12 year old stuck at butterfly

[alizee21g]

I realise there are several threads on this but nothing recent so I figured I start a new one. My DD1 started formal swimming lessons late due to various circumstances but progressed quite quickly. But she has been stuck in stage 6 for almost a year. It's Swim England stages that our local pool uses; she's 92% for weeks now. She misses occasional lesson here and there but we take them swimming outside lessons anyway. One thing she can't manage is butterfly and I'm not sure how to help her. Neither me or her dad can do butterfly, our pool doesn't do crash courses for her stage; they did butterfly masterclass in the summer which she did attend. Feedback from that was that she's just lacking a bit of stamina. She's relatively active child, she does taekwondo at least twice a week and occasional parkrun with me. I'm struggling to imagine that all those tiny kids that move up with no issues are so much stronger? My other half watched her today and thinks it's her coordination but again, she's so much older than other kids in her group and it's just kids swimming not competitive or club lessons; should it be that hard? She's determined to do all 7 stages plus later 8,9 and 10 but I can see she's little disheartened now. I suggested 1 to 1 session once a month maybe but she doesn't want to do it, she says it would be awkward being on her own. I'm questioning if it makes sense to continue with lessons if she physically can't learn this one stroke. What's the point if she can't move up? Any suggestions? Should I speak to her teacher? Don't want to be seen as "that" parent but also I'm a bit frustrated she can't progress in other areas because she can't master one stroke she probably won't ever use when she's done with lessons.

It’s a bit catch 22 as they do need good core strength and stamina to really nail fly but I would get a 1:1 session to help understand the technique if she’s really struggling. You can try just doing the leg motion to get that ripple feeling and the kick under the water and just pop up using a Breststtoke arms or a float . Both my DDs swam in a club one was brilliant at fly (but is also a gymnast strong core), the other always struggled never fully got it just enough to progress through the levels, but has a very smooth breast stroke and crawl.
Effortless swimming on you tube is good for hints n tips like this one

Thank you. She's now moved up finally but now I'm struggling with the other one who's stuck at stage 2 for 10 months😅 I found small private pool and was willing to pay twice as much but neither of them wants to change. I sure will be glad when they're done with swimming lessons!

What is the other one stuck on? Could you do the 1 to 1 lessons alongside the other lessons if they don't want to leave their friends? My DS was an absolute disaster at swimming at 7, he went to 1 to 1 lessons and was talent spotted by a swim club by 8.

My youngest wouldn’t put her face in the water for months and we couldn’t work out why when we twigged it was actually the feeling of water in her ears and ear plugs helped. She clicked, turned into an underwater thrill seeker and raced through the levels. I’ve often seen boys in particular get stuck as they don’t seem to float as well and they can’t keep their legs up. Just taking them regularly to play in the water helps too if you can plus maybe the odd intensive week in the school holidays if you really want them progress.

Not what you asked but what's the point of butterfly anyway! I wish they wouldn't bother teaching it and it could just be an option you could take if you want.
Never seen anyone actually using this stroke irl.

My son is a regional level butterfly swimmer and I agree. Unless you are going to swim competitively it is fairly pointless. I think they should be introduced to it incase they do want to join a swim club but it shouldn't be a barrier to moving up the stages as it just means the drop out rate of swimming lessons is higher than it should be as kids get stuck

Little one is 7, she's been stuck at 98% for months now. She has no problem with getting her head under water and absolutely loves swimming lessons and we always stay for an hour afterwards.Stage 1 she completed in 3 lessons. We havent started her official lessons earlier because she has selective mutism and struggled with strange adults. Right now she can't master 5m she's required to do without aids before she can complete this stage. She can't quite explain why but she stops half way through, pushes off the ground and continues. I can't swim myself so my partner spoke to the teacher who explained where she lacks with technique but I can't see teacher giving her any tips or correcting her. It appears that at the end of every lesson she just asseses her and each week she fails and that's that. Our pool only does crash course in Easter half term which we did and in the summer which we missed out on because we were away. I'm working on her to try one to one but new situations, places and people stress her out massively😔

Could you take her to a pool yourself and get her in the deep end to do 5 metres swimming between you and Dad? You can't push off the bottom if you can't reach it and swimming to an adult rather than a wall feels safer as you know if you can't quite reach them the can reach you.

@retro bowl online retro bowl onlineHow about taking her to a pool and getting her in the deep end to swim 5 meters with Dad? Swimming to an adult rather than a wall is safer because you can't push off the bottom if you can't reach them.