Grade 3 Movement Swimming – Arm Action In Water- Front Crawl Notes
Movement — Swimming
Subtopic: Arm Action in Water — Front Crawl (for 8 year olds)
Front crawl is the fast swim where you kick and move your arms one after the other. Your arms do most of the pushing in the water. Here are easy steps and fun pictures to help you learn.
Main idea:
- Put your hand into the water fingers first.
- Bend your elbow underwater (this is the catch).
- Pull your hand back to push water past your body — this moves you forward.
- Bring the arm out, relax, and swing it forward again (recovery).
Picture: entry → catch → pull → recovery. Practice slowly to feel each step.
Short step-by-step (easy)
- Stretch your arm forward. Fingers first like a pencil.
- Bend your elbow a little underwater — this is the catch. Keep elbow high.
- Pull your hand and forearm back, push the water behind you.
- Finish the pull near your hip, then lift the hand out of the water.
- Bring the arm forward over the water (relaxed), then enter again.
- Keep breathing to the side and kick steady with legs.
Fun drills to try (with an adult)
- Single-arm — swim with one arm while the other stays at your side. Switch arms.
- Catch-up — one hand waits at front until the other catches up. This helps timing.
- Finger-drag — drag fingers along water during recovery to keep elbow high.
- Sculling — small hand movements in front of your body to feel the water.
Safety & tips
- Always swim with a grown-up or a lifeguard. In Kenya, swim in safe pools or supervised beaches like Mombasa with help.
- Keep hands together (no wide fingers) — less splash, faster swim.
- Relax your shoulders. Tension makes you tired.
- Practice slowly first — good technique is more important than speed.
Try these steps each time you practice. Ask your coach or parent to watch your arm catch and make sure your elbow stays a bit high under the water. Have fun and keep safe!