Butterfly and breaststroke share several key characteristics. Both are classified as "short-axis" strokes due to the undulating motion centered around the hips, and each uses an open turn. This camp builds on the natural connection between these two strokes to maximize racing skills. In addition, we will explore the distinct elements that set them apart—the dolphin kick in butterfly and the pullout in breaststroke—to get your swimmer racing fast in both strokes.

• DAY 1 (Saturday, September 20), Session 1: STARTS, UNDERWATERS & BREAKOUTS: The better a swimmer’s technique is off the starting block, the more speed they will carry into the water. Session 1 of this swim camp will help your swimmer improve their start, underwater dolphin kicking and butterfly breakouts! We will also work on getting the most out of the single allowable dolphin kick for breaststroke. This sequence is not only the fastest part of every race, but it is also the part of the race in which elite swimmers cover the most ground with the most efficiency.
• BLOCK STARTS: To ensure an explosive start, a swimmer needs to set themselves up properly on the block. The elite clinicians will work with participants on the optimal positioning of your swimmer’s entire body to allow for a quick reaction time and optimal speed.
• WATER ENTRY: Starting the race with a smooth entry into the water will boost your swimmer's speed and carry the momentum generated off the block or wall. Becoming skilled at the water entry is crucial for any start and significantly contributes to your swimmers' overall race!
• STREAMLINE: The streamline - when done properly - is the fastest a swimmer travels while in the water. Proper streamlines are even faster than underwater dolphin kicking. Even the most elite swimmers in the world are constantly working on improving their streamline. Your swimmer will get tips to improve their streamline and a better appreciation of what they need to do on every single wall in practice and in races.
• INITIATING UNDERWATER DOLPHIN KICKING: Top age group and elite swimmers maximize their streamline on every single lap. They don’t start their underwater dolphin kicking while they’re still achieving maximum speed in their streamline! They also don’t want to start the underwater dolphin kicking after their streamline has begun to slow. Your swimmer is going to learn how to time when to begin their underwater dolphin kicking for both butterfly and that single dolphin kick in breaststroke.
• POWERFUL UNDERWATER DOLPHIN KICKING: There are a few different techniques that swimmers use when underwater dolphin kicking. The common theme of these techniques is that the best swimmers kick up and down with equal power. We will show your swimmer the different techniques that elite swimmers use and teach them how to implement.
• NUMBER OF UNDERWATER DOLPHIN KICKS: Figuring out the optimal number of kicks off each wall, for each race, is essential to fast swimming. Elite swimmers want to spend only the absolute necessary amount of time underwater to establish speed with each length. They want to avoid losing their breath and taking weak kicks.
• SINGLE DOLPHIN KICK FOR BREASTSTROKE: Breaststrokers get just one dolphin kick during the pullout and most take it at the very beginning. Your swimmer will work on specific strategy for getting the absolute most out of that single kick.
• BREAKOUTS: Many swimmers unintentionally add movements in their breakouts that reduce speed by creating drag. In this camp, participants will focus on perfecting their butterfly breakout timing to maintain momentum and power into each lap.
• DAY 1 (Saturday, September 20), Session 2: BUTTERFLY TECHNIQUE: At the highest level of swimming, butterfly is the second fastest stroke and beautiful to watch because of its rhythmic and powerful strokes. There are some complexities to establishing a smooth, rhythmic fly, but with practice and attention to detail your swimmer can master the stroke and begin swimming it for longer distances and at very fast speeds!
• BODYLINE: A butterfly race is going to be fastest with a proper bodyline. Even the slightest adjustment of the chin, neck, and/or back can make a huge difference. As swimmers mature in the sport and grow physically, their body position shifts and bad habits can emerge. Participants will learn and practice proper posture and engagement of their core to have a strong foundation for better technique - creating a full-body connection for more hydrodynamic and efficient butterfly strokes.
• 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 equally strong, they can positively impact your swimmer’s efficiency and stroke timing! Your swimmer will work on how and when to kick in butterfly for maximum speed.
