Backstroke Flip Turn
The child swims backstroke toward the wall, turns onto the front shortly before arriving, and finishes in freestyle. About one arm's length from the wall, both hands sweep back and a strong dolphin kick initiates a forward somersault. The child then pushes off the wall on the back with extended arms and dolphin-kicks underwater back to the surface.
Preparatory exercises
Freestyle with Somersault
The child swims 50 metres of front crawl, performing three forward rolls per 25-metre length. The transitions into and out of the roll should be as smooth as possible. This lets children practise the roll out of front crawl away from the wall — without the fear of bumping their head.
With a Pool Noodle in the Hands
The child holds a pool noodle (or pull buoy) in front of the body with stretched arms in the prone position, driving with the flutter kick. At the wall, they push the noodle down underneath the body and do a forward roll; use a less buoyant object such as a pull buoy or diving ring if strength is lacking. This teaches the right distance from the wall, automatically lowers the chin and bends the back, and keeps the arms in their correct place instead of assisting at the sides.