Swim Lesson Guide

Kick Power: Propelling Swimmers from Level 2 to Level 3

September 24, 2025 by Jeff N

The Kick—The Foundational Axis of Aquatic Proficiency The role of kicking is often simplified to a means of forward momentum. A more nuanced analysis reveals a deeper truth: the kick is the central, biomechanical foundation of a swimmer’s skill set, serving as the prerequisite for all subsequent technical and motor-skill acquisition. It is the primary …

Announcing: Lesson Plan Builder

August 20, 2025 by Jeff N

I’m thrilled to announce a brand-new tool, built exclusively for you, that I think you’re going to love: The Swimming Ideas Lesson Plan Builder! Have you ever wanted to quickly create a custom, professional-looking lesson plan for a specific level and skill? Now you can, in just a few minutes. Our new web app allows …

Swimming Game – Dancing Jumps

April 23, 2025November 5, 2024 by Jeff N

Name Dancing Jumps Core Skill The core skill developed in this game is jumping entries with proper body positioning and control. Swimmers will practice maintaining specific poses in the air and during their water entry, improving balance, body awareness, and transition into swimming skills. Who This game is designed for level 2, level 3, level …

Swimming Game – Challenge: Flip Flop Flap

May 8, 2025November 3, 2024 by Jeff N

Name Flip Flop Flap Core Skill This game helps swimmers develop balance and coordination while transitioning between front float and back float positions. It also introduces the concept of controlled movement in the water and promotes water confidence through dynamic activities. Who Suitable for swimmers of varying skill levels, from beginner to intermediate. Perfect for …

Swimming Game – Challenge: Macarena Position 11

May 8, 2025October 21, 2024 by Jeff N

Name Macarena Position 11 One-liner Streamline then Position 11 across the pool;hile kicking in Position 11 rotate palms up and then down one hand at a time to the beat of the song “Macarena.” Core Skill The core skill developed in this game is maintaining Position 11 with hands stretched outwards at the surface or …

Weekly Mentorship Meeting

October 16, 2024 by Jeff N

Swimming Game – Big Bad Wolf

April 23, 2025October 16, 2024 by Jeff N

While floating on a noodle or life jacket, use your breath to blow a ping pong ball from one bench to the other.

Core Skill

This game focuses on breath control and coordination, essential for developing swimming skills in young learners.

Swimming Game – Challenge: Noodle Scull

May 8, 2025October 14, 2024 by Jeff N

Name Noodle Scull Core Skill The core skill being developed in this challenge is sculling. Swimmers will learn how to use their hands to push against the water to move. This helps them understand the feeling of water resistance and how their efforts translate into movement. Who This game is suitable for Level 1, Level …

Swimming Game – Treasure Dive; variation on diving for toys

April 23, 2025October 11, 2024 by Jeff N

Name Treasure Dive Core Skill This game focuses on building confidence and improving underwater swimming skills. Who Suitable for Level 1 and Level 2 swimmers who are comfortable submerging their heads underwater. What Participants will need a few small waterproof toys or objects to serve as “treasures.” These can be placed at the bottom of …

Swimming Game – Challenge: Kick on Side Helicopter Arm

May 8, 2025October 7, 2024 by Jeff N

Name Kick on Side Helicopter Arm Core Skill This challenge focuses on improving the swimmer’s front crawl (freestyle) technique, particularly enhancing body rotation, arm movement, and kicking strength. Who This challenge is suitable for: What The “Kick on Side Helicopter Arm” challenge involves swimmers pushing off the wall in a streamlined position on their belly, …

Swimming Game – Challenge: Position 11 Cartwheel

May 8, 2025October 3, 2024 by Jeff N

Name Position 11 Cartwheel Core Skill The core skills targeted in this challenge are Position 11, Streamline, and Flip Turns. These are essential for developing efficient swimming techniques and improving overall performance in the water. Who This challenge is designed for Level 3, Level 4, and Developmental swimmers. These swimmers have a foundational understanding of …

Join the Paid Newsletter today!

October 2, 2024 by Jeff N

Join the Swimming Ideas Newsletter Exciting updates and tools for everyone! Premium lesson plans and guides for subscribers! Latest FREE newsletters: Latest PAID newsletters:

Swimming Game – Challenge: Hurdles and Limbos

May 8, 2025October 1, 2024 by Jeff N

Name Hurdles and Limbos Core Skill The primary skill developed in this game is underwater comfort and breath control. Swimmers will practice going underwater and holding their breath, which is essential for building confidence in the water. Additionally, this game helps improve coordination and body control as swimmers navigate over and under obstacles. Who This …

Swimming Game – Challenge: Superman, Save Me!

May 8, 2025September 30, 2024 by Jeff N

Name: Superman, Save Me! Core Skill The core skills targeted in this game are streamline, position 1, and position 1 breathing to the side. These skills are essential for developing efficient swimming techniques and improving overall water confidence. The game also encourages fun and engagement, making learning enjoyable for young swimmers. Who This game is …

Swimming Game – Challenge: Be a submarine

May 8, 2025September 25, 2024 by Jeff N

Name: Challenge – Be a Submarine Core Skill: Buoyancy Control and Breath Control This game focuses on helping swimmers improve their buoyancy control and breath-holding skills. It also enhances their ability to maintain a stable position underwater while managing an additional challenge. Who: This game is suitable for swimmers of all ages who are comfortable …

Making a Splash: How Effective Supervision Makes Summer Swimming Lessons a Success

April 20, 2024 by Jeff N

Summer beckons with its promise of warm days, sunshine, and cool water. For many children, this also means the opportunity to participate in summer swimming lessons. These lessons are invaluable for developing water safety skills and building confidence in the pool. But behind the scenes, ensuring a safe and positive learning environment hinges on one …

Swimming Game – Challenge: Singing in the Rain

August 20, 2025April 16, 2024 by Jeff N

#swimgame #challenge #level1 #guppies #goingunderwater Name Sing in the Rain Core Skill The core skill focused on in this challenge is water comfort. Swimmers will practice being comfortable with water on their face and head, which is essential for developing confidence in the water. Who This challenge is designed for Guppies and Level 1 swimmers. …

Swimming Game: Secret Messages

November 6, 2024April 5, 2024 by Jeff N

Name Secret Messages Core Skill The core skill of this game is going underwater and observation. It encourages participants to go underwater and open their eyes as players try to decipher the secret messages. Who This game is inclusive and can be played by anyone who can go underwater, including non-swimmers or weak swimmers. They …

Swimming Game – Circle Circle and Under

April 23, 2025March 26, 2024 by Jeff N

Name Circle Circle and Under Core Skill The core skill focused on in this game is swimming agility and comfort with submersion. It encourages children to practice quick movements in the water and become more comfortable with the idea of going under the water. Who This game is designed for children who are learning to …

