SWIMMER GAMES AND DRILLS

 Entry Games:

• Safe or sorry : Go over pool rules/water safety
• Guess favourite When the instructor guesses the kid’s favourite, the swimmer performs an activity. i.e. jumping off the wall, gliding off the wall (this can be anything, e.g. colours/candy/superhero)

Front Crawl Drills:

• Front Kicking Drill: use flutter boards to have kids practice their breathing pattern, encourage them to breath to the side even with both hands on the board. Eventually once they learn to do side glides, have them drop an arm and breath on their side. This is great practice for front crawl.
• Alligator front crawl: For kids just learning front crawl, have them do their "Rocketship arms" and make them touch their hands together before swing the other back. This will help them stay streamlined whilst kicking.
• Thumb Drag: For kids practicing their fonrt crawl, have them try to keep their thumb in the water and drag it across. this will help them push their elbows up.

Back Crawl:

• Flutter Board Arm: For kids just learning back crawl, have them hug a flutter board and only sweep one arm behind them. Switch arms.
• Hand Touch: To help younger kids reach their arms all the way up, walk beside them with your arm up high and have them try to touch it each stroke backwards. 

Breaststroke:

• Whip Kicking: Having the kids sit along the wall teach them "I Love Vanilla Oreos" to remember how to orient their feet for whip kick. Then have them practice in the water.
• Breaststroke Arms: Have the kids lay on the stomachs with their arms hanging off the wall, then teach them breaststroke arms using the "broken heart" analogy or scooping a pot of gold. This will help ensure they don't swing their arms past their armpits.

General Games:

• Relay Races: split the kids up into teams and have them practice speed by racing to the other side with whatever stroke needed
• Frankenstein: Say 'Frankenstein needs a new (any body part)" that the children then have to touch to the floor (hand, bum, shoulder etc.)
• Simon Says: Alter the classic game to practice swimming (bubbles, bobs)
• Bob Story: Tell the kids a story, but everytime you say the word 'Bob' they dunk underwater.