Swimming starts and turns for youth competitive swimmers can shave seconds off race times faster than almost any other technique work. Most youth swimmers spend 90% of practice on stroke and conditioning, but races are won and lost in the 5 seconds at the start and the 2 seconds at each wall. The drills below cover dive starts, freestyle flip turns, backstroke turns, and breaststroke/butterfly open turns — all scaled for swimmers ages 8-14 in age-group club programs.
The Track Start: Modern Block Position
The track start replaced the grab start in competitive swimming over a decade ago and is now standard at every level. Swimming starts and turns for youth competitive swimmers begin with mastering this position. The swimmer places one foot at the front edge of the block, the other foot back, and grips the front edge of the block with both hands.
When the start signal sounds, the swimmer pulls forward with their hands, drives off the back leg, and swings their arms forward to enter the water in a streamline position. The whole motion takes less than half a second. According to USA Swimming, a great start can be worth up to 0.5 seconds in a 50-meter race — often the difference between making finals and missing.
Drill it: 10 dive starts per practice, focusing on entry angle (45 degrees) and minimal splash. Bad entries kill momentum more than slow reactions.
Streamline and Underwater Dolphin Kicks
The streamline position is what makes a great start great. Hands stacked, arms squeezing the ears, body completely tight from fingertips to toes. A swimmer who breaks streamline early loses everything they gained on the dive.
Add underwater dolphin kicks (legal in all four strokes for the first 15 meters). Most age-group swimmers can do 3-5 strong dolphin kicks before surfacing. World-class swimmers do 10-15. The gap is huge for race times.
Drill it: 8 x 25 meters with maximum streamline and dolphin kicks before the first stroke. Time each rep and watch the difference. For more on building the core strength that powers great streamlines, see our warm-up routines for youth sports practice.
Freestyle Flip Turns: Speed at the Wall
A clean freestyle flip turn keeps momentum and adds zero seconds to a race. A bad flip turn loses 1-2 seconds every time. Multiply that by 3 turns in a 200-meter race and you have a 5-second mistake.
Teach the approach first: swimmers should hit the wall on a full stroke, not glide in. Use the line on the bottom of the pool as a marker — the cross 5 feet from the wall is where the somersault begins. The body tucks tight, flips, plants the feet on the wall in a streamline, and pushes off underwater.
Drill it: 10 x 25 meters approaching the wall at full speed and executing a flip. Coaches should watch for the “glide” mistake (slowing down before the wall) and call it out immediately. The CDC recommends skill-focused practice for kids because it builds neuromuscular patterns that transfer across athletic disciplines.
Backstroke and Open Turns
Backstroke turns are the trickiest for young swimmers because they require flipping from the back to the stomach without missing a stroke. Swimmers approach the wall on their back, take one stroke past the flag (the orange-and-white triangles 5 meters from the wall), then flip to their stomach for the somersault.
For breaststroke and butterfly, the open turn is required: both hands must touch the wall simultaneously before the swimmer can leave. Teach kids to touch with extended arms, draw their knees to their chest in one motion, and push off underwater in a streamline.
Drill all three turn types in every practice. Most coaches do 10-minute “wall work” sessions where swimmers do nothing but turns. The reps add up over a season.
Race-Pace Starts and Turns
Practicing starts and turns at training pace doesn’t transfer to race performance. Swimmers need to do them at race intensity. Build “broken swims” into practice: 4 x 25 meters with full race-speed dives and turns, followed by easy recovery.
End each week with a race-simulation set: 1 x 100 meters with race-pace start, two race-pace turns, and a sprint to the wall. Time it. Compare week to week.
Pair this with our advice on building confidence in young athletes so kids aren’t afraid to attack the start signal or the wall. Hesitation costs more than any technical flaw.
Frequently Asked Questions
At what age can young swimmers start doing dive starts from the block?
Most clubs introduce block dives around age 8, after kids are confident in the water. Always under direct coach supervision.
How many starts should a youth swimmer practice each week?
Aim for 30-50 starts per week across multiple practices. Quality over quantity — focus on entry angle and streamline.
Why does my child slow down before flip turns?
Fear of hitting the wall. Practice approaching at full speed with the somersault starting 5 feet out. It becomes second nature.
How many underwater dolphin kicks are ideal off the wall?
For age-group swimmers, 3-5 strong kicks. Older and elite swimmers can do 10-15. Quality matters more than quantity.
When should swimmers transition from open turns to flip turns in freestyle?
As soon as they’re comfortable underwater and can do a basic somersault — usually around age 7-8. Flip turns are faster from day one.