Swim faster, more efficient breaststroke!

Kelly Kremer details the techniques you need to to swim championship-caliber breaststroke. Demonstrating the stroke for Coach Kremer are two NCAA Champions: Jillian Tyler (NCAA Champion 100M Breaststroke) and Haley Spencer (NCAA Champion 200M Breaststroke). These two champions offer a fantastic contrast of styles that Kremer highlights throughout the presentation.

The initial part of the video focuses specifically on forward movement in breaststroke and how to improve that aspect of the stroke. Kremer shows a drill sequence that breaks down the components of forward movement in the stroke in a sequential order that builds the stroke segment by segment. Kremer presents five drills that focus on the breaststroke pull that progress from pull only through pulling with varying flutter, butterfly and breaststroke kicks that combine to teach effective stroke tempo.

In the second part of the video, Coach Kremer shows the vital parts of an effective kick using dry land and water based demonstrations and drills. He describes the components for a forward focused kick with an emphasis on how to effectively finish the kick. This segment features a 4-drill sequence that adds proper body positioning to the kick. This sequence helps train the breaststroker to maintain proper body line and head position with a flat and forward focus. Kremer ends this segment of the presentation with a timing drill that connects the pull and the kick.

Kremer includes the pullout, turns, starts and race specific elements for success. Once again the use of two different types of swimmers give coaches the tools to fine tune technique for a variety of swimmers who skills and talents are different. Kremer also provides a common errors segment, where he identifies seven common breaststroke errors. Each error is demonstrated and corrected with precise, corrective feedback.

This is one of the most complete breaststroke videos you can buy - great for swimmers and coaches alike. Swimmers will not only gain information by watching this video, they will hear about and see the "feel" that great breaststrokers need to be successful. This is a great resource for drills and it will serve as a great tool for recognizing and correcting stroke mechanics.

87 minutes. 2012.

Learn how to generate maximum speed and power by applying every possible force to the water!

ON DECK
Matt Kredich begins by discussing the physics of drag in the breastroke. Using a Vasa Trainer, he discusses the challenges of arm and leg movement in the stroke and the importance of connecting this movement with proper body positioning and timing.

Specifically, he discusses the importance of low drag in the glide phase of the stroke vs. achieving maximum drag forces in the propulsive phases of the stroke. Kredich makes the science simple with his easy to understand descriptions and on-deck demonstrations.

A unique Swiss ball exercise demonstrates the importance of engaging the core during the pull phase to help the swimmer hold a great body line in the water. Utilizing a boxing glove drill to train the "lunge" recovery phase, Kredich demonstrates how to move the arms forward in a straight line by engaging the hips and core to allow the swimmer to better explode forward with greater power.

In the Kick segment, Kredich again uses a Vasa Trainer demonstration to teach all aspects and nuances of a great breaststroke kick. Kredich moves into the weight room for a demonstration on body positioning and how to assist a swimmer to develop a tall straight line posture in the water. This includes an evaluation of hip flexor flexibility and how to stretch tight hip flexors to assist in attaining a much straighter body line in the water.

IN THE POOL
Kredich starts with three drills that he feels help develop a highly efficient kick. Connecting a vertical kick drill to the pulling movement, Kredich has his demonstrators perform vertical pulling with kicking, which forces explosiveness in the stroke and kick and quickness and efficiency in the arm recovery into streamline.

Kredich adds three drills that work to connect the kick to body position and work the timing of the kick. Kredich moves into the pull phase of the stroke with two pull-isolation drills that forces the swimmer to maximize forward momentum from every single pull. Kredich brings the recovery into focus with three specific drills to train a fast, efficient and forward focused recovery action. He follows with a pull efficiency drill that heighten the sensation of the pull with increased resistance on the arms.

In the Breaststroke pullout segment, Kredich discusses the strategies of where best to implement the dolphin kick that is allowed in the pullout. His teaching includes isolating the actual dolphin kick before connecting it to the entire pullout. Focus areas of the Kredich-taught pullout include a strong streamline, early dolphin kick, a pulldown that vaults the body forward and a tight recovery with a strong kick into the breakout stroke.

Kredich has his demonstrators perform full stroke swimming of the breaststroke that highlights all of the skill set areas covered in building the entire stroke. With demonstrations from a male and two female elite level breaststrokers, you will get a contrasting look at varying styles of the stroke that all incorporate the same technical aspects.

77 minutes. 2011.

World renowned swim coach Ian Pope presents the technique, drills and skills he uses to train world class swimmers. Pope acknowledges that this stroke is perhaps the most difficult to coach as the key to success hinges upon great timing and good technique.

