How to Teach the Sidestroke Step-by-Step

The sidestroke is more than just a classic swimming technique—it is a genuine lifesaver and an essential skill for water lovers of all ages. Lifeguards rely heavily on its trademark scissor kick during water rescues, and endurance swimmers appreciate how gentle it is on the body.

When performed with the right rhythm and technique, the sidestroke allows you to glide through the water for long stretches without exhausting your muscles. That is why swimming instructors often call it the ultimate resting and recovery stroke. Done poorly, however, it can feel clunky, frustrating, and tiring.

Here is a simple, proven progression to teach your students how to swim the sidestroke with confidence and ease.

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Step 1: Master the Scissor Kick First

Before throwing students into deep water, build muscle memory on solid ground. The scissor kick is the engine of the sidestroke, and mastering it early makes everything else fall into place.

• Start dry on the deck: Have students lie on their sides on the pool deck or lean against the pool wall. This takes the fear of sinking out of the equation.
• Use clear vocal cues: Teach them the core rhythm: heels up, scissor apart, squeeze together, and glide.
• Encourage call-and-response: Demonstrate the kick several times while saying the cues aloud, and ask your students to chant the cues with you as they move their legs.
• Transition into the water: Once their body mechanics look clean on land, move them to the shallow end. Have them hold the pool gutter, a kickboard, or an aquatic dumbbell to support their upper body while practicing their kick in the water.
• Watch their alignment: Ensure the top leg steps forward while the bottom leg steps backward before snapping together in a strong, clean squeeze.

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Step 2: Break Down the Arm Action with the Apple Tree Drill

Once the leg work is second nature, shift your focus to the upper body. The arm motion in sidestroke has a very distinct, alternating pattern that can confuse beginners if introduced without imagery.

• Use the classic apple tree analogy: Tell students to imagine reaching up with their leading hand to pluck an apple from a tree branch, passing that apple to their trailing hand at chest level, and then dropping the apple into a basket behind them.
• Teach the movement cues: Keep instructions crisp and memorable: pull, push, glide.
• Focus on relaxation: Remind swimmers that the recovery phase should feel smooth and calm. The arms return to position under the water without splashing or straining the shoulders.

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Step 3: Coordinate Arms and Legs with Rhythm

The true magic of the sidestroke happens when the arms and legs move in seamless harmony. If the timing is off, students will fight the water instead of gliding through it.

• Bring both halves together on the deck: Have your students stand or lie on their side to practice the full sequence while vocalizing the rhythm.
• Anchor the timing cues: Use simple contrasting pairs: everything bends together, everything straightens together.
• Emphasize the glide: Remind swimmers that the glide is where rest happens. After the kick snaps shut and the trailing arm pushes water back, the body should streamline in a straight line for a full two to three seconds.

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Final Tips for Water Practice

Once your students understand the dry mechanics and timing cues, get them into the pool for short, controlled laps:

• Have them practice breathing naturally, keeping one ear resting quietly in the water like a pillow.
• Keep reps short so fatigue does not compromise their form.
• Encourage them to count how few strokes they need to cross the pool—fewer strokes mean a longer, more efficient glide.

With patience, positive reinforcement, and consistent cueing, your swimmers will master this relaxing, lifesaving stroke in no time.