How To Do The Side Stroke Video

The sidestroke may be used recreationally and in rescue situations. Therefore, proper sidestroke form is especially important. Get expert tips and advice in this swimming video.

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Often used in rescue
Use scissor kick to propel
Top hand pulls down as back hand comes up

About this Author

Phillip Toriello has 16 years of competitive swimming experience. 12 of those years he has been teaching and organizing swim events for swimmers of all levels and ages. He is has competed in all four strokes, and their corresponding events. Though his favorite race, is the individual medley. Phillip is the Aquatic Director at the high end Avila Bay Athletic Club.

PHILLIP TORIELLO: My name is Phillip Toriello and this is how to do the sidestroke. The sidestroke is often used in rescue type environments where lifeguards are holding on to a victim, they have one arm up in front and they are using a scissor kick with the victim resting on their hip. Now to break this down simply, we are going to start of with the arm stroke. Generally you will start of with your hands like this; your hands will be far apart. What is going to happen is your top hand will pull down as your backhand comes up, it is almost like pulling an apple off a tree with your hand that is in front, bringing it down, handing it to the other hand and then jutting forward with your front hand, and putting the other one on to your hip which will cause a pushing motion. Basically you are picking an apple off the tree, handing it to your backhand which is then going to push back and put it into a little pocket on your hip. The next portion of this stroke is the scissor kick which is where a lot of the power comes from. Basically it is just going to be--you will be on your side and you will be opening your legs one going out in front of you, the other one going back and then you will just snap them together precisely like a scissor. So the best way to think about this is your legs will go like this and then they will snap together, open, snap. Once you have kind of gotten used to the arm motion of it, picking the apple off the tree, brining it to your backhand and then pushing back, and then you have become more comfortable with the scissor kick, you can put them both together and there you have the sidestroke.

How to Do the Side Stroke Video

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