SwimFin is multi-stroke functional so it works on the 4 major strokes as well as being usable for syncro, water polo, games, etc. Teachers can turn a normal lesson into a whole lot of fun and actually get more from the class simply by using Swimfin.

For front crawl we can use it as a measuring tool to demonstrate excessive lateral roll.
Usually the kids will roll all over the place and you will see SwimFin go slap slap slap from side to side. I simply ask the kids to be a shark and to stabilise SwimFin, pointing out that you don’t see sharks swimming like that. Kids can visualise this in their minds eye. They now instantly use a better shoulder action and kick better from the hip to prevent body roll. This can be used as a powerful demonstration for the rest of the class. SwimFin can also be used to prevent the child rolling too far over when learning the breathing technique. How many times have you seen a child roll right over onto their back to get a breath? When SwimFin reaches a 45 degree angle (basically lying flat on the water) it kind of puts the brakes on and the kids feel the resistance. They can roll over onto their back if they want to but at this point we can tell them that the body is now in a good position, they just need to turn their head more to breathe in.

With back stroke, one of the biggest problems we face is actually getting kids onto their back. They usually panic and try to grab hold of you which then brings their arms over their head and causes them to go under, or they have to hold on to floats, noodles etc. Here we simply ask the kids to lean back on SwimFin, (at their own pace). I don't expect them to be totally flat straight away but if they can do that then it’s a bonus. I find this is one of the hardest thing for kids to learn. I ask them to sit back on it like a rocking chair until they feel and trust the support. Once they are confident, we progress to getting them into a star float position. This will prevent SwimFin from turning them over until they have learned to balance. (It’s a similar principle to having stabilisers on a bike). Once they’ve got the idea they can then bring the legs together and start to kick. Swimfin will then offer them additional balance control which then makes swimming backwards easier. So in effect it’s a self rewarding tool - the better they do it, the easier it gets.

SwimFin then works like a keel on a boat, the faster the boat goes through the water the more stable it becomes. We are soon able to get arms and legs working in minutes rather than months and again no clumsy armbands etc getting in the way. (It’s then up to the teacher to teach all the basics.) One BIG advantage now, if theres a problem, rather than panic, the kids simply roll a shoulder and SwimFin will instantly rotate them back on their front, or they can just put their chin on the chest and sit up. This way it’s like an invisible hand helping them but psychologically they're doing it by themselves; this is another huge confidence builder. Once the kids know they can stop and stand up “whenever they want to” and they don't have to rely on you, then they will stay on their back longer. This then gives you the time to actually teach them something from a very early stage.

This rolling effect actually works for us for totally different reasons.
If the kids are lazy then SwimFin will turn them over. It makes them use their inner core muscles to balance, this is visible immediately - you see them now actually working on their body position. (But it’s also very easy for some to simply stay on their back. Remember, how SwimFin works for one child can be totally different for another). We can use this principle to an advanced level. For example, we get the better swimmers to do an extended kick and glide. This will make them streamline better and work harder. Chances are some may complain because it actually stops them from being lazy. If they are, then they will turn over. You can also try different drills with back stroke, i.e., one arm extended with the other by the side. This method changes the centre of gravity so again they have to learn to stabilise and improve their actions. Be imaginative and see what you can do for different exercises.

With breast-stroke we have found that the biggest benefit SwimFin offers is thinking time.
Because you know as well as the kids that SwimFin will support them, they know they will not sink. We can actually teach them the breast-stroke arm action without armbands or noodles etc which restrict arm action. We have been teaching breaststroke inefficiently for a long time because other equipment prevented the elbows coming snugly to the ribs/body. Now kids can float happily and copy your demonstration perfectly. Once the arm action has reached a decent level then you can move on to the legs. Try putting the kids on their backs so they can actually watch what their legs are doing (or supposed to do). With breast-stroke kids always seem to push their hands hastily down into the water. The main reason for this is they seem desperate to keep their heads up, all this is usually done in panic. Its difficult to ask kids to move their arms in one motion in one direction, and their legs in a different motion at a different time. Its like learning to unicycle and juggle at the same time - it will take practice. So its no problem if kids don't pick it up instantly. They can stop, float and start again. Practice makes perfect - we can only learn something by repetition. SwimFin offers the opportunity to do breast-stroke slowly and understand what it is they have to do. Once they get a decent arm action, with elbows in, and stretch, then the body position will improve and SwimFin will raise out of the water giving less support. The minute they lose coordination it will instantly be there to hold them again.... allowing thinking time.