Vertical sculling is an extension of other sculling drills we've done.
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Why Do It:
Vertical sculling can be as easy, or as difficult as you'd like to make it. It can be done in pools of various depth, and is a safe way for newer swimmers to learn this essential skill.
How to Do It:
1. In a shallow pool, move to a section where you can get your head above the water while you're kneeling on the bottom.
2. Kneel on the bottom, and begin a simple in-and-out sculling action with your hands, enough to raise your knees off the bottom.
3. After a few sculls, rotate your body 90° and continue to scull.
4. Repeat this rotation until you either feel tired, or get dizzy.
How to Do It Really Well (the Fine Points):
Get yourself to some deeper water, and hang your feet directly under you. Point your toes, and go through the same routine as in the shallow pool. While staying vertical, vary the width of your scull, going wide on some, but also bringing your hands almost all the way together.
In both versions of Vertical Scull, legs bent in shallow water, or legs straight in deeper water, keep your back straight. Stay vertical, and don't lean forward or backward, and eventually morph the vertical sculling into front sculling.
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