Breaststroke is one of the most popular swimming strokes and in competitive swimming is the only stroke with an underwater arm recovery. For this reason, breaststroke is slower than the other three competitive strokes. Below you will find a variety of videos including a section on understanding breaststroke and many different drills you can use in your program.
Understanding Breaststroke
Having a strong understanding of the core aspects of breaststroke is important to teach and coach breaststroke well. By watching these videos you will develop a more comprehensive understanding of the stroke.
Breaststroke Stroke Model
Being able to model perfect technique is an important aspect of stroke development and correction.
Body Position & Kicking Drills
Establishing the correct body position in breaststroke will provide the base for a good breaststroke swimmer.
Breaststroke Drill 1 - Base Position: Push and Glide
Breaststroke Drill 2 - Base Position: Kick and Glide with a Board
Breaststroke Drill 3 - Kick and Glide with a Board and Breathing
Breaststroke Drill 4 - Kick and Glide with Correct Timing for Breathing
Breaststroke Drill 5 - Kick and Glide with Arms by Side and Breathing
Breaststroke Drill 6 - Kick and Glide with Arms by Side on Back
Breaststroke Drill 7 - Kick and Glide with Arms over Board
Breaststroke Drill 8 - Streamline kick underwater
Breaststroke Drill 9 - Single Leg Kick with Board
Breaststroke Drill 10 - Single Leg Kick: Alternating 2 right, 2 left
Breaststroke Drill 11 - Alternating Kick 3 left, 3 both, 3 right, 3 both
Breaststroke Drill 12 - Vertical Kick: Arms in Water
Breaststroke Drill 13 - Vertical Kick: Arms above Water in Streamline
Sculling and Pulling Drills
The following sculling and pulling drills will assist swimmers to develop the correct stroke pattern in breaststroke.
Breaststroke Drill 14 - Straight Arm Sculling Narrow, Legs Extended
Breaststroke Drill 15 - Straight Arm Sculling Narrow with Freestyle Kick
Breaststroke Drill 16 - Straight Arms Sculling Wide (45 degrees) with Freestyle Kick
Breaststroke Drill 17 - Straight Arm Outward Scull with Elbow Flexion, Inward Scull and Freestyle Kick
Breaststroke Drill 18 - Outward Scull, Pause, Inward Scull, Rise to Breathe and Freestyle Kick
Breaststroke Drill 19 - Breaststroke Pull with Breathing and Glide and Freestyle Kick
Combination Drills
Combination drills will develop the arm pull, leg kick, coordination and timing in breaststroke.
Breaststroke Drill 20 - Breathing Timing with Kick, Hands by Hips
Breaststroke Drill 21 - Two Kicks, One Pull
Breaststroke Drill 22 - 1 Kick, 2 Complete Strokes
Breaststroke Drill 23 - Two Pulls, One Kick
Breaststroke Drill 24 - One Pull, Two Complete Strokes
Breaststroke Drill 25 - Single Arm Breaststroke: Alternating 2 Right, 2 Left
Breaststroke Drill 26 - Breaststroke Arms: Alternating 2 Right, 2 Left, 2 Both
Breaststroke Drill 27 - Breaststroke Arms: Alternating 1 Right, 1 Both, 1 Left, 1 Both
Breaststroke Drill 28 - Breaststroke Arms: Alternating 1 Right, 2 Both, 1 Left, 2 Both
Breaststroke Drill 29 - Breaststroke with Single Fly Kick
Breaststroke Drill 30 - Swim Breaststroke as 2 Strokes with Butterfly kick, 2 Strokes with Breaststroke Kick
Breaststroke Drill 31 - Breaststroke alternating Butterfly Kick then Breaststroke Kick
Breaststroke Drill 32 - Breaststroke, 3 Surface Strokes, 1 Underwater Pull Out, Repeating
Breaststroke Drill 33 - Breaststroke, 2 Surface Strokes, 1 Underwater Pull Out, Repeating
Breaststroke Drill 34 - 2 Strokes Breaststroke Followed by 1 Butterfly Stroke
Breaststroke Drill 35 - 1 Stroke Breaststroke Followed by 1 Butterfly Stroke
Breaststroke Drill 36 - 1 Stroke Breaststroke Followed by 2 Butterfly Strokes
Breaststroke Drill 37 - Breaststroke with Freestyle Kick, Power Drill
Common Faults
Breaststroke Fault 1 - Lack of Alignment
Breaststroke Fault 2 - Dropped Knees
Breaststroke Fault 3 - Oversized Pull
Breaststroke Fault 4 - Lifting Head Too Early to Breathe
Breaststroke Fault 5 - Lifting Head Too Late to Breathe
Breaststroke Fault 6 - Lowering the Head Too Early After Taking a Breath
Breaststroke Fault 7 - Head Not Lowered to Position of Alignment, Early Enough
Breaststroke Fault 8 - Pressing Down with Hands on the Outsweep
Breaststroke Fault 9 - Pulling Too Far Back
Breaststroke Fault 10 - Non-Symmetrical Kick
Breaststroke Fault 11 - Flexing at the wrist
Breaststroke Fault 12 - Incorrect Timing - Recovering Legs too Early in Relation to Arms
Starts
Turns