Clark County Sanpipers

Our stroke school program is running at six different times for more flexibility in everyone's schedule. Our best swimmers and coaches teach new swimmers to the team 20 new skills to master. These skills include Biomechanical Progressions, Physiological Progressions, Character Development, Life Skills, Championship Behavior, Accountability, Work Ethic, Self-Discipline, Time Management, Commitment, Team Loyalty, and More. Once the swimmer has mastered all 20 skills they are ready to move onto the Sandpiper Novice/Beginner Swim Team.

All team tryouts are by appointment only please call (702) 810-3679. Location 8275 West Spring Mountain Road. Any Swimmer that can demonstrate freestyle or backstroke for at least 25 yards is qualified to join the team. The cost per session is $45 plus $10 pool fee payable to Clark County Sandpipers of Nevada. Please call for more information 702-737-7799 or email ronaitken1@cox.net.

Stroke School Skills

• Ready Position
  • - one hand on the wall, the other arm extended forward
  • - two feet on the wall with bent legs ready to push off
  • - body position open to the right side or the left side
• Streamline Push-Off
  • - streamline with 3 underwater kicks (fly or flutter)
• Freestyle
  • - Vocabulary: head position, body position, recovery (high elbows), pull, kick, and breathing to the side
  • - Skill Set:
    1. Take six strokes in a row with little to no head movement
    2. Hips must be at or just below the water level
    3. Arms must get around completely out of the water
    4. Must be able to complete four laps of continuous freestyle
    5. Must be able to kick flutter with no bicycle or breaststroke movements
       • - 25 yards with a board
       • - 25 yards with no board
    6. Must breathe to the side during stroke w/out stopping the stroke
  • - Drills to Master
    1. Six-kick roll alternating arms extended in front of the stroke
    2. Zipper drill: hand on body from hip to armpit
    3. Catch-Up freestyle: hands touch in the front of the stroke
    4. 25 yard kickboard races daily
• Dives
  • - Find a comfortable position and streamline entry; hands first followed by arms and head then torso, legs and feet
    1. Knee dive from the side with a streamline
    2. Knee dive from the blocks with a streamline
    3. Standing streamlined dive from the blocks
    4. Racing start
• Backstroke
  • - Vocabulary: head position, body position, recovery (straight arms), pull, and kick
  • - Skill Set:
    1. Alternate right and left arm cycles
    2. Take six strokes in a row with little to no head movement
    3. Hips must be at or just below the surface
    4. Arms must be straight on recovery (thumbs up and pinkies in)
    5. Must be able to complete 4 laps of continuous backstroke
    6. Must be able to kick on their back with no scissor, bicycle, or breaststroke kicks
       • - Kick 25 yards on their back with streamlined arms
       • - Kick 25 yards on their back with hands at their sides
  • - Drills to Master
    1. Six kick roll alternating arms extended above the head
    2. Three stroke right arm; three stroke left arm
    3. Double arm backstroke with fins
• Breaststroke Kick
  • - Heels up, turn feet towards the sides of the pool, and press the feet back together
    1. Kick breaststroke for 25 yards with a board
    2. Kick breaststroke for 1:00 holding onto the wall
    3. Kick breaststroke on your back for 25 yards w/ hands at your hips
• Fly Kick
  • - Feet and legs together with a snapping motion from the hips to the toes
    1. Kick dolphin 25 yards with a board
    2. Kick dolphin 25 yards on their back (no board)
    3. Practice dolphin kick underwater
• Somersault
  • - Roll one complete revolution hips over head
    1. Beginning from a standing position in shallow water
    2. Beginning from a gliding (front float) position
    3. Beginning from a swimming position