All Strokes - Steve Haufler Mirrors, Tools, and Toys

Important Note to the Viewer

LESSONS: 44 VIDEOS

Mirrors for Freestyle

How do we use mirrors for freestyle? Simple. Start with body position first, and teach “Position Eleven.” The key words and phrases are... “Look straight down at the mirror so you can see directly into your goggles.” “Turn your arms into “railroad tracks.” They should be straight and parallel.” “Get your palms flat, and point your fingers directly forward.” “Be as straight and tall as you can be, with long legs and toes pointed.” Once they get the basic freestyle body position, they add the kick, moving from the hips. From there, we teach a big rainbow-type stroke with a straight-arm recovery that comes back like this to a full Position Eleven. When you teach the pull, have them look for the forearm to go vertical as the elbow pops up... ...or for the hand to press water back toward the edge of the same leg. In the mirror, swimmers can see the hip roll out as the hand approaches it. And they can see their arm as it recovers big and straight over the water.” To keep their stroke nice and extended, tell them to keep an eye on the lead arm and make sure it continues to glide right near the surface...until the pulling arm gets back to Position Eleven.” When it comes to teaching freestyle breathing, mirrors are totally fun and very effective. Tell them to look straight at the mirror and watch for bubbles coming out of their nose. Make the bubbles come out in a long steady stream. When they add the arms, the visual cue is... “See your arm come past mid-way before turning your body and head to breathe.” “See your face back in the mirror before you see the pulling arm enter the water.”

The Hand

This item – the hand – can get you in a lot of trouble at the airport security line, but it's a great tool for coaching. Kids are fascinated by the hand, and will really pay attention to it when you demonstrate technique. Remember, kids really don’t want to look at you when you critique them or tell them what to do. They’d much rather look at the hand – anything but you. But if they are staring at the hand, which they will do because it’s just an interesting thing, you know they are listening.

The Head

The head, which is made of Styrofoam and costs about $10, is a visual aid that makes your demonstrations more effective. It takes the pressure off of you as the teacher and...surprisingly...takes the pressure off the kids. This is because kids would rather not look at you. It has nothing to do with how you look...it’s just that they can listen better when they don’t look directly at you. If you take The Head in the water...first of all...it’s kind of funny, and it will definitely get their attention. You can use it to talk about neutral head position on freestyle...and where you want the swimmer’s eyes to be looking. You can do the same for butterfly and can say something like, “Chris, I notice every time you do butterfly you go way down like this and way up like this and way down like this. And I move The Head around and they start cracking up and it keeps them relaxed and they pay attention. So on butterfly, you can show them and say, “I want you to feel like your face is on a skateboard, and as you pull you are moving forward like this... ...and when you breathe on butterfly, let’s try to move forward so you are angled like this and looking at the water. For backstroke, The Head can show the swimmer exactly what they’re doing wrong and exactly what you’d like them to do. You can say, “Sandy, every time you swim backstroke and your left hand goes in the water, you are doing this. Why is that? And then when you go into the wall…what is all this business?” You can say all these things because you are talking about The Head, and the kid doesn’t take it so personally, but they get the message and they get a powerful visual cue. You can use The Head to teach side breathing for freestyle. Let’s say you’re working side breathing with a young swimmer and they keep lifting their head to breathe. You can position The Head so that the swimmer is looking directly at The Head when they turn to breathe. If they do it right they will start cracking up because they are staring at this guy. And then when their face goes back in the water they’ll be blowing bubbles automatically because they’re laughing. You can show them exactly the position you’re looking for. You can even give The Head to the swimmer and let them show you the correct breathing positions. It’s just one more way to reinforce the message of correct technique. One idea that I got from a coach named Steve Marcelli is to put a pencil in the top of The Head. There is a feeling about this pencil – this extension – that helps people. For example, you can tell them to keep the pencil in the water when they breathe. They immediately get the visual. They see it. How about on butterfly? You could tell the swimmer, “When you pull, keep your pencil in the water. Don’t let it tilt UP. When you pull, the pencil should go straight forward.” No matter what stroke problem you’re trying to correct, if the swimmer can see the problem, and see what the goal is, they are one step closer to doing it correctly. The uses are endless, and you will come up with new ones without too much trouble. Teaching is all about making an impression, and The Head – believe me – makes a very big impression.

