Moving forward to swimming, start off by having the swimmer review Step 4, while remembering the focus on high hands in Step 5.

Slowly, have the swimmer reduce the amount of time the swimmer spends in the extended position.

Have her start to build a consistent rhythm with a full, over the water recovery, while allowing the hands to drop into the catch while keeping the elbows high.

The goal of all of these steps is to build the association that the FIRST move in the butterfly catch is to keep the elbows high, and allow the forearms to be allowed to more effectively HOLD a spot in the water that the body flows by.

Remember, great butterfly is the whole body working in unison. Focusing too much on pulling back, rather than developing a solid anchor that sets the arms into a catch position, may mean the goal is missed.


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Butterfly - Teaching a Better Catch - Step 6