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Touch Turn Basics

Touch the wall, spin and push off in streamline, the simplest turn of all.

By Coach Evan Waechtler Youth coach (U11, Cache Valley, Utah) and founder of SSTracker Updated October 30, 2026

Set up

Swim into the wall and touch with your hands.

Core: To the second. Aim for a long, relaxed glide.

Ages
7 and up
Time
8 min
Players
Just you
Space
Pool
Bring
Pool
Level · skill
Beginner · Starts & Turns

The steps

How it works

  1. Swim into the wall and touch with your hands.
  2. Bring your knees up and turn your body around.
  3. Sink under and push off in streamline.
  4. Do 8 turns.

Coaching point

Touch, tuck, sink, push.

Safety: Swim only with a lifeguard or coach watching and, under 14, a grown-up within arm’s reach.

Make it fun

Play it, don't drill it

Game version

Glide game: from the wall, push off and glide to a floating ring, then your partner goes. The pair collects ten smooth glides, with an adult watching.

Challenge

Pick a distance: Less (to the first flag), Core (to the second), More (to the third). Aim for a long, relaxed glide.

Story

You are a seal launching from a rock into the sea.

My best

Beat your own count

Aim for a long, relaxed glide. Only your own number counts: today against last time.

Practice makes progress

Print it now, or save it free

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