Play games.
Capture swimmer attention by being FUN and interesting.
Add complexity.
Testable goal:
Swimmer should stay interested and demonstrate ability to follow directions for a game.
Play a game, or series of games that are more than simple “Do this. Do that.” Come up with a fun imaginary game that involves multiple steps.
Swimmers should be engaged, captivated, and enjoying the game.
Bonus Goals:
- Swimmers anticipate the game and ask to play it.
- Swimmer come up with strategies to complete game or win the instructor didn’t think of.
Activities to achieve this goal:
Treasure Hunt
Pile as many floating toys as you can on a kickboard.
Sail it out to sea together. Have a storm strike. Waves, splashing. Spread the toys around the pool.
Do supported front glides to collect toys and return to the kick board (boat).
How to come up with a game:
Think of a skill you want to work on.
Look at the toys and tools you have to use during the lesson.
Create an objective, or a goal. What should the swimmers WANT to do?
Put a roadblock, using the skill you want to work on, in front of that goal or objective.
Examples:
Mushroom Man Game
Get to the mushroom without any falling water touching you.
Must go underwater to get to the mushroom man and get a reward.
Reward is a chance to dance around the mushroom while being rained on.
Run or Alligator walk race
Select a start position. Select a finish location.
One person does an alligator walk in shallow water.
One person must run, but in deeper water (ideally up to the chest).
Have them race from start to finish location. See who wins.
This game works on gliding, kicking, and teaching the concept that pushing the water isn’t faster than streamline or gliding through the water. If swimmers put their face in the water alligator walking it is a super bonus!