Tips for coaching 10 &unders by Coach Tom

Tips for coaching 10 & under swimmers

Drink your coffee or have a 5 hour energy shot because you are going to need your energy to coach 10 & unders.   

I believe every team has 3 levels or groups.  Teaching,  transition and training groups.  We are going to focus on teaching groups.  Teaching groups are mostly 10 & under swimmers with some new older swimmers sprinkled in.   Most teaching group should be 25s ,50s and some 100s.   ⅓ of practice is kick ⅓ drill and ⅓ of practice is swim.  

Here are 2 great tips to help your swimmers improve.  1. Work on body position 2  work on kicking.  Remind swimmers to stand tall and be long when they are swimming.  Swimmers should focus on looking down at the bottom and to using their legs.  

Here is a good progression to work on body position and kick in Freestyle and backstroke.  Backstroke you would of course be on your back. 

4 x 25 kick heads up holding top of the board.  Back kick on back with board covering their knees.  Don’t let your knee hit the board.  

4 x 25 kick arms extended face in the water or in your back. Swimmer should take 20 kicks between breaths.   Take a free stroke to breath.  

4 x 25 kick pretend you are still holding the board. Still follow 20 kick between breaths.  

4 x 25 kick on side alternating 25 left 25 right.  Face still down 20 kicks then quick breath  face up in backstroke. 

8 x 25 rolling  kick.  5 or 6 kicks per side.  Breath every 3 rolls. Free face down back face up.  In back keep your face dry.  

This is all to prepare swimmers to work on their free or back progression.  Until swimmers are in the correct body position and can kick efficiently stroke development will be difficult.  Keep doing a great job you are the future and foundation of the team.