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Games & Activities to Teach Basic Skills Teaching Point/Skill Name Description Water Entry Mental Adjustment Water Confidence Entry Songs Sing song or rhyme as athlete enters water from sitting on the side of the pool, with assistance. Water Confidence Splash Athlete sits on side of pool and splashes or kicks water to try to wet the coach. In doing so, the athlete gets wet also. Water Confidence Sit Near Pool Walk around pool and get familiar with the pool area. Stand near pool. Sit near pool with coach. Water Confidence Sit on Pool Edge Sit on edge of pool. Wash hands, feet, face, shoulders and neck. Move one foot up and down in water. Move other foot up and down as well. Water Entry — Independent Train Athletes hold hips or shoulders of athlete in front, forming a line/chain or train. Walk down ramp, or walk around in shallow water, pretending to be a train.  Go under two assistant’s arms which form a tunnel. As athletes develop greater water confidence, they may not need to hold onto their teammate's hips or shoulders as they walk down the ramp.   Group Pool Entry       Group Pool Entry (Dartfish)   Teaching Point/Skill Name Description Breathing Egg Blow Athlete blows a plastic egg or ping pong ball along the surface of the water. Athlete can try to flip egg over. (Blow onto Water)   Egg Blow       Egg Blow (Dartfish)   Teaching Point/Skill Name Description Breathing Magic Mirror Pretend a dive ring is a magic mirror — ring on water and athlete blows in mirror to make a wish. (Blow onto Water) Breathing Cupped Hands Athlete blows water away from cupped hands full of water. (Blow onto Water)   Breathing in Hands       Breathing in Hands (Dartfish)   The swimmer seen "swimming" with a crawl stroke with the face well clear of the water, which is concerned by splashes and water near the face has failed to be properly adjusted to the water environment. Familiarization of the swimmer with this new environment and water medium is best achieved through play for both young and adult swimmers. Such play is directed towards developing in the swimmer an understanding of the properties of water.   Teaching Point/Skill Name Description Breathing Shower Time Use a plastic container with holes in the bottom. Fill container with water and hold over athlete’s head to create a shower. Call this time of the lesson "shower time." (Blow onto Water)   Shower Time       Shower Time (Dartfish)   Teaching Point/Skill Name Description Walking Assisted Walking Enter pool into chest-deep water. Standing, facing pool wall, place both hands on wall. Side step the width of the pool. Release one hand and side step the width of the pool with support of one hand. Stand with back to pool wall. Hold onto pool wall with one hand (outside hand) and walk from corner to corner in the shallow end. Walking Independent Walking Enter pool. Stand with back to pool wall. Walk from corner in the shallow end. Walk across the pool in shoulder-deep water.   Walking in Water       Walking in Water (Dartfish)   Teaching Point/Skill Name Description Walking Walking Races Line up athletes against wall in shallow water. On a "start" signal, they walk across the pool to the other side. The first to arrive is the winner. The game may be varied by floating hula hoops midway, with each athlete required to go through them, or by varying the manner in which athletes are told to move (walk, hop, skip, jump, etc.). It may also be varied by giving each athlete a plastic spoon and a ping pong ball and letting the athlete push the ball with the spoon as he/she walks.   Walking Races       Walking Races (Dartfish)       Teaching Point/Skill Name Description Walking Control of Rotation Red Light An "It" (athlete) is chosen and goes to side of pool nearest the coach, opposite the rest of the group. Group stands side by side on the other side of the pool. "It" turns back on group and watches the coach who is standing on the edge in front of him. As soon as "It's" back is turned, the athletes begin to advance toward "It" in any manner and at any speed they choose. Coach turns on the red torch, "It" shouts "red light" as he/she turns to look at the others. Any athlete still observed moving by "It" must return to the starting point. Play continues until one athlete reaches "It" without having been detected moving. That athlete becomes the new "It." Walking Snakes Athlete in line/chain formed by athlete putting hands on hips or shoulders of athlete in front. Walk around in water with leader or head trying to catch last athlete in line or tail. When tail is caught, tail becomes the head. Coaches can be with swimmers in the line if required. Walking Stepping Stones Walk through the water as if stepping along large stepping stones. Lift feet off the pool bottom. Walking How Few Steps? Travel a given distance in as few steps as possible. Walking — Control of rotation Follow the Leader In waist-deep water, athletes line up behind the "leader" who takes them through a number of movements that the coach asks them; e.g., walking, running, forward and backward, zig-zagging, hopping, pick up a ring, through a hoop, etc. Change leaders to give all a chance. Swimmers and coaches can be in line if required for swimmers assistance. Walking Control of Vertical Rotation Hoops In waist-deep water, athletes join hands in a circle. Between every fourth athlete and hanging from grasped hands is a hoop. On "go," the athletes attempt to move the hoops around the circle without letting go of their hands. This will require wriggling and ducking actions. When the coach calls "stop," any athlete in contact with a hoop gets a point against him/her. Repeat. Winners are those with the fewest points at the end of play. Jumping Kangaroo Jumps Pretend you are a kangaroo and do bouncing movements in the water. Swimmer faces the coach who will travel backward. Support as appropriate.   