I think of Level 4 as “swim team ready.” It’s the level where swimmers are beginning to be independent in the water and truly expressing that independence with long-distance swimming, butterfly, and breaststroke. You can structure your level 4 class in many different ways; coaching, out of water instruction, endurance building, and advanced progressions. This …
Level 3 is a great stage in swimming. Its full of growing independence, comfort and confidence, and the tipping point from supported swimming to freedom. I love teaching Level 3. Can you guess why? There are so many moments where the light of success blossoms in swimmers. You can see them exalt in joy when …
Back glides are an essential part of the beginning swimmer and usually a sign of true comfort in the water. One of the most unnatural and uncomfortable things for new swimmers to do is lay upside-down, on their back, and to move backwards without being able to see. Backstroke can be scary. Following the supportive …
Why streamline and short distances can build confidence and bravery! Kicking off January of 2025 we’re going to look at how to move those Level 1 swimmers that just graduated in Level 2 to gliding by themselves short distances. We’ll focus on strategies and techniques that encourage independent attempts, using kicking for propulsion, and leveraging …
Glides are one of the primary vehicles for getting swimmers to go underwater. If you do consistent supported front and black glides throughout your lessons then you’ll develop the habits and body posture that serves as the basis for all swimming while working on that crucial first step to swimming lessons: going underwater. Going underwater …
Streamline & Position 11: essential building blocks for all strokes. Streamline Review Streamline while standing on deck: Three things for an excellent Streamline: Lock your thumb: Squeeze your ears: Look down (or up for backstroke): Position 11 Position 11 after a streamline: Three things for an excellent Position 11: Keep your arms straight: Stay on …
When will my kid learn to swim? Why are they only swimming short distances? My kid never gets a chance to swim a full length of the pool. How will they get better if they’re always stopping short? I love these questions because they illustrate an opportunity to educate parents on how swim lessons work. …
Every year is has a new focus of improvement for people running swimming lessons and swim instruction. This year I’m focusing on updating the Teaching Swimming workbook. Fall 2024 – Spring 2025 will see the rollout of version 4 of the Teaching Swimming Workbook: Fun and Effective Instruction. Teaching Swimming v3 was published in 2019: …
Instructor focus: Rotation Method Establish the framework for how lessons should move; keep swimmers going with minimal downtime where they “do nothing.” Build the framework. Enforce it daily. Foster happy parents and productive swimmers. Avoid confusion, boredom, and parent anger. Rotate to the wall, to the instructor, bench to bench, or circle swim. With benches,in …
Guppies: Games and Goofiness This lesson plan is the perfect bridge for swimmers between ages 2 + 4. Check out our in-depth guide to Guppies here: This lesson plan is repeatable and intended to be used over and over until you’ve built up a toolbox of custom games and activities for your specific pool layout. …
Here is a starter pack of lesson plans to begin your journey teaching better lessons tomorrow. Swimming Ideas’ goal is for everyone to teach fun and effective lessons. Leverage the “Activity, Activity, Challenge” formula written into every lesson plan and maximize your student’s time on task, effort in the water, and promote deliberate practice opportunities …