Mirrors for Backstroke

Mirrors are great for fixing one of the most common stroke problems in backstroke: over-reaching. To fix this, stand at the end of the lane and hold a mirror so the swimmer can see into it as they swim. They may need to tilt their head forward a bit to see the mirror, but what they see will usually amaze them. Most swimmers don’t believe they are over-reaching, but when you can prove it to them with a mirror, it makes a big impression. If you have a smaller mirror, you can hold it over the top of the swimmer as they swim along the edge of the pool. Just be careful about falling in. Every coach and swim instructor needs at least one mirror. They may seem a bit odd at first, but I guarantee that once you start using them, you’ll wish you could cover your entire pool with them. Mirrors are the most effective tool you can use in teaching kids and adults...and getting them to learn things fast. We store our mirrors in a sheetrock rack that was donated to us by a construction worker. He painted it and put some padding on it, and we stack them up. You can also lean the mirrors against a wall, but mainly you will want them in the pool as part of every lesson or practice.

How to Get the Most from this Video

This video features Steve Haufler -- and the tools and toys he uses as a swim coach and learn-to-swim instructor. By watching Steve teach real lessons with real swimmers, you’ll see how he uses each tool to teach the basics... ...and how he uses tools to correct the stroke flaws that coaches see every day in their more advanced swimmers. Steve’s creative use of things such as mirrors, noodles, and Styrofoam heads, has earned him a reputation as one of the best stroke teachers in the world. Steve’s methods, based on more than 30 years of experience as a coach and learn-to-swim instructor, have proven effective for thousands of swimmers -- from beginner to advanced, age-group to Masters. They really work... and in this video he makes them accessible for every coach and every swim instructor. The best way to learn how to teach and coach is to observe another teacher actually working with an athlete... ...so let’s watch how legendary swim instructor Steve Haufler works his magic with mirrors, tools, and toys.

How to Use Your Tool Kit

Hello. My name is Steve Haufler and for as long as I can remember, I’ve had a passion for the water... and for teaching people how to swim. In this video I want to share with you my bag of tricks -- the tools and toys that have worked for me and that have proven themselves in thousands of lessons, with swimmers of all ages and abilities. My goal is to give you new ideas that will help you become a better teacher. Because if you’re a better teacher, your swimmers will be better swimmers, and that’s ultimately what our profession is all about. To be a truly great teacher, you must do seven things. First and foremost, you must know where you’re headed in terms of stroke technique. You must know the end result you want to achieve, and have a basic path or teaching progression that will take you there. Two. You must teach every day. Three. You must keep an open mind, be ready to experiment with new ideas, and dare to add some unconventional items to your tool box. Four. You must use what’s in your tool box. Five. You must get their attention and keep their attention. Six. You must make your lessons fun and memorable. You need to make your swimmers laugh. And seven. You must teach them before you train them. As a swim instructor, you know that every swimmer is different... and presents you with a different set of challenges. So the bigger your bag of tricks, the more effective you will be at getting through to each and every swimmer. Many of the tools you see on this video are already on your pool deck or can be found at most discount stores. A few, like mirrors and Styrofoam heads, are readily available online, and you’ll find a list of suppliers in the resource section at the end of the video. So let’s get started, and thanks for joining me in the quest to become a more effective teacher and coach...and in the ultimate quest to help your students learn better and faster.

