front crawl swimming technique with the Shaw Method

Learn Front Crawl online with Steven Shaw

Online Front Crawl Course

Learn front crawl from the very beginning with Steven Shaw, creator of the Shaw Method.

Through 47 carefully structured video lessons, Steven guides you step by step from the foundations of balance and rotation to a complete, coordinated stroke with integrated breathing.

Learn at your own pace. Practise in your own pool. Discover a way of swimming that feels smoother, calmer and more connected.

£299
47 video lessons
PDF practice guides
180 days access

No previous front crawl experience required

Start learning with Steven

Find ease, rhythm and flow in your front crawl.

Perhaps you’ve tried front crawl before and found yourself out of breath after a few lengths. Perhaps your arms and legs never quite seem to work together. Or perhaps you’ve watched other swimmers glide effortlessly through the water and wondered why the stroke feels so complicated when you try it yourself.

Steven’s approach starts somewhere different. Instead of asking you to swim harder, faster or further, you’ll first learn how to organise your body in the water.

Balance first. Then movement. Then breathing.

Step by step, those elements come together into front crawl.

Why the Shaw Method Front Crawl Online Course?

A different way to learn Front Crawl

The Shaw Method combines swimming technique with principles from the Alexander Technique. Steven developed the method to help swimmers move through the water with greater awareness, alignment and ease. Instead of learning the complete stroke all at once, you’ll break front crawl down into simple movements that can be understood, explored and gradually combined.

You’ll learn to:

Find balance before adding effort: Discover how alignment allows the water to support you.
Use rotation to organise the stroke: Let the whole body participate instead of relying on the arms alone.
Create propulsion without unnecessary tension: Learn how direction and movement work together.
Integrate breathing into the stroke: Rather than interrupting your swimming to take a breath, learn how breathing becomes part of the movement.

Online Course Structure

The course is structured in 6 modules

Introduction

Understand the Shaw Method approach to front crawl. Meet Steven, discover the principles behind the course and learn how to use the lessons and practice sessions effectively.

Fundamentals

Build the foundations for front crawl. Explore your relationship with the water and learn the fundamental principles of alignment, balance and movement that underpin everything that follows.

Lengthening and widening

Create space, length and freedom in your stroke. Explore how lengthening through the body and widening across the back can help you move with greater ease and reduce unnecessary tension.

Arm action

Learn how the arms work with your whole body. Explore the arm action step by step and discover how your arms can help move you forward without creating unnecessary tension in your shoulders and neck.

Integrating the breath

Let breathing become part of the stroke. Learn how rotation, head movement and exhalation work together so that breathing no longer feels like a separate task.

Putting it all together

Turn the pieces into swimming. Integrate everything you’ve learned into a smooth, coordinated front crawl and develop the awareness to continue improving independently.

Book Crawl Online Course now

Your lesson starts before you get into the water

There's no race to finish the course. You have 180 days to learn at your own pace.

Start Learning Front Crawl with Steven

Learn from the creator of the Shaw Method

Meet your teacher: Steven Shaw

Steven Shaw is the creator of the Shaw Method and has spent more than 30 years exploring how adults can learn to swim with greater ease, awareness and enjoyment.

A former competitive swimmer, Steven discovered the Alexander Technique while looking for a way to address the strain he experienced through swimming.

That exploration led him to rethink how swimming is traditionally taught.

By combining principles of the Alexander Technique with swimming, Steven developed a progressive approach in which complex strokes are broken down into simple, understandable movements before being gradually put back together.

He has since taught thousands of swimmers and trained Shaw Method teachers around the world.

More about Steven Shaw

Frequently Asked Questions About Learning the Front Crawl Technique

Do I need to know front crawl before starting?

No. The course is designed to teach front crawl from the beginning. You should, however, feel comfortable putting your face in the water and be able to swim or glide a short distance.

Do I need access to a swimming pool?

Yes. The course combines learning at home with practical exercises in the water, so regular access to a pool is essential.

How many lessons are included?

The course contains 47 video lessons, organised into six progressive modules.

How long do I have access to the course?

You have access to all course materials for 180 days from the start of your course.

Are there materials I can take to the pool?

Yes. PDF practice guides accompany the progressions so you can take the key instructions with you when you practise.

How quickly should I complete the course?

There is no need to rush. The course is designed around practice and repetition. Some movements may click quickly, while others benefit from several pool sessions before you move on.

Is Steven teaching the course?

Yes. Steven Shaw, creator of the Shaw Method, guides you through the course and demonstrates the progressions.