Swimming Game – Challenge: Guard Tube Raft

May 8, 2025February 28, 2024 by Jeff N

Name Guard Tube Raft Core Skill This challenge aims to improve the swimmers’ balance, core strength, teamwork, and fun. Who This challenge is suitable for swimmers of any level who can sit on a lifeguard tube. It can be done with two or three swimmers per tube. What The swimmers are given a lifeguard tube …

Swimming Game – Fill the Bucket, Empty the Bucket

November 6, 2024February 27, 2024 by Jeff N

Name Fill the bucket, empty the bucket Core Skill This challenge aims to improve the swimmers’ streamline, arm strokes, back float, and coordination skills. Who This challenge is suitable for swimmers of Levels 1 to 4. It can be done in two separate lanes or in one lane with an even number of swimmers. What …

Swimming Game – Challenge: Giving Love; your favorite toy

May 8, 2025February 14, 2024 by Jeff N

Name Giving Love Core Skill Sharing and swimming skills Who This challenge is suitable for swimmers who can swim at least 50 yards or meters with different toys, tools, or aids. What This challenge is a fun way to celebrate Valentine’s Day by sharing your favorite swimming items with others and trying new ones. How …

Swimming Game – Challenge: Striking Love

May 8, 2025February 14, 2024 by Jeff N

Name Striking Love Core Skill Throwing accuracy and swimming skills Who This challenge is suitable for swimmers who can throw objects over a distance and swim different strokes. What This challenge is a fun way to celebrate Valentine’s Day by throwing “Cupid’s Arrows” into floating hula hoops and swimming to retrieve them. How Difficulties the …

Swimming Game – Challenge: Cupid’s Heart

May 8, 2025February 14, 2024 by Jeff N

Name Cupid’s Heart Core Skill Cardiovascular endurance and social skills Who This challenge is suitable for swimmers who can swim at least 25 yards or meters without stopping and can find their pulse. What This challenge is a fun way to celebrate Valentine’s Day by combining swimming, heart rate monitoring, and positive affirmations. How Difficulties …

Instructor Training Challenge: Name and Food Match

November 20, 2024February 7, 2024 by Jeff N

Name Name and Food Match Core Skill This challenge tests the participants’ memory and observation skills. What The participants will try to remember and match the names and food preferences of everyone at the training. How Difficulties participants might face Some possible difficulties that participants might face are: How this challenge relates to swim instruction …

Instructor Training Challenge: Max Class Setup Pictures

November 20, 2024February 6, 2024 by Jeff N

Name Max Class Setup Pictures Core Skill This challenge tests the participants’ planning and organizing skills for setting up a pool for multiple classes. What The participants will draw a picture of how they would arrange the pool, the benches, and the toys for different levels of classes. How Difficulties participants might face Some possible …

Swimming Game – Challenge: Diving Ring Pickup Progression

May 8, 2025January 31, 2024 by Jeff N

Name Diving Ring Pickup Progression Core Skill This challenge aims to improve the swimmers’ underwater skills, such as breath control, body position, buoyancy, and coordination. Who This challenge is suitable for intermediate to advanced swimmers who are comfortable with diving and staying underwater for a few seconds. What The swimmers must each have their own …

Swimming Game – Keeping the line

November 6, 2024January 16, 2024 by Jeff N

Name Keeping the Line Core Skill Front Glide with Face in the Water Who Level 2 or Level 3 swimmers in a lane What A team game where swimmers push off the wall holding a pool noodle and try to keep it straight until they reach the flags. About 5 yards. How Difficulties an instructor …

Swimming Game – Magic Mirror

November 6, 2024January 10, 2024 by Jeff N

Name Magic Mirror Core Skill This game can help swimmers practice their breath control, underwater vision, and body awareness. Who This game is suitable for swimmers who can submerge their heads comfortably and hold their breath for at least 10 seconds. It can be played with a minimum of two swimmers and a maximum of …

Collaborative Leading for Managers

December 29, 2023 by Jeff N

Collaborative Leading: How to Lead a Successful Swim Program with Your Team Collaborative leading is a leadership style that fosters teamwork, trust, and empowerment among co-workers. It is especially useful for managing a swim program, where you have to coordinate with different staff members, instructors, lifeguards, and participants. In this post, we will explore what …

New Years for a New Program

December 27, 2023 by Jeff N

Why New Year’s is the Perfect Time to Start a New Swimming Lesson Program New Year’s is a time for new beginnings, new resolutions, and new opportunities. If you are an aquatic professional looking for a way to improve your swimming lesson program, this is the perfect time to start with Swimming Ideas. Swimming Ideas …

Swimming Game – Reindeer Jump

November 6, 2024December 18, 2023 by Jeff N

Name Reindeer Jumping Core Skill This game helps swimmers practice their fly stroke and explosive power. Fly stroke is one of the four competitive swimming strokes, also known as butterfly. It requires swimmers to move both arms simultaneously over the water, while using a dolphin kick to propel themselves forward. Explosive power is the ability …

Instructor Success: Be knowledgeable

December 4, 2023 by Jeff N

Why Knowledge Matters for Swim Instructors As a swim instructor, you may have wondered how important it is to know the ins and outs of swimming skills, levels, and jargon. After all, you can teach swimming by simply demonstrating the movements and correcting the mistakes, right? Well, not quite. While practical skills are essential for …

Advanced Lessons: Lesson / Swim Team Bridge

March 6, 2024November 30, 2023 by Jeff N

Advanced Lessons: Lesson & Swim Team bridge classes for swimmers that want to join a competitive team Are you looking for a way to prepare your swimmers for the next level of swimming? Do you want to give them a taste of what it’s like to be part of a swim team? If so, you …

Swimming Game – Tic Toc Around the Clock

November 6, 2024November 29, 2023 by Jeff N

Name Tick Toc Around the Clock Core Skill Freestyle arms recovery, where to enter the water, and where to initiate an arm pull. Who Level 3 swimmers who are learning front crawl arms independently. What A game that teaches swimmers how to do freestyle arms in the correct position with each recovery How ** Note: …

The Three Pillars of Effective Teaching for Swimming Instructors

November 28, 2023 by Jeff N

Teaching is a complex and rewarding profession that requires a combination of skills, knowledge and passion. In this blog post, I will share with you the three pillars of effective teaching that I have learned from my experience as a swimming instructor and coach. These pillars are: follow the formula “activity, activity, challenge”, provide a …

Swimming Game – Do the Twist w/ Mirrors

November 6, 2024November 28, 2023 by Jeff N

Name Do the Twist Core Skill Freestyle hip rotation Who Level 4 swimmers who can swim freestyle for at least 25 yards What A game that uses in-water mirrors to help swimmers practice and compare different ways of rotating their hips while swimming freestyle Want some in-water mirrors for your program? We use these: https://amzn.to/3MZYNXV …

Swimming Game – 3 Thanksgiving Activities for Developmental Swimming Practice

November 6, 2024November 20, 2023 by Jeff N

How to Make Your Swim Practice More Fun and Festive with Thanksgiving Games Are you ready for some festivities at practice? Thanksgiving is a time to celebrate with family and friends, enjoy delicious food, and express gratitude for all the good things in life. But it can also be a time to spice up your …

Swimming Game – Singing and Rolling

November 6, 2024November 16, 2023 by Jeff N

Name Singing and Rolling Core Skill Gliding independently, Side breathing for front crawl Who Level 2 swimmers who can float and glide on their front and back with minimal support What A fun game that challenges swimmers to sing a song while gliding on their front and rolling their body or head to breathe How …

General Lesson Plans: When it’s time to let your instructors experiment.

