The Elementary Backstroke is used for recreation and to recover from strenuous effort while still making slow but effective progress through the water. 

RECOVERY

From the glide position, recover the arms by bending the elbows so the hands, palms down slide along the sides to near the armpits.

POWER PHASE

Point the fingers outward from the shoulders with palms facing back toward the feet.  Extend the arms out to the sides until the hands are no farther forward than the top of the head.  Press the palms and the insides of the arms at the same time and in a broad sweeping motion back towards the feet.  Keep the arms straight.  End the motion with the arms and hands in the glide position.

KICK (Frog Kick)

The kick is very much like the kick used in the Breaststroke.  Both legs bend at the knee and circle around in a whipping action.  The kicking action is continuous and smooth, without a pause between the recovery and the power phase. 

BREATHING

Breathe during each arm stroke.  Inhale as the arms recover up the sides and exhale as the arms press backward during the power phase. 

To minimize the drag of the recovery of the arms and legs, glide until most of the momentum is lost before starting the next stroke.

Information taken from “The American National Red Cross – Swimming & Diving” 2004.