Freestyle - Lane Line Catch

Sometimes, just saying "high elbow catch" isn't enough. Here's a quick drill with Elite Freestyler, Andi Murez that can give the swimmers something to feel.

Why do it:
Having that physical check during swimming is a very helpful tool. Making contact with the lane line allows the athlete to KNOW the elbow is high.

How to do it:
1 - Swim very close to the lane line.
2 - On each stroke, touch the lane line with your elbow, or tricep during the catch.

How to do it really well (the fine points):
WHEN you touch the lane line is very important. The goal is to connect with the lane line as EARLY into the catch as possible. Don't hit it on the way out, but pop the elbow UP to try to connect while the elbow is still in front of the shoulders.

Like most teaching exercises, this requires the athlete to "over-do" the actual movement. Don't do this for an extended period of time, but use this as an activation exercise for a few strokes, then drop the elbow a bit into a regular stroke.