November 14, 2023November 13, 2023 by Jeff N

The Swimming Ideas All Access Memberships provide many tools for your swimming lesson program. One of those tools is the general lesson plan. This guide is a good reference if you are using Swimming Ideas’ levels and lesson plans and will serve as a reference guide if you’re creating your own levels and lesson plans, …

Training Module: Fixing non-position 11 free arms

November 6, 2024November 9, 2023 by Jeff N

Critical Issue with Free Arms One of the most common problems that swimmers face when learning freestyle is not using their free arms correctly. At a recent audit of Level 3 swimmers doing freestyle swimming not a single one was reaching forward in position 11. Instead I saw a disturbing amount of freestyle swimming with …

Swimming Game – Mirror, Mirror, Pose

November 6, 2024November 8, 2023 by Jeff N

Name Mirror Mirror Pose Core Skill This game helps swimmers to improve their streamline, stroke technique, and body awareness by using swim mirrors to observe their own movements in the water. Who This game is suitable for level 3 swimmers who have learned the basics of freestyle, breaststroke, and butterfly, and can swim at least …

Swimming Game – Halloween Practice with Coach Drake

November 6, 2024November 7, 2023 by Jeff N

This series of games comes from Coach Drake and the Nazareth Easton YMCA. If they played these exciting games on Halloween then I think they must have had an exciting practice full of laughing memories and joyful learning. Keep up the great work Coach Drake and thank you for sharing your ideas and PDF for …

Swimming Game – Challenge: Witch Which Witch

May 8, 2025October 31, 2023 by Jeff N

Name Witch Which Witch Core Skill This game helps swimmers practice their streamline position, balance, and coordination. Who This game is suitable for swimmers who can swim at least 25 meters without stopping and are comfortable in deep water. What This game is a swimming challenge where swimmers pretend to be witches flying on broomsticks. …

Swimming Game – Challenge: Halloween Costume Stroke

May 8, 2025October 26, 2023 by Jeff N

Name Halloween Costume Stroke Core Skill Freestyle swimming with creativity and fun Who Level 3 and Level 4 swimmers who are familiar with the freestyle stroke and can swim at least half a length of the pool. What The challenge asks swimmers to identify what costume they’re going to wear for Halloween. Then, they must …

Swimming Game – Challenge: One Stroke FREE w/ Mirror

May 8, 2025October 23, 2023 by Jeff N

Name One stroke FREE mirror Core Skill Freestyle stroke technique Who Level 3 swimmers who can swim at least 25 yards of freestyle with proper breathing and body position. What A challenge that requires the swimmer to push off the wall in streamline, do one freestyle stroke over a mirror on the bottom of the …

Swimming Game – Zoom around the moon

April 23, 2025October 18, 2023 by Jeff N

Name Zoom Around the Moon Core Skill This game helps swimmers practice their back float, side-glide, front glide or position 1 glide skills in a fun and engaging way. Who This game is suitable for level 1 swimmers who are comfortable with being in the water and can follow simple instructions. The game requires one …

Swimming Game – Challenge: One Finger Floating

May 8, 2025October 14, 2023 by Jeff N

Name One Finger Floating Core Skill The core skill of this challenge is to develop the swimmer’s confidence and balance in the water, as well as to introduce the concept of buoyancy. Who This challenge is suitable for level 1 swimmers who are learning the basic skills of swimming, such as breathing, floating, and gliding. …

How to Use the Rotation Method in Swimming Lessons

December 6, 2023October 13, 2023 by Jeff N

If you are a new swimming instructor, you might be wondering how to organize your class and make sure everyone gets a chance to practice and improve their skills. One of the methods that you can use is the rotation method, which is a simple and effective way to manage your class and create a …

Swimming Game – Challenge: Puppet Master Freestyle

May 8, 2025October 12, 2023 by Jeff N

Name Puppet Master Freestyle Core Skill Front crawl breathing Who Level 3 swimmers in small groups of 3-4 What A fun and challenging game that involves one dummy and the rest puppet masters in each lane. The puppet masters have to manipulate the dummy’s body to perform three full strokes of freestyle with one side …

Why swimming games are a crucial component of a swim lesson

November 6, 2024October 11, 2023 by Jeff N

Swimming is a great way to stay fit, have fun, and learn a valuable life skill. However, learning how to swim can also be challenging, boring, or even scary for some people. That’s why swimming games are a crucial component of a swim lesson. Swimming games can help participants get better at real swimming skills …

Swimming Game – Splash and Dash

August 20, 2025October 10, 2023 by Jeff N

Here is a swimming game for a guppies ? Name Splash and Dash Core Skill This game helps toddlers to practice their kicking and breathing skills in the water. Who This game is suitable for guppies level swimmers, who are toddlers aged 3 to 5 years old. They should be able to float on their …

Swimming Game – Challenge: One Breath Waltz

May 8, 2025October 10, 2023 by Jeff N

Name One breath waltz Core Skill Side breathing for freestyle Who Level 3 swimmers who have mastered the basic freestyle stroke and want to improve their breathing technique and coordination. What A swimming challenge that involves doing a streamline underwater, then at the surface they should take one freestyle breath while leaving the other arm …

Giving Feedback during swimming lessons

October 6, 2023 by Jeff N

This is a summary of the pages found in the Lesson Coordinator Handbook. The handbook is included in the All-Access membership, or available for direct purchase as a PDF or print book. As a swim instructor, one of your most important tasks is to give feedback to your swimmers. Feedback is the information you provide …

Swimming Game – 6 Jumps from the blocks

November 6, 2024October 5, 2023 by Jeff N

Name Jumping off the Blocks Core Skill This game helps swimmers practice their jumping or diving skills from the blocks, as well as their underwater swimming and wall exit. Who This game is suitable for swimmers on a developmental swim team or in level 4, who have some experience with jumping or diving from the …

Swimming Game – Bench Crossing

April 23, 2025October 4, 2023 by Jeff N

Name Bench Crossing Core Skill Independent front glides Who Level 2 swimmers who can float and glide on their front with minimal support What The swimmer must cross a short gap between two benches in different ways How Challenges Some possible challenges that a swim instructor might face are: Some possible solutions that a swim …

Swimming Game – Challenge: Backstroke Kick Count

May 8, 2025October 3, 2023 by Jeff N

Name Backstroke Kick Count Challenge Core Skill Backstroke and kicking to the wall Who Level 3 swimmers who can swim at least 15 yards of backstroke with proper body position and arm movement What A personal challenge game where swimmers try to touch the wall on their back with the least number of kicks after …