Mirrors for Streamline

Mirrors are essential for teaching streamline. Place your mirror on the bottom of the pool, several yards from the wall where the swimmer will push off. Explain the streamline position that you want to see, and get the swimmer to demonstrate this position while standing near the wall. Now describe what the swimmer will see when he pushes off and glides across the mirror. Don’t overload them. Pick just one or two things at a time. You might say, “I want you to see your eyes and your entire face as you glide over the mirror.” Or...”Watch for one hand flat on the water, because the other hand should be on top of the other hand.” Or... “See your arms squeezing tight against the side of your head.” Or... See your legs long and extended, with feet together and toes pointed.” Whatever your definition is for a perfect streamline, tell them what they will see, and phrase it in positive terms, rather than saying “Don’t do this...or don’t do that.” Remember: Mirrors reinforce visual learning, so give instructions that tell your swimmers what to see and what to watch for.

Mirrors for Butterfly

For teaching butterfly, we start over the mirror and we start with the butterfly float. Mirrors will help your swimmers achieve this position in record time. Some key phrases are... “Look straight down and see your eyes.” “Adjust your arms till they’re straight and extended forward just outside your shoulders.” “Get your arms higher than your ears. You want to SEE your ears.” “Hold your legs together and keep them LONG.” When you teach the pull, get them to look for the diamond... ... the “angel”... ...and for nice straight arms as they swing around just above the water. And, yes, they can see them over the water. When you start to teach body dolphin, start with hands at the sides. Keep the swimmer looking into the mirror so they can see their face at all times as they press and release. Tell them to watch for their legs to stay together, and for their feet to stay under the water with toenails pressing down. When they progress to arms in front, they look for the same things -- face always visible, legs together, feet in the water. The mirror keeps them engaged through the whole process and, if you are precise with your instructions and can tell them exactly what to look for, you’ll get very fast results.

Mirrors

If I had to choose just one teaching tool, it would be mirrors. They are the best thing ever -- better than any amount of underwater video analysis -- because they give instant visual feedback. With a mirror, swimmers see what you see, and can correct their mistakes instantly. Besides that, mirrors are fun, and they work for every level of swimmer... from six-and-under kids... ...to accomplished age-group swimmers... ...to Masters swimmers. Swim mirrors are very safe because they’re not made from glass. They’re made from aluminum or acrylic plastic, and they go on the bottom of the pool and are very durable. The mirrors that I use are eight feet long and four feet wide, and weigh about 25 pounds. You can position them anywhere on the bottom of the pool, and their weight keeps them in place. At our pool we have 9 mirrors. On some days, we put a mirror in each lane. On other days, we put six, seven, or eight mirrors in one lane and we go down and back looking at our strokes right over the mirror. The swimmers see their exact stroke and can make corrections as they swim. The cost of a mirror is just over 100 dollars, but its value as a teaching tool is priceless. A single mirror will transform your ability to teach, especially at the developmental level. We have them in place during all of our lessons. The kids get used to them really fast and love them. And the teachers love them because they get results. When teaching with mirrors, the most important thing to remember is that this is a tool for visual learning. As a teacher or coach, your job is to tell the swimmer what they should see as they pass over the mirror rather than what they should do or feel. Let’s see how this works for teaching streamline, and for teaching the four strokes. RESOURCES Swim Mirrors Check your local Yellow Pages for plastic stores and ask for clear acrylic mirrors. Or contact: Multi-Craft Plastics, Inc. 7298 SW Tech Center Drive Tigard, OR 97223-8046 USA Tel 503-352-0970 Toll Free: 800-488-9030 Contact: Jennifer Fogarty Ask for clear acrylic mirrors. www.multicraftplastics.com Finis 4647-B Las Positas Road Livermore, CA 94551 USA Tel: 925-454-0111 Toll Free: 925-454-0066 www.finisinc.com Clear acrylic mirrors are usually 8 feet X 4 feet and 1/8 inch thick (2440mm X 1220mm X 3mm). Don’t buy the thicker mirrors (1/4 inch or 6 mm). These are too heavy and too expensive. The plastic shop should be able to cut the mirrors to any size. The average price is about $150 US for the standard size (8 feet X 4 feet X 1/8 inch). For safety and to prolong the life of your clear acrylic mirror: 1. Apply 2 coats of Kilz2 water-base latex sealer/primer/stain blocker to the back side of the mirror. Wait a day, then... 2. Apply 1 coat of exterior-grade 100% acrylic semi-gloss house & trim paint. Wait a few days, then... Cover the corners of the mirror with duct tape. Your mirrors are ready to go into the pool. Painting the back of the mirror is not necessary if the bottom of your pool is smooth, but it will keep the coating on the back from getting scratched. Duct tape at the corners is always recommended. Heads, Hands, and Feet Store Supply Warehouse Toll Free: 800-823-8887 www.storesupply.com Does not ship outside USA/Canada. Ask for: Display Head 70121 Style: male suntan Approx. price: $8.95 Women’s Sandal Foot Form 72202 Approx. $5.19 Men’s Hand Form 70203 (left hand) or 70204 (right hand) Approx. $16.95 Swim Doll Check local art-supply stores or search online for artist manikins made from wood. Another option is a plastic doll called LIV Making Waves Jake, available online for about $13.

