Fast Butterfly & Breaststroke Technique Swim Camp
The Albany Academy
135 Academy Rd,
Albany,
NY 12208
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Introduction
Fitter & Faster is producing a 2-day swim camp at The Albany Academy in Albany, New York, on September 27 & 28, 2025!
FAST BUTTERFLY & BREASTSTROKE TECHNIQUE SWIM CAMP
DAY 1 (Saturday, September 27): Butterfly Technique
DAY 2 (Sunday, September 28): Breaststroke Technique
Scroll down for details on the curriculum!
-> Availability in each session is limited to ensure the highest level of learning experience.
-> SAVE when you purchase the “Entire Camp Bundle” for your swimmer's age group.
SESSION START TIMES FOR BOTH DAYS:
Ages 9 to 11: Check-in 9 AM, Camp 9:15-11:45 AM
Ages 12 & over: Check-in 12:30 PM, Camp 12:45-3:45 PM
Suggested Participants
Our top priority is to provide a world-class learning experience for all participants at all of our camps. This camp has sessions for swimmers ages 9 to 11 and 12 & older. Participants will range from one-year of competitive swimming experience to AAAA times and faster. If you are the parent of a child under the age of 9 and would like for your child to be considered for the younger sessions of this camp, please complete this questionnaire.
Curriculum
Butterfly and breaststroke are known as the "short-axis" strokes because the power comes from undulation around the hips. The potential for large drag forces means these strokes require a high degree of technical precision and body control to maintain efficiency. This camp builds on the natural connection between the two strokes to enhance technical development in both. Over two days, your swimmer, no matter their level, will improve their butterfly and breaststroke technique, racing and training skills!
DAY 1 (Saturday, September 27): BUTTERFLY TECHNIQUE
Butterfly is powerful, rhythmic, and beautiful when done well—but challenging to master. We’ll break it down into fundamental skills and help swimmers understand how to swim fly efficiently across all distances. An efficient butterfly is a fast butterfly!
- BODYLINE: Fatigue often breaks down butterfly technique late in races. We’ll work on maintaining a strong bodyline and high hips using a solid downkick on hand entry, an effective chest press, and a long reach out front. A strong core connection will help swimmers stay streamlined and efficient from start to finish.
- KICK: Each butterfly stroke has two kicks to propel the swimmer towards the other end of the pool! If the kicks are properly timed and strong, they can aid your swimmer’s efficiency and stroke timing! Your swimmer will work on how and when to kick in butterfly for maximum speed.
- THE CATCH: A proper catch starts with a well positioned hand entry. Hands should enter flat (not thumbs down), setting up a high-elbow catch that drives forward momentum. At the highest speeds, the momentum of the entry can be used to generate power on the water. For greater efficiency swimmers should reach forward and extend in the glide phase of the stroke.
- PULL PATTERN: Once swimmers establish a vertical forearm, the pull should move straight back toward the feet. Wrist angles must shift to keep the palms facing backward. We’ll emphasize exiting the stroke with momentum—without flipping water up, which wastes energy and drives the body down.
- BREATHING: Breath timing in butterfly affects everything—bodyline, pull, kick, and speed. Swimmers will learn to start their breath during the catch phase of stroke when their power is highest in order to support lifting their head and shoulders without their hips falling. They will also learn to keep their head low to the water in order to maintain the most efficient body position.
DAY 2 (Sunday, April 27): FLIP TURNS, OPEN TURNS & FINISHES
Quick, powerful turns and finishes are crucial to fast times and winning close races. The top age group and elite swimmers aren't using walls just for turning around - they are used to generate speed and momentum going into the next lap. Elite swimmers are constantly working their turns and looking for areas to improve them. Today, we're going to work with your swimmer on taking this crucial part of every race (and practice) to the next level!
- MOMENTUM: The fastest swimmers use walls to generate speed and momentum going into the next lap. Outside of the elite ranks, many swimmers stop or slow down while going into the wall, which kills their momentum! We will work with participants on the intricacies of approaching every wall at top speed and seamlessly initiating their “turn”.
- FLIP TURNS: Flip turns are an opportunity for your swimmers to increase momentum in the middle of a race! Flip turns in which the athletes slow down or have “mechanical” movements negatively impact the speed at which a swimmer comes off the wall. We will work with your swimmer to produce fast flip turns so that they can explode off the walls at maximum speed.
- OPEN TURNS: Elite butterflyers and breaststrokers utilize speed from their last lap to create momentum and even more speed at the beginning of the next lap. Their open turns are actually not “turns”, but more like high-speed pivots. Participants in this session will work on these techniques to have much faster open turns!
- STREAMLINE, UNDERWATER DOLPHIN KICKING, BREAKOUT PROGRESSION: At this session participants will continue to work on the progression covered on Day 1.
- FINISHES: Setting yourself up for a fast finish is very similar to setting yourself up for a strong turn in any race. Races are won and lost by hundredths-of-a-second at every swim meet. Many races come down to the last few strokes. At this camp, your swimmer will learn techniques to set themselves up for a well-timed finish when they are still about 10 yards from the wall.
ASK QUESTIONS
Swimmers and parents are invited to ask the clinicians questions during a Q&A session. Gain insight into their training regimen, diet and nutrition, and recovery tactics.
WATCH THE CLINICIANS
Observe clinicians swim at full speed and demonstrate a progression of perfectly executed drills to achieve powerful, efficient and fast swimming.
PUT YOUR SKILLS TO THE TEST
Throughout the camp, swimmers will practice what they've learned with some of the world's most elite Swimmer Clinicians and coaches!
Take a photo, get autographs, and chat with your clinicians!
Inquisitive, Educated Swimmers are Faster Swimmers! Sign up today!