Swimming Game – Challenge: 25 Position 11 Freestyle

May 8, 2025October 2, 2023 by Jeff N

Name 25 Position 11 Freestyle Challenge Core Skill Freestyle arms reaching to position 11 with every stroke Who Level 4 swimmers who can swim at least 25 yards of freestyle with proper breathing What A personal challenge game where swimmers try to swim a 25 with as few strokes of position 11 freestyle possible, which …

Swimming Game – Challenge: Stroke Switch

May 8, 2025September 27, 2023 by Jeff N

Name The Stroke Switch Challenge Who Level 4 swimmers who can swim 50 meters of front or back crawl, and have some experience with breaststroke and butterfly. What A personal skill challenge that involves switching strokes. Swimmers must do at least 3 strokes of each of the 4 competitive strokes, Fly, Back, Breast, Free before …

Fighting Burnout

September 24, 2023 by Jeff N

How to Avoid Burnout as an Aquatic Professional After the Summer If you are an aquatic professional, you know how hectic and rewarding the summer season can be. You get to manage a large and diverse staff, oversee the operations of outdoor pools, and create memorable experiences for your guests. You also face many challenges, …

Swimming Game – Kickboard Chaos

November 6, 2024September 12, 2023 by Jeff N

Name: Kickboard Chaos Core Skill: Kicking Who: Beginners who are comfortable with water on their face What: A fun game that involves kicking, splashing, and buckets with kickboards and diving rings How: Struggles Instructors might face: Do you like this game?

Swimming Game – Superhero Glides

November 6, 2024September 12, 2023 by Jeff N

Name Superhero Glides Core skill Gliding on the front and back How The instructor stands in the water near the wall and holds a superhero toy or picture. The swimmer stands on the bench and waits for the instructor to show the superhero. The swimmer then leans into the swim instructor’s support and glides on …

Swimming Game – Streamline Hop

November 6, 2024September 11, 2023 by Jeff N

SIP 094: Lesson Plans & Swim Instructor Struggles

September 10, 2023 by Jeff N

Swimming Game – Challenge: Two Toe Tornado

April 23, 2025September 9, 2023 by Jeff N

Play this challenge as a simple one off individually with a simple pass or fail or play it as a competitive race with points! Challenge: The challenge is called Two Toe Tornado and teaches how important using your full leg from hips to knees, to legs are in kicking and movement. You need a kickboard …

Swimming Game – Splash and Sing

April 23, 2025September 7, 2023 by Jeff N

Splash and Sing is a fun and easy game that helps 3 year olds get comfortable with putting their faces in the water and blowing bubbles. The children will splash the water with their hands and sing a song of their choice.Lo

Swimming Game – Glide and Catch

April 23, 2025September 3, 2023 by Jeff N

Category: Level 2 – Glides and Crawls Core Skill: Front glide and recover independently Name: Glide and Catch How: The instructor gives the group of 4 or 5 a basket of balls or other floating objects. One swimmer glides on their front as far as they can or to a bench, then recovers to a …

Swimming Game – Flip a Coin Glides; AI generated

April 23, 2025August 29, 2023 by Jeff N

Flip a Coin Glides It would make sense to have swimmers move from bench to bench moving in a Wave, or all at the same time. Make sure there is enough space between swimmers so that they don’t glide over each other. Some challenges a swim instructor might face when conducting the Flip a coin …

Swimming Game – Pirates and Explorers; AI generated

April 23, 2025August 29, 2023 by Jeff N

Pirate and Explorer

Swimming Game – Bubble Pop; AI generated

November 6, 2024August 29, 2023 by Jeff N

Name: Bubble PopObjective: To teach toddlers how to blow bubbles in the water and control their breath.Materials: A pool noodle or a long inflatable toy.Instructions: Benefits: Source: Conversation with Bing, 8/29/2023(1) 5 fun and easy games that teach your kids how to swim. https://www.todaysparent.com/kids/teach-kids-swimming-with-five-fun-and-easy-games/.(2) Learn to Swim games | Videos & descriptions | Games to …

Swimming Game – Challenge: Spin in SL underwater

May 8, 2025August 25, 2023 by Jeff N

Swimming Game – Challenge: At Flags, 3 fly to get to 1/2 way

May 8, 2025August 25, 2023 by Jeff N

Swimming Game – Challenge: Splash the Deck

May 8, 2025August 25, 2023 by Jeff N

Teaching Swimming: Essential Swim Skills video 5 of 10

August 23, 2023 by Jeff N

Join us when you’re a member of the All-Access and Aquatic Professional memberships as we go through the Teaching Swimming essential swim skills. We continue to use the online course Teaching Swimming and the print pdf books Teaching Swimming and Lesson Coordinator Handbook as our references. We’ll also loop in other documents available to you …

Swimming Question: How should I prepare for the first day of practice as a new High School Swimming Coach?

August 22, 2023 by Jeff N

I get a lot of questions about swimming from a diverse range of people. Sometimes they’re interesting enough that I can share them with the world. This is one such question. I implore you to look at the list from SwimSwam. USA Swimming is a fantastic resource for coaches of all levels and skill. Dear …

Swimming Game – Toy Toss

August 26, 2025August 17, 2023 by Jeff N

Category: Swimming Games for Toddlers Core Skill: Going Underwater Name: Toy Toss How: This game is simple but fun. You need a toy that floats in water, such as a rubber duck or a plastic ring. You can use any toy that your child likes, as long as it is safe and easy to see. …

Teaching Swimming: Essential Swim Skills video 4 of 10

August 21, 2023August 16, 2023 by Jeff N

Join us as part of your all access and aquatic professional membership as we go through the teaching swimming essential swim skills. We continue to use the online course teaching swimming and the print pdf books teaching swimming and lesson coordinator handbook. We’ll also loop in lesson plans and describe how these essential swim skills …

Teaching Swimming: Essential Swim Skills Video 3 of 10

August 12, 2023 by Jeff N

video number three covers flutter kicking, streamline, and position 11. Join me as we work our way through all 15 essential swim skills using our training materials as a guide to help you teach better swimming. In this video we are reviewing flutter kick and streamline along with a bonus position 11. We use our …

Swimming Game – Dumpy in the Dingas!

