How to Teach the Sidestroke

Co-authored by Alan Fang

Last Updated: June 29, 2021 References

The sidestroke is a great stroke to start with when teaching new swimmers. It’s best to begin by teaching the kick and arm movements separately on dry land. Once your students have the kick and the arm movements down, you can ask them to put it all together in the pool. Timing is everything in a race, so asking your students to practice in the pool to get the hang of it is important.

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Teaching the Scissor Kick on Land

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Each student will eventually develop a side that they prefer – usually their dominant side – but when you’re teaching them the basics, have them start on the left. That way everyone is on the same page.^{[1]
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They should rest their head on their upper arm. Their palm should be facing down on the floor, since it will skim along the top of the water once they get into the pool.^{[2]
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With their left arms extended above their heads, your students will need a way to maintain balance. Have them place their right hands on the floor in front of their bodies, between their waist and chest.^{[3]
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Once their arms are in position, ask your students to pull the knees toward their chest, using their right hand for balance. Their thighs and calves should make a 90-degree angle.^{[4]
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Their top leg should kick to the front as their bottom leg kicks to the back. Their legs should extend to about a 45-degree angle. After that, have them return their legs to the starting position.^{[5]
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Once they’ve performed the full kick 4 times on their left side, have them flip over so they’re lying on their right side. Each student's right arm should be extended upwards, with their head resting on their upper right arm. Their left hand should be used to maintain balance. Then, they should repeat the kick.^{[6]
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Part 2

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Teaching Sidestroke Arm Motions on Land

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Their arms should be hanging at their sides, with their palms facing their bodies. Their arms should be hanging loosely, not clasped to their bodies.^{[7]
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Their palm should be turned to the right. Ask them to rotate their heads slightly to the right as well. This will give them an idea of how their head should be positioned above the water.^{[8]
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Have your students bend their left arms at the elbow and bring their hands down to the chest, making a motion like they’re stroking the water. At the same time, ask them to bend their right arm at the elbow and bring their forearm up until both hands meet.^{[9]
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They should extend their left arms above their heads again, imagining that they’re gliding their hands forward in the water. At the same time, they should turn their right palm to face the floor, then straighten out their arm, imagining that they’re pushing water down.^{[10]
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Once they’ve performed the arm movements properly with their left arm up 4 times, ask them to switch sides. Their right arm should be above their head, with their palm and head turned to the left. Their right arm comes down to meet their left arm as it comes up.^{[11]
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Putting the Stroke Together in the Pool

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The sidestroke is a stroke that relies on gliding, so encourage your students to push off of the side of the pool with their left arm extended in front and their head resting on it. Their right arms should be at their sides, near the top of the water. Their legs should be extended behind them.^{[12]
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Have them kick their legs out as their hands meet. As their left hand comes down and their right hand comes up to meet it, their legs should be kicking out. Remind them that their top leg should kick out front, while their bottom leg bends back.^{[13]
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- Some students will naturally tend toward the inverted scissor kick, with their bottom leg kicking forward and their top leg kicking back. If that seems most comfortable for your student, that's fine!
As they push themselves through the water with their right arm, their left arm should be extending back outward. As they perform this motion, their legs should come back together so they’re parallel.^{[14]
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It will likely take your students a few tries in the pool to figure out the timing of the arms and legs together. Give them at least the length of the pool to practice on 1 side. Then have them push off from the other side of the pool with their right arm extended out.
If your students are having a hard time with the scissor kick, take out the arms for a while. Have them rest the forearm of their guiding arm on a noodle. Then have them practice just the scissor kick in the water.^{[15]
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Their bodies will drag in the water a little bit, but if your students are struggling with the arm movements, tell them not to worry about the kick. Instead, have them only work on the arm movements, emphasizing that their bottom arm should push water away as their lead arm glides through the water.^{[16]
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Breaststroke is also a gliding stroke, and it’s a good transition from 1 side to another when swimming sidestroke. Have your students swim a few sidestroke strokes on 1 side. Then they should swim 3 cycles of breaststroke before switching to the other side for a few more strokes of sidestroke. Have them repeat this for a few lengths of the pool.^{[17]
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How do I improve my sidestroke?

Alan Fang
Former Competitive Swimmer
Alan Fang swam competitively for over 7 years, through high school and into college. He specialized in breaststroke events, and participated in events such as the Speedo Championship Series, the IHSA (Illinois High School Association) state championships, and Illinois Senior and Age Group state championships.

Alan Fang

Former Competitive Swimmer

Expert Answer

Building up your physical strength through training and working out can be beneficial when learning new strokes. Weightlifting, for example, can be a great tool in making you a stronger and more competent swimmer.

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How do I do the scissor kick?

Stacey Hose

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Push your legs out and pull them together abruptly. Go from penguin to sumo, sumo to penguin.

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Most students will discover they have a side they prefer for sidestroke. It’s usually their dominant side – the same side as they hand they use to write. Once it becomes apparent they have a dominant side, they can do most of their practicing on that side.

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Be prepared to demonstrate the stroke for some students. It can sound like a confusing stroke when it’s explained without visual examples.

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