Kangaroo Jumps       Kangaroo Jumps (Dartfish)       Teaching Point/Skill Name Description Head Control Unders and Overs Swimmers in a line formation standing in the water. Swimmers pass a ball over head and under legs as the ball moves from the front of the line to the end. When the swimmer at the end of the line receives the ball, he/she moves to the front of the line.   Under and Overs     Under and Overs (Dartfish)   Teaching Point/Skill Name Description Head Control Water Bicycles Form a line abreast, coaches behind swimmers. Coaches’ arms are inside swimmers arms — flat handlebars. Move as a group or scattered group. Steering and racing bike activities. Breathing — Blows Bubbles Magic Mirror Blow bubbles in a dive ring to make a wish. (Blow Into Water) Forward Recovery (Vertical Rotation) Sun, Wind and Rain Circle formation, alternate instructor and swimmer. Support as appropriate. On the call "The sun is shining" all swimmers lie back to sunbathe. On the call "The wind is blowing," all swimmers rotate body to blow to the center of the circle. Repeat. To end game, all sunbathers are told "April showers" and feet create splash in the center. Forward Recovery (Vertical Rotation) Catch Toes Circle facing inward with swimmers in front of coaches. Swimmers start in chair position, and then put heads back to float, all feet pointing to the center. On "catch toes," a forward rotation to chairs, attempting to catch the foot of another swimmer. Remind swimmers to blow.   Forward Recovery — Assisted     Forward Recovery - Assisted (Dartfish)   Teaching Point/Skill Name Description Forward Recovery (Vertical Rotation) Rag Dolls Athletes line up abreast, alternate coach and swimmer, plus one extra coach as side support at one end if joined in line. Coach walks backward, swimmer in a relaxed back float. Coach changes direction to walking forward, and swimmer, using head movement only, makes a vertical rotation to prone floating position. Breathing control in prone floating position. Forward Recovery (Vertical Rotation) Merry-Go-Round/Water Wheel Swimmers and coaches in circle. Swimmers back float with support of coaches. Move circle around. Swimmers move from back float to front float position and return to back float. Submerges into Water Hoop on Top of Water — Go Under Use a large hoop and place it on top of the water. Swimmer has to start from outside the hoop, submerge and move to surface within the hoop.   Hoop on Top of Water — Go Under     Hoop on Top of Water — Go Under (Dartfish)   Teaching Point/Skill Name Description Submerges into Water London Bridge Two swimmers make a bridge, arch with arms. Other swimmers go under the bridge and submerge. Raise or lower bridge to challenge swimmers. Submerges into Water Here, There, Where Coach says "Here," "There" or "Where." When coach says "Here," swimmers move as quickly as possible to where coach is. When coach says "There," swimmers move to where coach is pointing. When coach says "Where," swimmers submerge (hide under water).   Here, There, Where     Here, There, Where (Dartfish)   Teaching Point/Skill Name Description Submerges into Water Sunken Treasure Instructor places objects (flutter discs, dive rings etc.) on bottom of the pool. Swimmers go under water to collect treasure. Submerges into Water Underwater Catch One swimmer must tag one of the other swimmers. If a swimmer goes under water he/she cannot be tagged. Submerges into Water Hear Your Number Circle formation, alternate instructor and swimmer, with hand support. Coaches count slowly, "one, two, three, four," etc. On "one", swimmers submerge, breathing out slowly. Their number is that which they hear upon surfacing. The highest number is the winner. Eyes Open Under Water Flutter Discs Place several numbered discs on the bottom of the pool. Instructor calls out a number which swimmer must retrieve. Swimmer must open eyes under the water to identify and recover the correct disc.. Eyes Open Under Water Count Fingers Under Water Swimmer submerges and instructor holds a number of fingers up under water which the swimmer must look at while submerged. Swimmer surfaces and tells the instructor how many fingers were held up. Eyes Open Under Water Coins in a Fountain A number of colored discs are thrown into the water. On the signal "go," swimmers take one breath, submerge and try to pick up as many as possible. Breathing — Controlled Talk Under Water to Partner Two swimmers or swimmer and coach hold hands facing each other. Both submerge together and talk to each other by blowing bubbles under water — swimmers see if they can hear what each other said. (Exhale While