August 26, 2025August 10, 2023 by Jeff N

Category: Going underwater fun Core Skill: Playing, going underwater Name: Dumpy in the Dingas How: Do you want to make your toddler’s swimming lessons more fun and engaging? Do you want to help them overcome their fear of going underwater and learn to enjoy the water? If so, you might want to try this new …

Swimming Game – Mirror Me

November 6, 2024July 24, 2023 by Jeff N

Category: Personal Challenge Core Skill: Any swimming skill or activity Name: Mirror Me How: I would describe the Mirror Game for swimming to a swim instructor like this: The Mirror Game is a fun and easy game that can help swimmers practice their coordination, balance, and imitation skills. It can also encourage creativity and social …

Using feedback in a swimming lesson effectively

December 6, 2023July 13, 2023 by Jeff N

Feedback is an essential component of any learning process, especially in swimming. Feedback can help swimmers improve their skills, correct their mistakes, and increase their confidence. However, not all feedback is equally effective. In this blog post, we will discuss some principles and tips for using feedback in a swimming lesson effectively, based on the …

Swimming Game – Spray Dance Streamline

August 20, 2025July 9, 2023 by Jeff N

Category: Group activity, physical movements Core Skill: Learning swim terminology, practicing on land, following directions Name: Spray Dance Streamline How: The instructor leads the activity by introducing the directions and then demonstrating the pretend play and movements. It is super important that the instructor Demonstrates and participates in this activity. They must set the tone. …

Swimming Game – Animal Hunt (splashpad)

August 20, 2025July 8, 2023 by Jeff N

– **Swimming Game – Animal Hunt**: A pretend play game for 2-4 year olds in the splash pad where they have to rescue animals that escaped from the zoo by imitating their sounds and movements.
– **Core Skill**: Listening, playing, and following directions. The instructor leads the game by demonstrating the animal actions and the swimmers mimic them¹[1]. The goal is to build trust and encourage the swimmers to join in the fun²[2].
– **Examples of Animals**: Elephants, giraffes, lions, monkeys, snakes, and alligators. Each animal has a different water feature and a way of interacting with it. The instructor should make the motions goofy, funny, and interesting³[3].
– **Free Resources and Community**: The document invites the readers to join a free community of aquatic professionals and provides contact information and categories of swim lesson games.

Swimming Game – Underwater Position 11

November 6, 2024July 3, 2023 by Jeff N

Tips for New Hires

April 22, 2023 by Jeff N

If you are a new hire at a swimming pool and you are 15 years old, you might feel nervous, excited, or overwhelmed by your first summer job. You might wonder how to do your best as a swim instructor, how to get along with your coworkers and supervisors, and how to have fun while …

How to create swimming challenges/Streamline through Hula Hoops; an AI article

April 8, 2023April 4, 2023 by Jeff N

**Written by Bing Chat using www.swimminglessonsideas.com as inspiration. Edited and updated by Jeff N.** I’m constantly impressed by the quality of these articles and feel like they’re somewhat cheating, though they summarize and disseminate information from this website so well it seems stupid to waste time typing myself. Does it cheapen the information if it …

Swimming Game – Pool Noodle Surfing

November 6, 2024April 4, 2023 by Jeff N

** This game was created by Bing Chat AI. What do you think? ** How to Play Pool Noodle Surfing: A Fun and Easy Swimming Game for Kids Who Pool noodle surfing is a simple and fun swimming game that can be played by kids of all ages and swimming abilities, as long as they …

What’s wrong with this AI generated article on Breaststroke?

April 4, 2023April 4, 2023 by Jeff N

You may have noticed but I’ve become obsessed with Bing chat and chat GPT AI text generations. I find that they are incredibly useful for supplementing existing knowledge but not quite matching the nuance and details of a true experience journeyman or master of a subject. I asked it to use this website as a …

Swimming Game – Glide or Die; an AI swimming game

November 6, 2024April 3, 2023 by Jeff N

I am tinkering with using BingChat AI to see how it works. It came up with the following swim game. What do you think? ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ A Swimming Lesson Game for Breaststroke Are you looking for a fun and effective way to teach your students the breaststroke arms and kick? Do you want to challenge them …

Swimming Game – Twirling Strokes

November 6, 2024April 3, 2023 by Jeff N

Swimming Game – Challenge: Lift toes out of water

May 8, 2025April 3, 2023 by Jeff N

Get ready! Lesson Coordinator Handbook

February 2, 2024February 28, 2023 by Jeff N

The companion book for swim lesson managers is well underway! Are you ready to have a training guide for in-person staff on-boarding? Ready to have a resource that goes into detail for each of our Levels? We have the book for you: Lesson Coordinator Handbook: a companion guide for fun and effective instruction. This book …

Swimming Game – Challenge: Swim around the circle

May 8, 2025January 8, 2023 by Jeff N

Swimming Game – Challenge: Position 1 Breath

May 8, 2025January 8, 2023 by Jeff N

Swimming Game – Challenge: Flips

May 8, 2025January 7, 2023 by Jeff N

Swimming Game – Challenge: Flatten self like a squished BUG!

May 8, 2025January 7, 2023 by Jeff N

Swimming Game – Challenge: Sit on bottom

May 8, 2025January 3, 2023 by Jeff N

Swimming Game – Challenge: Elite; DO 4 BR kicks on back

May 8, 2025January 2, 2023 by Jeff N

The belly should remain at the surface of the water; ideally with the belly button over the surface. Do 4 breaststroke kicks keeping your knees underwater. This challenge works on balance and body control and is extremely difficult to do even for more elite swimmers. Pay special attention to the belly button and the knees. …

Lesson Formula: Activity, Activity, Challenge

September 11, 2023October 3, 2022 by Jeff N

Better lessons and easier instruction starts when you can lean into a proven pattern. Your teachers will be more effective, be able to teach complex skills with predictable effectiveness and still provide a fun and exciting lesson for younger swimmers. Why use a formula? When you work with a large staff and have multiple lessons …

Swimming Game – Challenge: Swim around the circle

May 8, 2025October 3, 2022 by Jeff N

Swimming Game – Challenge: Vampire Sleep

May 8, 2025September 4, 2022 by Jeff N

This game can be played with a pool noodle or a floatie. The kids lie on their back on the noodle or floatie and close their eyes. They pretend to be vampires sleeping in their coffins. The instructor or another kid tries to wake them up by splashing water on them or making noises. The …

Swimming Game – Challenge: Handstand with Flip

May 8, 2025September 2, 2022 by Jeff N

Swimming Game – Challenge: BR Kicks on back

May 8, 2025September 1, 2022 by Jeff N

Swimming Game – Challenge: Canoe Paddle

May 8, 2025August 31, 2022 by Jeff N

Swimming Game – Challenge: Streamline on Side to flags

May 8, 2025August 31, 2022 by Jeff N

Name: Side Streamline Challenge Core Skill: Body Position and Balance Who: Swimmers who have mastered the basic streamline position and can kick on their front and back. What: A challenge to practice maintaining a horizontal and streamlined position on the side, while looking at the wall. How: Swimmers start at one end of the pool, …

Swimming Game – Run or alligator walk race

November 6, 2024April 21, 2022 by Jeff N

Swimming Game – Mushroom Man

April 23, 2025April 21, 2022 by Jeff N

Swimming Game – Challenge: Star Float without Kicking

May 8, 2025December 1, 2021 by Jeff N

Swimming Game – Challenge: Streamline Push

May 8, 2025November 5, 2021 by Jeff N

Game – Streamline Push Create partners or groups. One person floats on their back or belly in streamline. Other person holds their feet. When they’re ready, the person holding the feet pushes using hands and feet on the wall to “Push” the streamline as far as you can go. The winner is the “streamline” that …

