ASA Swim England Rainbow Stroke Award - Backstroke - 5m

Covering distances of between 5m and 1000m, the Rainbow Stroke Distance Awards complement Stages 1-7 of the Learn to Swim Framework. Covering front crawl, breaststroke, backstroke and butterfly at 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 50 and 100m, the Rainbow Stroke Awards offer swimmers a further challenge after they have attained the Rainbow Distance Awards. It is vital that swimmers develop good technique as early as possible and these awards can be used to reward and encourage the development of good stroke techniques. If after attaining all Rainbow awards your swimmers want to take stroke work further then you may want to consider the Swimming Stroke Awards.

Backstroke

Body Position: Horizontal, close to surface, in alignment, head steady.

Legs: Alternating kick, just breaking surface, holding alignment.

Arms: Shoulder line entry with straight arm, pill/push as close to body as possible.

Timing: Continuity of arm action, rhythmic.

Turns: Use of flags where possible. Confident, roll onto front, check orientation. Fast somersault, push into stroke..

Finish: Confident fast finish, at full stretch, one hard touch.