Mirrors for Breaststroke

When I teach breaststroke, I always start with body position, and mirrors are a super tool for getting fast results. We start in the breaststroke float position, and we call it the missile position, which is different from streamline. Your key phrases for teaching this are... “See your palms flat, with index fingers and/or thumbs touching, and fingers pointed straight ahead.” “See your arms squeezing the side of your head...eliminate any water space between your arms and head.” “See all of your face in the mirror.” “See your legs long and extended, with feet together and toes pointed.” When you teach breaststroke kick, get them to look for the feet to do the same thing on both sides... ....or for the knees to stay in the same place as the feet circle and squeeze.... As you progress to the pull, then breathing and timing, your cues and instructions should always be visual. For example: “Turn your whole body into a “Y” by pressing out with your arms.” “Scoop in with your arms and watch the thumbs attack your face.” “Watch for your arms to be back in the missile position, before you finish your kick.

Tape Measure

Another way to make an impression is with a simple tape measure. This can be your secret weapon in teaching streamline. Have your swimmer lie down on their back and then ask, “How tall are you, anyway?” And they’ll give you a number, and you’ll say, “How tall is your mom or your dad?” So then you say, “Do you know that, in the water, you are actually taller than your dad?” So you ask them to make a streamline, with one hand locked over the other hand and their back nice and flat. And you measure them again and they’re 18 inches taller. So you can say, “You are 5 feet 4 inches when you stand up, but in the water you are 7 feet tall. Wow! Now that is what I want to see when you push off the wall every time.” The tape measure lets you give your kids their “water height” and it makes a big impression on them. If you record everyone’s water height on a chart by the side of the pool, you have another visual to point to when they are not streamlining correctly.

Strapless Paddles - Haufler

When you take the straps off your paddles, they become an exceptional tool for teaching swimmers how to hold on to the water. Have your swimmer stand on the bottom and practice sculling with the paddles. Have them press out and in with an even, continuous motion. Magically, the paddles stay ON the hand… …but only if the swimmer has a good feel for how to maintain pressure on the hands. Swimmers of all ages and abilities become fascinated with how this works, and will start experimenting. And they don’t even realize they are building valuable muscle memory for how to catch and pull. Strapless paddles are a key tool for backstroke. Have the swimmer do one-arm backstroke. As the hand comes out of the water they hold onto the edges of the paddle so it doesn’t fall off. But when the hand enters the water and goes down, they let go of the edges and keep pressure on the paddle all the way through the pull and then they hold the edges again on the recovery. What strapless paddles teach is something that many good backstrokers do instinctively, which is keep the thumb high all the way through the stroke. One of the best uses for strapless paddles is teaching the breaststroke pull. As they press out, they have to keep the paddle on the hand, and this isn’t too difficult. It’s when they turn the corner that the paddle often falls off, and this teaches them how to connect with the water a little better. Strapless paddles can be used for single-arm freestyle and butterfly as well, with the swimmer holding the edges during the recovery. We find that smaller paddles are better than larger paddles when you go strapless. They are a great tool, and we use them in lessons for kids as young as six.