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Associated sport: Swimming
Indoor-friendly: Yes
Pool-friendly: Yes

Game description

Using elements from swimming strokes a swimmer completes a swimming novelty race.

What you need (setting up)

• Flippers to assist with momentum to complete the movements required.
• 1 x foam pool noodle.
• 1 x kick board.
• 1 x coin (any size).
• 1 x cone or marker.
• Optional: stopwatch or clock.

What to do

• Place a coin on the edge of the pool where the race will begin.
• Place the kick board and foam pool noodle on the other side of the pool in arms reach.
• Apply flippers before beginning the course.
• Begin activities:
• • Activity 1: Dolphin dives – dive, kick with feet together then stand. Repeat across the pool.
  • Activity 2: Chair paddle - sit on the kick board like a chair and use breast stroke to move to the other side of the pool. Collect the coin.
  • Activity 3: Teddy bear hugs - lie back in the water hugging the kick board in front like a teddy bear. Place a coin on the forehead. Kick to the other side of the pool and trying to keep the coin in place. Remember to look for the marker to indicate that the end of the pool is near.
  • Activity 4: Catch up noodle - lie face down in the water. Take the pool noodle and hold the end of it in front with both hands. Start kicking across the pool. Using a freestyle movement take one hand off the noodle to complete a stroke. Hold the end again and repeat on the other side. (The kick board can also be used for this activity if a pool noodle is unavailable).  

Scoring

• Time races and try to beat each round.

Change it

• •Add harder elements if swimmers are more advanced or extend the activity to include the following:
• • holding the breath and kicking under water as far as the swimmer can go or completing butterfly strokes instead of dolphin dives.
  • holding the kick board and doing breast stroke legs instead of sitting on the board.
  • adding backstroke arms instead of holding the kick board on the chest.
  • using a kick board to practice bilateral breathing and kicking instead of the foam pool noodle.
• Increase or decrease the distance.
• Change the equipment.
• Try with and without flippers.

Safety

• Perform activities in enough water to avoid colliding with the bottom or sides of the pool.
• Ensure the cone or marker is in place to indicate that the end of the pool is near. Swimmer stops at this point when performing the backstroke activity.
• Ensure superviosnis provided.

Ask the players

• Why is it important to keep your head back when moving in the water on your back?
• Why is it important to keep kicking in a steady rhythm?
• What is the best way to move your head to breathe when it is face down in the water?