This is another drill I picked up from the ASCA Level 2 class. Sit on a kickboard and scull. Here is a decent quick video.

A few rules:
– Arms must remain in front of your body. No pulling.
– Press with your palms and move in circular motions.

For most beginners they’ll have a hard time sitting on the board, and then balancing once they’re moving. Many swimmers will want to “PULL” the water because it is faster and easier to move forward.

I suggest you impose strict “fail” conditions like if the elbows go past the body, or if the hands move in line with the stomach.

Swimmers should move slowly.

What are they working on with this?

Balance and sculling; moving your hands against the water with pressure to create forward propulsion.

Sculling is one of those skills and feelings that are really difficult to describe or teach. It is moving your hands in small, quick motions to pull yourself forward without actually pulling on the water in the traditional anchor, push fashion.

Instead, we’re using sweeps and quick circles to pull us forward.

Sculling is essential for an effective breaststroke, and a better fly, back and free.