummel	Responded Nov 10, 2008 12:43PM Hi Juliette! Try it with fins. It will still be a tough drill, but the fins will keep you from getting so much water up your nose. Love those fizzies!!!!!
Juliette	Responded Nov 10, 2008 03:19PM Hello Barbara thanks for the idea.....!!!!!......hre's my time on backstroke...50mtrs: 51.48 on the 18-10-2008(I'm a bit faster now)....my favorit stroke is the butterfly.on 25 mtrs my time is 24.34(but also a while ago).Keep in mind.....I'm not so tall!!!!!!!......My dad says this is a very nice site....keep it up!!!!!!!!
Juliette	Responded Nov 10, 2008 07:04PM oh....what are Fizzies?????
Barbara Hummel	Responded Nov 10, 2008 07:05PM That burning sensation when you get chlorinated water up your nose.
James Stuart	Responded Jan 03, 2009 02:02AM That drill is enjoyable but its hard which I struggles so hard to keep float lol

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Backstroke - Marching Soldier

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