• PULL: Long and smooth strokes allow swimmers to have a more efficient and fluid butterfly. The pull in butterfly keeps a swimmer accelerating forward. Your clinicians will work with participants to establish an early vertical forearm, “the catch”, enabling the swimmers to put immediate pressure back on the water. Properly completing the stroke keeps the swimmer moving forward efficiently and fast.
• TIMING: The timing of the breath in butterfly has a direct relationship on a swimmer’s body position, pull, kick and TIMES! At this camp, we will work with participants on breathing with their chin low to the water... and WHEN to breathe in their stroke cycle so that they develop the most efficient stroke possible!
• DAY 2 (Sunday, September 21), Session 3: BREASTSTROKE TECHNIQUE: Out of the eight finalists at the Olympic Games, you might see eight different styles of breaststroke! A swimmer's timing and ability to eliminate resistance are hallmarks of an efficient and powerful breaststroker. 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: A breaststroke race is going to be fastest with a proper bodyline. Even the slightest adjustment of the chin, neck, and/or back can make a huge difference. Elite breaststrokers focus on minimizing drag by “catching water” on their hands and feet as quickly as possible, so they can shoot back into a “straight bodyline” where they can glide at top speed.
• KICK: The kick creates a lot of the power in breaststroke. Swimmers need to keep their knees high in the water and snap their feet quickly around and back to create a powerful kick. Our clinicians will work with participants to strengthen their kick for the ultimate propulsion forward!
• PULL: The name of the game in breaststroke is to create as much propulsion as possible in the pull while minimizing resistance… and then quickly getting back into a straight bodyline to establish a high speed glide. Participants at this session will focus on setting up a proper "catch" and keeping their hands and elbows high on the water throughout the entire pull. The techniques your swimmer will practice will minimize resistance and enable them to maintain forward momentum for the fastest breaststroke.
• TIMING: Fast, flowing breaststroke is the result of proper timing between a swimmer’s hands and feet. Establishing proper timing in your swimmer’s breaststroke will allow for more fluidity, power and speed. Participants in this session will learn how elite swimmers time their breaststroke for ultimate efficiency and the fastest races.
• DAY 2 (Sunday, September 21), Session 4: OPEN TURNS, UNDERWATER PULLOUTS, & FINISHES: Open turns play a critical role in butterfly and breaststroke races, where even small differences in execution can have a major impact. Because they are often the first turn a swimmer learns, they can become clunky and inefficient without continued refinement. This camp will focus on making open turns faster and more fluid, helping swimmers carry momentum into the next lap. We’ll also dedicate time to breaststroke pullouts and breakouts—skills that become increasingly important as your swimmer improves, yet often receive limited practice. Since finishes in butterfly and breaststroke share many similarities with the approach to turns, we’ll also cover strategies to help your swimmer time their finish perfectly and win close races at the touch.
• 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!
• 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! This is especially true in fly and breaststroke where strokes are naturally longer and both arms move together. We will work with participants on the intricacies of approaching every wall at top speed and seamlessly initiating their “turn”.
• BREASTSTROKE UNDERWATER PULLOUTS: The breaststroke pullout is an important and unique part of every breaststroke race. We will work with participants on minimizing resistance in their pull-outs and establishing maximum speed. The pullout can be used strategically, depending on the distance of the race, to cover more ground before breaking out.
• BREASTSTROKE BREAKOUTS: Breaststroke breakouts are also a unique and important skill. After the pullout, swimmers need to keep their momentum going, time their rise to the surface just right, and keep their head moving forward—not up—to help bring their hips to the surface and stay in a good line.
• BUTTERFLY & BREASTSTROKE FINISHES: Setting up for a fast finish is a lot like preparing for a strong turn—it all comes down to timing and positioning. In butterfly and breaststroke, where both arms move forward simultaneously, that timing can be especially challenging. At this camp, your swimmer will learn specific techniques to make adjustments and consistently set up for a well-timed, confident finish.