Learning how to do the sidestroke gives you a calm, energy-saving way to swim that’s easy to breathe in and surprisingly useful — it’s the classic lifesaving and long-distance “cruising” stroke. Swum on your side with your face out of the water, it’s relaxing once it clicks. Here’s how it works.
The short answer
To do the sidestroke, lie on your side in the water and use a “pick an apple, put it in the basket” arm motion — your lower arm reaches forward and pulls back, your upper arm passes the “apple” down to your side — combined with a scissor kick (legs open one forward and one back, then squeeze together) and a glide. Your face stays out of the water, so breathing is easy. It’s a relaxed, efficient stroke, perfect for resting and covering distance calmly.
Why learn the sidestroke?
- It’s restful. With a built-in glide and no hard effort, it’s one of the least tiring strokes — great for long, relaxed swims.
- Breathing is easy. Your head stays on its side with your face out of the water, so there’s no breathing technique to master.
- It’s a lifesaving stroke. Because one arm and your face stay free, it’s the classic stroke for towing a float (or a person) to safety while still breathing — which is why lifeguards learn it.
- It’s a nice change from front strokes and complements breaststroke and backstroke.
Getting into position
Float on your side — say your right side — with your body long and level:
- Your lower arm (right) extends forward, out in front of your head.
- Your upper arm (left) rests along your side/on your hip.
- Your head rests on its side, lower ear in the water, face out so you can breathe freely.
- Stay long and streamlined.
The arm motion: “pick an apple, put it in the basket”
This classic image makes the arms click:
- Your lower (front) arm reaches forward, “picks an apple,” and pulls it down toward your chest.
- Your upper arm meets it, takes the “apple,” and “puts it in the basket” by pushing down to your hip.
- Both arms return to the streamlined side-glide position (lower arm reaches forward again, upper arm rests on the hip).
So: reach and grab with the front hand, pass to the top hand, push it down to your side, and glide.
The scissor kick
The legs power the stroke:
- From the glide, draw both knees up slightly.
- Open your legs like scissors — top leg forward, bottom leg back.
- Squeeze them together powerfully, straightening, which propels you forward.
- Glide in the streamlined side position before the next stroke.
Putting it together
Coordinate it into a smooth rhythm: as your arms do the “pick and pass,” your legs open into the scissor, then everything squeezes and extends together into a glide. Then relax and let the glide carry you before starting again. Like breaststroke, the sidestroke is all about that unhurried stroke–glide rhythm — don’t rush it.
Practice one side until it feels natural; you can learn the other side later. Being comfortable on your side connects nicely to backstroke and treading water, which also keep your face out of the water.
Stay safe while you practice
- Practice in water you can stand in, with a lifeguard or capable swimmer present. Never alone.
- Stand up and rest whenever you need to.
The next small step
Next session, just practice floating on your side with your lower arm stretched forward and your face out of the water, getting comfortable in that position. Add the scissor kick, then the “pick an apple” arms. Built up gently, the sidestroke becomes your go-to relaxed, restful way to move through the water. New to strokes overall? Start with the easiest stroke to learn first.