Sidestroke is used for towing casualties and is named so because the swimmer lies on one side. It is helpful as a lifesaving technique and is often used for long-distance swimming because it allows the swimmer great endurance.

Instead of working both arms and legs simultaneously in the same way, the sidestroke uses them simultaneously but differently. If you get tired of exercising one side you can just turn over and use the other to help the limbs to recover.

Skill Training - Sidestroke

Swim on the side that feels most natural, using a sidearm pull and scissor kick. After mastering the stroke on that side, learn to do it on the other side. The following directions are for the left side. Reverse the procedure for swimming on the right side.

Start/glide position. Lie on the left side with the left arm extended beyond the head in line with the body, with the palm down. Extend the right arm down the length of the body over the right thigh. Keep the legs straight and together. Push off the pool side.

Arm stroke. Pull the left arm downward until it is straight down from the shoulder. Flex the elbow and pull into the side. At the same time, turn the palm toward the face and thrust forward to the original extended position. Bend the right arm at the elbow.

Thrust the right hand upward in front of the chest: then push it forward and downward in front of the chin or face to catch the water. Push the right hand backward to its original position by the right thigh. The right hand starts forward to meet and pass the left hand at the neck or face.

Lifesavers don't use the right arm because they would pull a casualty. For practice, keep the right hand just abouve the water.

Scissor kick. Draw up the feet with the right foot slightly forward until the knees are bent at a right angle. Straighten the right knee and thrust the right foot forward, downward, and then backward in a semicircular sweeping motion. Keep the toes pointed during the backward sweep.

At the same time, straighten the left knee and thrust the left foot backward, downward, and then forward in a sweeping motion resembling a kick. Keep the left foot extended throughout the stroke. Bring the legs together at the end of the stroke, and keep them in a straight line with the toes pointed during the glide.

Coordination of arms and legs. From the start/glide position, begin the stroke with the downward pull of the left arm. At the same time, bring the right arm forward and draw up the knees to begin the kick. Let the thrust and pull of the right arm and the kick of the legs coincide with the completion of the pull of the left arm and its thrust forward to the gliding position.

Practice: One more time in other words

To begin, you may start on the left side, stretching the left arm out as far as possible away from the feet, keeping the fingers of the left hand quite straight and the hand itself held edgewise.

The legs make a scissor kick, in which the lower leg does the greater share of the work. Before its impetus is quite expended, the left arm comes round in a broad sweep, until the palm of the right hand almost touches the left thigh. This completes one cycle of the stroke, which is then repeated.

The hand acts directly upon the water like oars, and do not waste any power by oblique action. The right arm is dragged behind in the water, almost at rest, or held above the water. It will later be used to tow a casualty.

Then, after some time, you turn to the other side, and the left arm has its chance to work while the right arm idles. Develop your sidestroke on both right and left sides.