Pope starts his breaststroke analysis by showing how to attain the proper body balance to produce a forward-focused stroke. From the streamlined body position, he details the arm action sequence that is necessary to anchor with the hands and arms that allows for the connection from the core through the body. Pope presents the concept of driving the core to the hands from the anchor position on the insweep before releasing the hands into the stroke recovery.

Pope next dissects the hand, head and body connection that allows the swimmer to drive forward on a straight line back into the base starting position of the stroke. This stroke analysis provides the base for the drills that train each aspect of the stroke.

Pope then takes you through a detailed seven-part demonstration of the breaststroke:

• Arm Action Drills: Get a 10-drill progression for the arm action of the breaststroke that will assist your swimmers in developing a better feel for the stroke.
• Kicking: Pope provides an on-deck demonstration of the key components of the breaststroke kick, showing how to maximize power in the movement. He demonstrates 13 drills to train and enhance the kick.
• Timing: Pope shares strategies to enhance flow and length of the stroke.
• Starts: Learn the mechanics of the block start along with the nuances for the breaststroke-specific start.
• Underwater Pullout: Maximize your power and distance of off of starts and turns.
• Turns: See a three-drill progression to teach the breaststroke turn. These drills reinforce a tight, tuck-fast spin incorporating quick hand action. All essential skills for a fast breaststroke turn.
• Finishes: Pope teaches the techniques for a favorable finish position.
• Speed Development: Pope shares techniques he uses to train breaststroke speed before reviewing all aspects of the full stroke.

Ian Pope has coached world class swimmers such as Marieke Guerher, Michael Klim, Matt Welsh, Grant Hackett, and Matt Targett. Now you can bring Pope's proven techniques to your pool!

53 minutes. 2011.

Teach your swimmers to slice through the water with a flat, forward-focused breaststroke.

In this breaststroke DVD, Sheri Stoddard presents step-by-step progressions for the stroke, start and turn.

What makes this DVD unique is that all of the technique work is done in both an individual setting and in a group setting. This gives you the chance to learn the technique, see how it's taught and pick up ideas on how train individual athletes in a team setting.

STROKE
Coach Stoddard presents a 15 drill progression to build a fast, efficient, and forward-focused flatter style of breaststroke. Beginning with kick basics on deck, Stoddard progresses through seven drills that isolate the technical aspects of the kick including proper body and head position, as well as breathing.

Using six drills, Stoddard builds the pull pattern from the outsweep progressing to the insweep and recovery. The uniqueness of Stoddard's progressions is that while she isolates specific aspects of the stroke, her drills include "whole stroke" accountability. Adding timing to the pull, breath and kick, Stoddard presents three additional drills designed to "jump the hips" into the stroke to maximize forward propulsion at the end of each stroke cycle.

STARTS
Get more from your starts with this four-step progression for the forward start which includes jump drills behind the blocks. On the block, Stoddard progresses to a full extension drill to train the swimmer to consistently "drive" off of the blocks with maximal leg power.

Stoddard breaks the pullout into segments that include the push off, the arm movement of the pullout, the timing and placement of the dolphin kick, arm recovery and kick into the breakout stroke.

TURNS
Stoddard details a five-segment progression that isolates, and then connects, the most critical steps of a fast and efficient turn and pullout. To assist the breaststroker that swims the IM events, Stoddard includes a breakdown of the individual medley turns through a "mini IM" drill that includes instruction for all of the IM turns and transitions.

Stoddard's breaststroke progressions are clear, concise and easy to understand. Her methods have successfully produced some of the fastest age group breaststrokers in the country and are sure to assist you and your swimmers as well.

103 minutes. 2010 .

For Coach Marsh, fast breaststroke swimming requires balance, timing, and developing a strong kick. Beginning on deck with Olympian Mark Gangloff, Marsh shares techniques and tips for developing and understanding the breaststroke kick. In the water, Marsh begins with setting the body position for the stroke with the kick and then moves into the pull instruction, sharing a series of sculling drills that will help you develop a feel for the simplicity and efficiency involved in the ideal pull pattern for the stroke. Marsh then adds breathing and timing to the stroke while sharing invaluable tips as to how to incorporate the proper breathing timing and technique into the stroke. Like the butterfly stroke, the most successful breaststroke swimmers have adopted a style of breaststroke that is a flatter and more forward focused stroke. In this DVD, Marsh will give you the tools necessary to implement the latest innovations for fast breaststroke swimming.

46 minutes. 2007.