Submerged)     Teaching Point/Skill Name Description Breathing — Controlled Partner See-Saw Two swimmers or swimmer and coach hold hands facing each other. One goes under and then surfaces. The other goes under and then surfaces. Repeat a number of times like a see-saw, going up and down. When under water, swimmer must blow bubbles. (Exhale While Submerged) Rolling Recovery Hello/Look At Me Swimmer is in back float position. Coach’s head is beside swimmers left ear, and support is at swimmer's center of balance. Coach, quarter rotates swimmer to the right, then says “look at me” or "hello." Swimmer turns head strongly to coach. Further rolling is restricted and swimmer will regain balance. Repeat on other side with coach's head by swimmer's right ear and quarter rotate to the left. (Resist & Control Lateral Rotation — Rolling)   Basic Rolling Recovery Technique — As a Group     Rolling Recovery as a Group (Dartfish)   Teaching Point/Skill Name Description Rolling Recovery Ring Pass Athletes are in a circle formation, swimmers on their back with feet to center and instructor behind head. The upper back of swimmer is supported by coach’s hands. One or a number of rings (dive rings) are passed from swimmer to swimmer. All swimmers pass and receive ring with the same hand (i.e., all use left hand or all use right hand). (Resist & Control Lateral Rotation) Rolling Recovery 360-Degree Lateral Roll Lateral rotation from back float position for 360 degrees to return to the back float position.   (Resist & Control Lateral Rotation — Rolling) Rolling Recovery Fishes in the Net Circle formation with alternate swimmer and instructor, using long-arm support. Swimmers take turns at being 'fish' in the circular net. Escape from the net is under the arms of the circle, re-entry is over the arms with a combined rotation. Can also be played with the circle moving. (Resist & Control Lateral Rotation — Rolling) Turbulent Gliding Come to Me Swimmer is on back floating. Coach is behind swimmer's head and walking backward, creating turbulence with hands to move the swimmer along in a glide on the back. Sit on the Bottom Partner Sitting Two swimmers hold each others' hands and sit on the bottom of the pool together. Can also be a swimmer and a coach. Breathing — Controlled Hum Under Water Blowing out through the nose. Mushroom Float Mushroom Float Float in a mushroom shape with hands holding ankles and the arched back facing the water surface.   Mushroom Float       Mushroom Float (Dartfish)   Teaching Point/Skill Name Description Mushroom Float Stars and Mushrooms If in shallow water, start in chair position; if in deep water, start by treading water. Group leader calls shape, e.g., "Star," and counts down "five, four, three, two, one," giving swimmers time to balance motionless in the shape called. Return to start position. Repeat with other position.   Stars & Mushrooms   Stars & Mushrooms (Dartfish)   Teaching Point/Skill Name Description Push and Glide Rocket ships Swimmers perform a push and glide, and instructor calls this a rocket ship. Can use a large hoop which swimmers must glide through. How far can you glide?   Rocket Ships         Teaching Point/Skill Name Description Sculling Row Boats Swimmers perform a double arm backstroke — like the oars of a row boat. Sculling How Few Strokes? Swimmers move over a given distance doing a propulsive action on their back (e.g., back sculling, double-arm backstroke). Count arm actions/strokes and try to keep number to a minimum by emphasizing the glide in the stroke.   Sculling   Sculling (Dartfish)       Teaching Point/Skill Name Description Kicking Torpedoes Push, glide and kick in the front or back float position. This action is called torpedoes. Kicking Motor Boats Tell swimmers they are to pretend to be motor boats by kicking their legs while holding one or two kickboards. All Simon Says Play the game "Simon Says" with activities designed to give confidence in the water and teach basic swimming skills. Coach selects task to meet required teaching points. Water Familiarization Splish-Splash Swimmers are organized in two teams. In waist-deep water, each team forms a circle. A plastic jug or bucket is placed in the center on a kickboard. On the signal "go," all athletes begin splashing water into their team's jug or bucket. No athlete may touch his/her jug or bucket. The team to first fill the jug or bucket is the winner. Water Familiarization & Confidence Interception in Three Organized in threes, with the outside swimmers facing each other. Another swimmer stands between them. The two outside swimmers try to make as many passes as possible to each other without the center swimmer intercepting the ball. Water Familiarization & Confidence Spaceships and Space Station Coach (space capsule) envelops swimmer (astronaut) within circled arms and locked hands. Swimmer presses coach’s ear to unlock door of capsule. Then, using hands only (no leg movement), swimmer moves out of doorway, circles capsule, enters door again and presses other ear to lock it. A variation is for the whole group to link into a large space station. Two astronauts have to open the door and circle the station, traveling in the same or opposite directions.

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