Swim move

The swim is one of the classic pass-rush moves: the rusher knocks the offensive lineman's hands down or to the side with one arm (the chop or swipe), then “swims” the other arm up and over the blocker's shoulder — like a freestyle stroke — to clear his frame and get to the quarterback. It's quick and beats a blocker who lunges or over-sets. The counter for the lineman is independent hands and patience: don't throw both hands early (nothing to swim over if your hands aren't out there to chop), keep a long inside hand, and stay square so the swim arm has no shoulder to get over.

Defined by Coach Jay Freeman — 32 years coaching the offensive and defensive line.

Related trench terms

Rip moveD-Line

A D-line move where the rusher dips a shoulder and rips an arm upward under the blocker’s pads to disengage.

ClubD-Line

A strike to the side of the blocker's helmet or shoulder, used to knock him off balance and clear a path.

Long-armD-Line

A pass-rush move where the rusher fully extends one arm into the blocker's chest to control distance and keep his hands off.

Get-offD-Line

The first step from the stance. The single biggest defensive-line weapon.

Independent handsBoth sides

Each hand is a separate weapon with its own job — not a single two-hand punch. Coach Jay’s signature hand doctrine.

Go deeper

• Coach Jay’s lineman training library — the technique behind the term →
• Back to the full Trench Dictionary →
• Get the free 6-week trench training program →