**Teaching Backstroke and Freestyle Together**

 

Where to look.  How to hold the head.  How to initiate the catch.  Join us this week as we explore the similarities between back and free, and how teaching both strokes together can enhance learning and help swimmers “get it.”

 

**Monday**

**Better Backstroke Concepts:  Where to Look – Backstroke**

To get the hips riding high and to avoid getting water up the nose, try lying back with the eyes looking up and slightly back – as if looking at the ceiling or sky above where your feet are.  

<https://www.goswim.tv/lessons/3046-where-to-look>

**Tuesday**

**Freestyle Drill: Freestyle – Head Position**

Great head position in freestyle has just a bit of the back of the head showing above the surface, with the eyes looking just a bit ahead of you.

<https://www.goswim.tv/lessons/1918-freestyle-head-position>

**Wednesday**

**Better Backstroke Concepts:  Cup on Forehead – Backstroke**

World’s best drill for developing a steady, stable head in backstroke – and for helping swimmers find the ideal positioning of head, neck and eyes.

<https://www.goswim.tv/lessons/3047-cup-on-forehead>

**Thursday**

**Haufler Freestyle:  Advanced Freestyle #8: Correct Head Position While Breathing**

Avoiding excess head movement is just as important in freestyle as in backstroke.  Teaching guru Steve Haufler uses a Styrofoam head and a pencil to create a memorable teaching visual.

<https://www.goswim.tv/lessons/1805-advanced-freestyle-swim-lesson-8-correct-head-position-while-breathing>

**Friday**

**Better Backstroke Concepts:  Kick on Back with Goggles Under Water**

This drill takes core control, and takes the skill of a steady head to a new level.

<https://www.goswim.tv/lessons/3048-kick-on-back-with-goggles-underwater>

**Saturday**

**Better Backstroke Concepts: Backstroke Scull**

This drill helps swimmers isolate the small, simple movement of the hand and forearm that initiates the backstroke catch.  

<https://www.goswim.tv/lessons/3049-backstroke-scull>

**Sunday**

**Better Backstroke Concepts:  Freestyle Scull for Backstroke**

Teach this sculling drill at the same time as Saturday’s Backstroke Scull.  Start to think of backstroke as being freestyle on your back; the two pulls are very similar!

<https://www.goswim.tv/lessons/3053-freestyle-scull-for-backstroke>


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Nov 18, 2025 - Teaching Back and Free Together