How to Swim the Back Crawl

The back crawl is the fastest of the backward-moving strokes because the swimmer is in a position to move his arms and legs freely. The stroke is broken down into separate elements when a swimmer is learning it for the first time.

Instructions

    • 1

      Familiarize yourself with the back float. Keep your chest high but relax the rest of your body, allowing yourself to float while keeping your head back. The water level should reach the outer corners of your eyes.

    • 2

      Grab the side of the pool with both hands, and bring your knees up in a tuck position with your feet on the wall. With a smooth, but forceful motion, push off the wall backwards, bringing your arms above your head and glide as far as you can. Concentrate on keeping your body sleek and firm so it glides like an arrow through the water.

    • 3

      Glide farther with a flutter kick by bringing your feet up and down quickly, your legs bending only slightly at the knee with most of the movement coming from your hips and ankles. Kick smoothly in a rhythmic motion. Try counting a four-beat to keep your flutter consistent.

    • 4

      Add the back crawl stroke arm movements when you can comfortably glide and flutter. Start with both arms by your sides and bring one straight up by your head, continuing backwards until it reaches water level. At that point, rotate your arm and shoulder outwards and pull the water forcefully as your arm returns to the starting position.

    • 5

      Repeat the motion with your other arm and continue each stroke in a windmill fashion, stroking and pulling as you use the flutter kick for more power. As soon as one arm begins the water pull, the other is lifting from your side.

    • 6

      Keep your head facing forward, your chin slightly tucked. Although you can't see where you're going with this method, you will achieve the most speed. When preparing to compete in the back crawl stroke, count the number of strokes from wall to wall, and use that as a guide. Looking backwards breaks the entire motion and slows you down.