Butterfly and breaststroke are alike because they both use similar body movements and an early “catch” to move quickly and smoothly through the water. These strokes are called “short axis” strokes because swimmers don’t twist their body like they do in freestyle and backstroke. Instead, they bend at the hips to create power and move forward. Over two days, your swimmer, no matter their level, will get better at their butterfly and breaststroke technique, as well as their racing and training skills!

DAY 1 (Friday, December 27): BREASTSTROKE TECHNIQUE

At the Olympic Games, you might see eight finalists, each with their own unique style of breaststroke! For swimmers, good timing and reducing resistance in the water are key to being strong and fast in breaststroke. No matter your child’s current level, this session will help improve their breaststroke technique, making them faster and more efficient in both breaststroke races and IM events!

• BODYLINE: A breaststroke race is fastest when swimmers keep a straight bodyline. Even small changes in the position of their chin, neck, or back can make a big difference. Top breaststrokers work on reducing drag by quickly “catching water” with their hands and feet, so they can return to a straight bodyline and glide through the water at top speed.
• KICK: The kick is where a lot of the power in breaststroke comes from. Swimmers need to keep their knees high in the water and snap their feet quickly to make a strong, powerful kick. Our elite clinicians will work with your child to strengthen their kick, helping them move forward faster in the water!
• PULL: The key to breaststroke is creating as much power as possible with each pull while reducing resistance, then quickly getting back to a straight bodyline for a fast glide. In this session, swimmers will focus on setting up a strong “catch” and keeping their hands and elbows high in the water during the pull. These techniques will help your swimmer minimize resistance and keep moving forward for a faster breaststroke!
• TIMING: Fast, smooth breaststroke comes from having the right timing between a swimmer’s hands and feet. When your child masters the timing in their breaststroke, they’ll swim with more fluidity, power, and speed. In this session, swimmers will learn how elite athletes time their breaststroke for maximum efficiency and faster races!

DAY 2 (Sunday, December 29): BUTTERFLY TECHNIQUE

At the highest level, butterfly is the second-fastest stroke and exciting to watch because of its strong, rhythmic movements. It can be tricky to achieve a smooth, flowing rhythm, but with practice and attention to detail, your swimmer can learn the butterfly and swim it for longer distances at impressive speeds!

• BODYLINE: A butterfly race is fastest when swimmers have the right bodyline. Even small adjustments in the position of the chin, neck, or back can make a big difference. As swimmers grow and develop in the sport, their body position may change, and bad habits can sometimes develop. In this session, participants will learn and practice good posture and core engagement to build a strong foundation for better technique. This will help create a full-body connection for more hydrodynamic and efficient butterfly strokes!
• KICK: Each butterfly stroke includes two kicks that help propel the swimmer across the pool! When the kicks are timed well and equally strong, they can greatly improve your child's efficiency and stroke timing. In this session, your swimmer will learn how and when to kick in butterfly to achieve maximum speed!
• PULL: Long, smooth strokes help swimmers achieve a more efficient and fluid butterfly. The pull in butterfly helps keep a swimmer moving forward. Our elite clinicians will work with participants to establish an early vertical forearm, known as “the catch,” which allows swimmers to apply pressure back on the water right away. Completing the stroke correctly will help your child swim forward more efficiently and at a faster pace!
• BREATH: The timing of the breath in butterfly directly affects a swimmer’s body position, pull, kick, and overall speed! At this camp, we will help participants learn to breathe with their chin low to the water and when to breathe during their stroke cycle. This will help them develop the most efficient stroke possible!