How to Kick From Outside the Pool

Learning how to kick is a very important part of your freestyle swimming lessons. The best way to start is by learning how to kick from outside the pool. Learning outside the pool helps you get the rhythm of the kick, and helps you learn the kick until it becomes almost automatic. Here are some tips to help you learn how to kick from outside the pool.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Sit on the deck of the pool with your legs dangling into the water. Swish your legs back and forth in the water until you are comfortable with the temperature of the water and the feel of it on your legs. Swishing also helps you understand and feel water resistance.
2. Extend your legs into the water with the knees slightly bent. Do not bend your knees fully nor extend your legs until they are straight; it's important to bend your knees only slightly so you can learn to kick freestyle as you would while swimming.
3. Begin the kick with your knees slightly bent, taking care not to raise your knees too high. This is important because when freestyle swimming, your legs are extended with the knees slightly bent. If you raise your knees too high while learning to kick from outside the pool, it will feel "unnatural" when you do get into the pool and begin swimming freestyle.
4. Use your hips when learning to kick from outside the pool. When swimming freestyle, it's important to kick your legs by moving your hips. To practice this movement outside the pool, begin the kick at your hips. You will feel your hips moving as you kick. Continue to practice the freestyle kick until comfortable enough to do it in the pool.