Swimming Game – Challenge: Handstand Rewind

May 8, 2025October 6, 2021 by Jeff N

I think that this is one of my favorite challenge games, and the best part of it is that the swimmer invented it on his own! I loved this! The kids on the swim team love this challenge and they can do it on their own during sets while they’re waiting for their turn or …

Swimming Game – Challenge: Log Push

May 8, 2025October 6, 2021 by Jeff N

I often get asked what this game works on. A parent might be watching from the stands or the observation lounge or a coach might wander by with a curious look on their face. Great question. Let’s look at the pieces involved in this challenge: Yes, we play games with a purpose. Even if that …

Swimming Game – Smile Face Float Boat and Push

April 23, 2025May 24, 2021 by Jeff N

Category: Group / Individual Core Skill: Getting comfortable with the water. Name: Smile Face Float Boat This is another game you can use with the floating smile faces. We use it as an introduction to getting in the water with hesitant 3 year-olds. It doesn’t hold up to anyone older as they’ll get a little …

Swimming Game – Smiley Faces

April 23, 2025May 21, 2021 by Jeff N

Category: Group / Individual Core Skill: Putting your face underwater Name: Smiley Faces How: Using the smiley face float toys have your swimmer smile as big as the toy, and hold it up to their faces. Then, using their face, push the floating toy underwater while keeping your smile as large as the toy. Smile …

About Swim Lessons PRO

December 6, 2023April 25, 2021 by Jeff N

Swim Lessons PRO gives you the power to create your own levels and skills, track them, and have parents see their own child’s progress. Want to modify Swimming Ideas’ level structure to fit your personal site-specific needs? You can do that! Want to use an easier method for tracking your swimmer’s progress? See each swimmer’s …

Easily add your own Levels and Skills

April 12, 2021April 12, 2021 by Jeff N

Setting up your swimming lesson program online has never been easier. You can now log into our online lesson management and create your own levels and skills within a few short minutes. Add your own levels: Click on “levels” then using the menu at the top click, “Add Level.” Type in the name of the …

Creating your own swimming lesson levels

December 6, 2023March 19, 2021 by Jeff N

Swimming Ideas’ levels are designed to be quick and easy target points for skill assessment. They’re refined and concise to make testing and placement easier. When I was sixteen, over 25 year ago, teaching my first swimming lessons we followed the American Red Cross level system. At the end of the week we had to …

Challenges for advanced age group swimmers

September 21, 2024March 16, 2021 by Jeff N

Why they work and how to adapt your fun games to incite excitement and determination in veteran swimmers. Last night I did the above challenge with some advanced swimmers. These were kids that have been swimming for about 6 years on the team; since they were 5 or 6 and are now 11. I know. …

What to do when a swimmer falls underwater

August 13, 2020 by Jeff N

Imagine with me for a second that you’re walking on your pool deck, observing swim lessons, and you see a kid wander off the bench or let go of the wall and immediately start drowning. Active drowning, trashing around not able to get up. The instructor rushes over to catch the swimmer, lifts them out …

Covid-19 and Swimming

April 17, 2020 by Jeff N

I sincerely hope that you and your loved ones are healthy, happy, and safe. All of us are struggling with either stay at home orders or a reduction in hours and livelihood. Our businesses hinge on having people in the water. If we get more people we’re more successful. Moving forward the suggestion is that large …

Creativity through Failure.

February 21, 2020 by Jeff N

Yesterday I sat through a webinar about how to leverage your creativity and empower your employees. It was lead by a veteran of the parks and recreation industry. She wasted our time. I know. Harsh. Scandalous. If you’re going to have your staff sit through an hour long powerpoint presentation then give actionable insight. Provide more …

What Aquatic Professionals can learn from the Super Bowl

February 2, 2020 by Jeff N

This afternoon you might be at a super bowl party or at your home nuzzling the chili cheese hotdogs you eat once a year. Maybe you’re suffering through the gameplay to see the commercials or maybe you’re a diehard fan. Personally I want San Francisco to win. Not because I know anything about them but …

Using a TV at swimming

October 20, 2019 by Jeff N

I’ve always felt that one of the biggest impediment to using technology on the pool deck was getting it to work quickly. swimminglessonsideas.com has been an excellent resource and tool I frequent when I’m running swim lessons or training new staff. Recently I purchased a television and mounted it on wheels so that I could …

How to get new hires ready to teach swim lessons

December 6, 2023October 7, 2019 by Jeff N

I work with a lot of 15 and 16 year olds that are starting a job for the first time. They are enthusiastic, energetic, but don’t always know what to do, and can often feel a strong sense of anxiety and uncertainty when they are presented with new things. One of the biggest struggles I …

Help teach streamline better

September 23, 2019September 19, 2019 by Jeff N

When you do streamline like a thousand times, a hundred thousand, then you forget that it can be difficult for beginners to do well. I work with kids that are transitioning from swim lessons into swim team. They don’t know how to push off in streamline. What comes naturally for me, now, is totally foreign …

Manager Training Tips going into Fall .2019

August 15, 2019 by Jeff N

Summer is about to finish most swim professionals, aquatic professionals, are wrapping up their summer outdoor programs in the United States. That means we are struggling to find staff after our college workers had gone back to school and our high school staff is left covering the same pools with fewer people and an additional …

Swimming Game – Away Camp

November 6, 2024July 23, 2019 by Jeff N

Swimming game – Diving well challenge

November 6, 2024July 23, 2019 by Jeff N

Swimming Game – Pay the Hot Dog Vendor

November 6, 2024July 11, 2019 by Jeff N

Swimming Game – Race: Pick your Pieces

November 6, 2024July 11, 2019 by Jeff N

Swimming Game – Triathlon: Swim, Bike, Run; at swim practice

November 6, 2024June 4, 2019 by Jeff N

Swimming Game – Read the Map

November 6, 2024May 28, 2019 by Jeff N

Swimming Game – Earn Points Grid

November 6, 2024May 23, 2019 by Jeff N

Swim Lessons and Hypotonia

April 11, 2019 by Jeff N

Hypotonia is a condition commonly known as “floppy baby.” I found the wikipedia entry to be excellent and drastically expanded my understanding of the condition when working with swimmers. Looking back, I know that this is what one family tried to tell me about that i didn’t realize the full extent of. A reader sent …

Training Module – Command Language

March 23, 2022March 13, 2019 by Jeff N

Spring. Melting snow, longer sunlight, and weather so strange, variable and weird that you have no idea what type of clothing your’e going to need next. Spring is also the time you need to start thinking about training your new hires when summer starts and your pools open. If you’re like me and you have …

Swimming Game – Swim Subtraction

November 6, 2024March 6, 2019 by Jeff N

Category: Distance swimming, Group Core Skill: Coach’s Choice, Reading the board. Name: Swim Subtraction WHO This game is for swim teams that know how to read the board a little bit. Some ability to read your shorthand, your practices, or some familiarity with your program is important. Do not play this game with beginners. We …

