The Stroke Hierarchy - What Is It and How Is It Used?
In teaching and evaluating strokes, our instructors and deck leaders follow a technique hierarchy of emphasis.
Our main focus for every skill is head/body position. This creates efficient movement through the water.
Our next focus is on an efficient kick. An efficient kick is the foundation to propulsion.
The third emphasis is on arm action. Once a great foundation is developed, the arms are used to lengthen a stroke.
Lastly, we look at breathing. As a student progresses, the emphasis of the instructor and deck leader in teaching and evaluation will shift based upon their development.
All students will go through plateaus at certain levels in the program, where it will appear they are not making much progress. The level where that occurs is different for each child.
Through repetition, the student does continue to make progress, although not always outwardly visible. This internal progress comes by
further developing brain/muscle connections. Once these connections are made, parents will begin to see the outward progress of what has been going on internally.
Although this can be a frustrating time for parents, students then typically make rather fast progress after these connections occur.
If at any time there is concern with your student's progress, we invite you to speak with a deck leader and the instructor.
Our goal is continued progression with each student and are aware that a child's own development may slow that progress. This stroke hierarchy system used by our instructors and deck leaders, is designed to look at specific areas to minimize progression plateau time.
