SOTW Butterfly with 2nd-Kick Focus

WARMUP:  400 (or 10 minutes) on your own

WARMUP SET:  2008 X 25 dolphin kick on your back with finsOdds:  Arms in “Position 11” — kick from sternum, not from kneesEvens:  Arms in tight streamline — kick from sternum!

MAIN SET:  1200-1800Before you swim or coach this set, it’s helpful to watch a GoSwim.tv drill called “Butterfly — 2nd Kick Focus.”

Three rounds of all the following:8 X 25 on generous sendoff to allow time for coach/swimmer feedback#1&2:

• Start by pushing off on top of the water — no kicking!
• When you start to slow down, initiate a butterfly pull by pressing in deeply at the chest, then take a powerful dolphin kick as the hands exit.  Kick from sternum, not from knees.
• As the hands land forward, try NOT to do a dolphin kick.  Simply let the body settle into a horizontal position and glide for a bit.  As you start to slow down, repeat the chest press and pull, with a powerful dolphin kick as the hands exit the water.
• Repeat until you finish the 25.  You might complete only 3 or 4 stroke cycles.

#3&4:

• Start as before but, this time, spend just a little bit less time in the horizontal glide phase.  You might add 1 or 2 stroke cycles per length.

#5&6:

• Start as before, but spend less time in the glide phase.  It’s OK if a second kick starts to appear — as the hands land forward.

#7&8:

• Regular butterfly (2 kicks per armstroke) — kick from the sternum.

4 X 50 or 4 X 75 or 4 X 100 (depending on age/ability)Each swim starts with 1 x 25 of butterfly, focusing on 2 kicks per armstroke and kicking from the sternum rather than from the knees.  Finish each swim with freestyle.

The fine points:Round 1:  Wear finsRound 2:  Try no fins (or repeat with fins)Round 3:  Try it with a pull buoy

WARMDOWN:  100-200Include some vertical butterfly, incorporating a single dolphin kick at the apex of the jump — to propel the arms and torso above the water.