Swimming Game – Give a Gift, Take a Swim

November 6, 2024February 25, 2019 by Jeff N

Category: Group activity, Social Core Skill: Coach’s choice Name: Valentine’s Day Practice I like to do different things for the holidays. Most of the kids that participate on our swim team are in grade school or middle school. They’re somewhere between 5 years old and 13 on the developmental swim team. For Valentine’s Day I …

Swimming Game – Tic Tac Toe

November 6, 2024January 10, 2019 by Jeff N

Every year I get a few new assistant coaches that help me run my developmental swim practices. Once they understand the language that I use, the routines and habits for the different groups, and are comfortable with the flow and format of most practices I give them opportunities to take ownership of the groups. I …

Swimming Game – Trick and Treat

November 6, 2024November 6, 2018 by Jeff N

Category: Group Activities Core Skill: Reading the board, self-guided practice Name: Trick and Treat WHO: This game is for swim team participants or people that can be in the water without someone in the water with them. You could do this with lessons but would need a person in the water at each station to …

Teach Fun and Effective Swimming; New workbook

November 5, 2018 by Jeff N

It has been a crazy few months working behind the scenes. A quick update from May 2018 – November 2018. Updated the Online Swim Database. Created a complete attendance system for swim teams. Click a button, have all the records auto-update and use checkboxes to mark who was at practice. Track total practices and dates …

SIP 081: Sun protection for swim instructors

July 8, 2018 by Jeff N

[smart_track_player url=”http://traffic.libsyn.com/swimmingideas/SIP_081.mp3″ title=”SIP 081: Sun protection for swim instructors” artist=”Swimming Ideas” ] SUN SCREEN! SUN LOTION! SUN BLOCK! This is the most essential product you can buy. I’m talking about sun tan lotion. Sun block. We use this gallon jug. You can use this too. I suggest making it mandatory for all swim instructors to …

Swimming Game – Activities on Ping Pong Balls

November 6, 2024June 18, 2018 by Jeff N

Seastarz Swim School was kind enough to let me post this here. I wanted to share this with everyone because it is an awesome idea. I have a few thoughts on how I assume this would work in both swim lessons and on swim teams. Category: Group Activity Core Skill: Coach’s Choice Name: Ping Pong Adventure This …

Questions and Answers; Reader Help

May 10, 2018 by Jeff N

I get email from readers of the site all the time, and usually I respond as best I can, and sometimes turn those questions into blog posts or podcast episodes. I got this one today, and think you will benefit from it. Here it is, and Thank you Heather! Dear Jeff, A former colleague …

Swimming Game – President’s Day Trivia

November 6, 2024March 15, 2018 by Jeff N

Category: Group Activity Core Skill: General Swimming / Quiz Name: President’s Day Trivia This game is actually a trivia portion with a bunch of little mini-games inside of it associated with each President. Holidays are a good excuse to do something different or new. I remember inventing the baseball swim game for our swim group during the …

Variations on standard techniques for better swimming

September 14, 2019January 9, 2018 by Jeff N

At Swimming Ideas we’re all about ability, skill, and learning over endurance. I’d rather see someone swim well than swim sloppy for 200 yards. Perhaps I should say that we’re in the business of “fun and effective” swimming. In fact, I wrote a whole book about creating “fun and effective swim games.” Through our swim …

Swimming Game – Streamline Line Walk

November 6, 2024November 29, 2017 by Jeff N

Category: Group Activity Core Skill: Dryland / Core Strength / Streamline Name: [Streamline] Line Walk Ideas come from many different areas. This game was inspired by talking with another coach about her exercise training she was doing at her gym. The basic concept is like what I call an “indian run.” Thought I’m sure there …

Are you respected or feared?

November 1, 2017 by Jeff N

“Oh my god! Coach Jeff! How are you?” Or the more common smile and hide behind the parent’s leg, but still want to tell me a story in too many random details like children tell stories. That is what I most often hear and see when I run into swimmer families around the community. I …

Swimming Game – Flick a Frog

November 6, 2024October 9, 2017 by Jeff N

Category: Personal Challenge Core Skill: Aerobic Workout (coach’s choice) Name: Flick a Frog I like to use props when I can, and some days they’re better than others. I happened to stumble upon a basket of little plastic frogs. Naturally, I wanted to figure out a way to incorporate them into my swim lessons or …

Three ways to improve the dry-hair-teenage-swim-instructor’s teaching

September 28, 2017September 27, 2017 by Jeff N

Have you ever just watched a high school age person teach swim lessons, and it seems like they don’t want to be there? You can, like, read their minds as they telegraph all their thoughts with actions. Let me know if you’ve ever seen this scenario played out in your swim program: Sally stands …

Starting a new private swim program

September 1, 2017September 1, 2017 by Jeff N

“If you build it, they will come.” Maybe you’re like me and you remember watching this movie all the time. But was that mantra from the 80’s and 90’s, that iconic saying really true? Can you just “build” something and clients will magically show up? I don’t think so. Swimming Ideas is a business. I …

Preparing for Fall 2017 Swim Lessons

December 6, 2023August 29, 2017 by Jeff N

Most of you are looking at swim lessons starting in the next few weeks. August and September is traditionally when school starts (K-12). The college kids skate away to their universities, and you’re left with the local population, the local community college, and high school kids to fill your staff holes. Fall is a tough …

Games and Toys from Dynamic Aquatics with Kyndal

April 23, 2025June 30, 2017 by Jeff N

I recently sent out an email asking about your struggles this summer. Through some conversation I got to talking to Kyndal from Dynamic Aquatics and she shared some wonderful information about games and toys that she brings to her clients for swim lessons. The following is information that she shared with me about what she …

When to take a step back

July 19, 2017June 27, 2017 by Jeff N

We all make mistakes. I’ve done this before too, and I know there’ll be equally as avoidable mistakes I’ll make in the future. But hopefully we learn from those errors. I watch swim lessons every day, or I am coaching. It is rare that I’m not around a pool. It is what I do. Today, …

Why I absolutely love the Online Lesson Management Suite

May 17, 2017 by Jeff N

Really. I do. I love it. It makes my job as a swim lesson manager easier. It does, and I have a story today to illustrate just one reason why it is so powerful and exciting. The online management suite is one of the tools you get when you join the Complete Swimming Program for …

SIP 058: The One Thing

April 24, 2017 by Jeff N

How to be a better coach or instructor [smart_track_player url=”http://traffic.libsyn.com/swimmingideas/SIP_058.mp3″ title=”SIP 058: The One Thing” artist=”Swimming Ideas” ] Episode 057 with Meighan Julbert: “Focus on the 2-3 things totally essential for swimmer’s success.” Episode 055 with Karis Mount: “My coaches focused on the one thing that would make me improve. We were focused.” Episode …

