Fast Butterfly & Breaststroke Technique Swim Camp

Life Time - West County - Chesterfield
3058 Clarkson Rd, Chesterfield, MO 63017

Countdown
  • 52days
  • 09hours
  • 06minutes
  • 31seconds

Introduction

Fitter & Faster is producing a 2-day swim camp at the Life Time - West County/Chesterfield in Ellisville, Missouri on August 16 & 17, 2025! 

FAST BUTTERFLY & BREASTSTROKE TECHNIQUE SWIM CAMP
DAY 1 (Saturday, August 16): Butterfly Technique
DAY 2 (Sunday, August 17): Breaststroke Technique

Scroll down for details on the curriculum!
-> Availability in each session is limited to 24 participants to ensure the highest level learning experience.
-> SAVE when you purchase the “Entire Camp Bundle” for your swimmer's age group.

SESSION START TIMES FOR BOTH DAYS:
Ages 12 & over: Check in 8:45 AM, Camp 9-12 PM
Ages 9 to 11: Check in 12:45 PM, Camp 1-3:30 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

FAST BUTTERFLY & BREASTSTROKE TECHNIQUE CAMP: August 16 & 17, 2025

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, August 16): 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, August 17): BREASTSTROKE TECHNIQUE

    Breaststroke is unique—no two swimmers look the same at the elite level. It’s all about reducing resistance, perfecting timing, and finding what works for each individual. We’ll build a foundation and then help each swimmer refine their style for maximum speed and efficiency. No matter your swimmer’s level, this session will strengthen their technique and lead to faster and more efficient breaststroke races… and faster IM’s!

    • BODYLINE: With the most drag of any stroke, breaststroke demands constant attention to body position. We’ll work on keeping the head, hips, and spine aligned and moving forward at every point in the stroke—especially during the crucial first strokes off each wall.
    • KICK: A strong, powerful kick is key in breaststroke. In every breaststroke kick, the ankles should stay outside the knee. The optimal size of the kick varies by each swimmer and is highly dependent on knee and ankle flexibility. Swimmers who view themselves as “bad” at breaststroke kick often only need to focus on decreasing the size of their kick and they can unlock unknown potential.
    • PULL: To have a great breaststroke pull, swimmers need to keep their elbows near the surface of the water and out in front of their shoulders at all times. Once the hands turn in and begin the “recovery” phase they need to move quickly to full extension in front of the body to reestablish bodyline. The pull pattern varies based on a swimmer’s kick. We’ll help swimmers match their pull width and tempo to their natural kick style—maximizing propulsion and efficiency.
    • TIMING: Elite breaststrokers are constantly tweaking their timing to achieve the ideal combination of power and efficiency. Our clinicians will introduce key drills that help connect the pull, kick, breath, and glide into a smooth, powerful cycle.

    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!

    Countdown
    • 52days
    • 09hours
    • 06minutes
    • 31seconds
    Lead Clinician

    Fitter and Faster clinicians are Olympians and National Team members who have achieved at the highest level of the sport of swimming... and who have the unique skill to teach what they know from a technical perspective to swimmers of all ages and abilities.