**Step #4:  Timing (Separation Drill with Hand-Lead Body Dolphin First)**
Some swimmers learn better by doing a separation that starts rather than ends with body dolphin.   It looks like this. 

The complete, one-step-at-a-time instructions are: FLOAT…BODY DOLPHIN…FLOAT…DIAMOND…PRESS…SWING…FLOAT.

I demonstrate and say simply, FLOAT…BODY DOLPHIN…PULL. They get the picture.

To start doing multiple cycles, the swimmer must start the pull right after they start to rise up after the first body dolphin.

They must start their pull before their shoulders break the surface.

You should notice that their head and shoulders will break the surface when they are about half way through their pull.

As the hands press back and begin their exit, the swimmer may just naturally “punch” the second kick exactly in time with the exit of the hands.

This second kick will make a small slash, whereas the first kick, the body dolphin, was splash free.

During the initial body dolphin (the first kick) the chest presses down, the head will drop under the water, the hips rise, and the feet press back and downward.

The second kick will be shallower than the first kick, and occurs as the head rises.

You can look at it this way:  The first kick occurs when the head drops under the water.  The second kick occurs when the head moves forward and rises.

As the arms land after the recovery, the chest and head will drop a little deeper into the water to initiate the next body dolphin.

This is a good beginning butterfly without breathing.  This is butterfly on “training wheels.”

After we teach the breathing, we’ll come back with a way to “speed it up” and create a non-stop and continuous butterfly rhythm.


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Timing - Separation Drill Body-Dolphin First