Ideas for Swim Lessons

Teaching swimming can be challenging as teachers and coaches are often dealing with confidence issues as much as technique. Many teachers simply demonstrate a stroke such as breaststroke and then get the swimmers to practice laps for the rest of the lesson. Injecting some fun into swimming with a range of games can help boost confidence and enjoyment, for both adults and children.

  1. Blowing Bubbles

    • This task is particularly suitable for children, to get them used to putting their heads in the water. Ask the children how long they can blow bubbles in the water with just one breath. Children can do it in pairs and see which one lasts the longest and is the "winner."

    Simon Says

    • A teacher or swim coach can play "Simon Says" in the pool. The teacher can issue a list of instructions, such as "Simon Says do a star float on your back" or "Simon Says do a log roll." This can be a good game to break up a session of stroke practice or a drill that is tiring and possibly monotonous.

    Treasure Hunt

    • The coach distributes a range of suitable toys at the bottom of the pool and the swimmers pick up these items. The swimmers can stand in a line at the poolside and the coach can call out an item of treasure and the first person in the line retrieves it. The coach then calls out the second item and the game continues. This is a good game for more confident swimmers who enjoy going underwater and diving. The coach can place the "treasure," such as toy animals, at the poolside for swimmers who are less confident and encourage them to swim a lap, with or without woggles (a long, polyethylene noodle that goes under the waistline for flotation) and boards, to reach it.

    Sock Ideas

    • Teachers can use socks effectively in swimming classes. One idea, for a group activity, is to fill a sock with sinkable toys and ask one swimmer to swim for a minute or two without dropping it. The coach can time this activity. If the swimmer drops the sock, the next swimmer takes his place. This task improves strength, coordination and speed.

    Mr. Shark

    • The coach chooses one swimmer to be the "Shark" and he stands in the pool away from the other swimmers. The other swimmers ask, "What's the time Mr. Shark?" If the answer is 4 o'clock then the swimmers swim for just four strokes toward Mr. Shark. If Mr. Shark calls out "dinner time," then the swimmers race back to the wall and Mr. Shark chases them. Mr. Shark tries to catch a swimmer by touching him. If Mr. Shark succeeds then that person is the new Shark.

    Quiz Time

    • Swimmers need to learn about pool safety and rules. At the beginning of a swim session, the coach can ask the swimmers some questions about how to behave at the poolside (never run) and what not to do in a swimming pool (never jump on or push other children under water). The coach can also ask individual swimmers to demonstrate a certain stroke and ask the other swimmers to give some constructive feedback.