Adjusting a game – Bake a Cake

April 23, 2025April 8, 2017 by Jeff N

About 40 minutes ago I got out of the water and gave ‘hi-fives’ to the kids from my class, and said, “Well done today, come back next week.” It was not the easiest class. They were all the same “level” in what we call level 2, but they were very new to swimming, and reluctant …

Swim Lesson Update

September 4, 2025April 7, 2017 by Jeff N

We had swim lessons yesterday and I wanted to give you an opportunity to learn from good ideas and some mistakes. In reading this you will learn about how we set up a weekday swim lesson that is open to 5-year-olds and older that can go underwater. The goal of this class is to introduce …

Explaining “11, Y, Eat, and Reach” to teach Breaststroke

March 26, 2017 by Jeff N

Listening to your comments There is a survey that you can fill out that I check regularly to gauge what you want to know about and give you better material. You can fill it out here: https://goo.gl/forms/wMlN2znt1MBKRhGo2 One of the comments was, “I tried ’11, Y, Eat, and Reach’ in Australia, but it didn’t work. It …

Make-up Classes: Good or Bad

February 25, 2017 by Jeff N

Do you offer make-up classes? Whether you do or not, I’m certain that you’ve heard about them. It is a relatively controversial thing in the swim lesson community. Some people hate them, others tolerate them, and some embrace the concept. Where do you fall? Let us know on twitter: [Tweet “Make-ups are not good for …

Finding a balance between fun and discipline

January 28, 2017 by Jeff N

You have taught swim lessons to young kids before, and you’ve likely tried to teach your new swim instructor staff how to strike a balance between fun and learning. But how much time have you spent thinking about how to balance the two in your own classes? Have you considered teaching someone else to instinctively …

Are your ARC lessons efficient?

January 10, 2018January 24, 2017 by Jeff N

The most popular swim lesson program is the American Red Cross Learn-to-Swim. I grew up teaching them, and was even certified as a Water Safety Instructor, ARC’s version for advanced swim instructor training. I remember feeling so official, so empowered and enthusiastic about finally being able to “sign the cards.” And then I filled out …

Swimming Game – Election

November 6, 2024December 9, 2016 by Jeff N

Category: Group Activity Core Skill: Swimming Knowledge / General Swimming Name: Election! We played this game on the fly on November 8th, the night of the american election. With the results in, and Hillary Clinton winning the popular vote by 3 million, and Trump seeming the next president, it highlights some of the interesting things about american …

Swimming Game – Baseball World Series

August 26, 2025November 4, 2016 by Jeff N

Category: Group Activity / Personal Challenge Core Skill: Swimming Knowledge Name: Swimming Baseball Were you caught up in baseball world series fervor? The Cubs finally won the series for the first time in 108 years, and in honor of their last game, we played “Baseball” at swim practice. It was AWESOME! The kids had a blast, and …

Swimming Game – Personal Challenge

August 26, 2025October 27, 2016 by Jeff N

Category: Personal Challenge Core Skill: Varied Name: (Category of Game) You want to play games in your swim lessons and at swim practice. It makes your students more engaged because they have more fun, and it resets their attention allowing you to intersperse your repetitive practice with fun and interesting activities. Games are fun, and they …

Swimming Game – Flip a Coin

November 6, 2024October 7, 2016 by Jeff N

Category: Group Challenge, Chance Core Skill: Coach’s choice Name: Flip a Race You’ll need two large coins. Quarters will do. The coach flips a coin, then a swimmer flips a coin. Swimmers take turns flipping one of the coins. There will be four options: Coach Heads, Swimmer Heads Coach Heads, Swimmer Tails Coach Tails, Swimmer Tails Coach Tails, Swimmer Heads …

Swimming Lesson Guide – Giving feedback

August 26, 2025September 26, 2016 by Jeff N

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Report cards, Certificates, Evaluations: The ins, outs, and positive sandwiches of giving praise and criticism Swimming Lessons Ideas was initially designed as a resource for my own program, and as an online repository for swim lesson games and ideas. I am so fortunate to interact with a diverse and resourceful community of people looking …

How to teach swimming lessons – Concise Commands

December 6, 2023September 25, 2016 by Jeff N

Here is a quick training module you can use as an in-service or during your actual swim instructor training days. By the end of this article you will be able to give a series of clear actionable commands. You will also be able to run a training module or in-service to teach your swim instructors …

Training Module: Line of Sight

October 25, 2017August 26, 2016 by Jeff N

Download the PDF guide and handout here: [button link=”https://www.swimminglessonsideas.com/wp-content/uploads/Training-module-Field-of-View-1-1.pdf”]Download PDF[/button] Training: Line of Sight Key Points: Keep whole class in front of your face Create clear expectations Guard the leapers going past you Set up your training Start in one large group. Handout a copy of this PDF (found at the top of this …

Freestyle Kick Drill – Motorcycle from Teresa AZ

October 25, 2017August 23, 2016 by Jeff N

Swim lessons overall are pretty easy. Put your face in and move your arms and legs to make you move. We help, as swim instructors, in guiding our students to the quickest most efficient way of doing that. One of my favorite things about swim lessons as a teacher, is the immediate feedback that we …

Training Module: Going Underwater

April 22, 2017June 29, 2016 by Jeff N

Download the PDF handout and guide here:[button link=”https://www.swimminglessonsideas.com/wp-content/uploads/Swim-Instructor-In-service-Module-Going-Underwater.pdf”]Training: Going Underwater[/button] Training: Going Underwater Key Points: Offer excessively multiple opportunities to go underwater Instructor must go underwater first and often. No dry heads. Push the next step of the underwater progression, not 2 steps ahead. Incremental Underwater Progression; all 7 steps. Set up your training Start …

Swimming Game – Statue Master

November 6, 2024June 19, 2016 by Jeff N

Category: Personal Challenge (in groups) Core Skill: Body position, body control, mimicking Name: Statue Master Statue master is an interesting game that at first looks like you are wasting time or doing nothing. We first played this game with our beginning developmental age group swim team using the formula found in the book, How to Create Fun …

How to teach swimming lessons – Treading water

December 6, 2023June 17, 2016 by Jeff N

This brilliant swim lesson hack, tip, and guide comes from swim instructor Teresa from Arizona. She has been teaching swimming for 10 years and has a wonderful swimming lesson tactic for teaching treading water. I found her description to be excellent; brief, concise, and so obviously awesome it needed to be shared. If you’ve taught …

Swimming Game – Human Cannonball

November 6, 2024May 26, 2016 by Jeff N

Category: Group Challenge/Skill Core Skill: Streamline Name: Human Cannonball Check out the picture first. We played this game because I noticed at swim practice our streamlines were really lazy and slow. The swimmers were doing them correctly: locked thumbs, squeezed ears, looking down. They were just, slow. Not very energetic or powerful pushes. We played this …

Swimming Game – Underwater Picture

August 26, 2025April 1, 2016 by Jeff N

Category: Individual Challenge Core Skill: Going Underwater, Recovering to surface Name: Underwater picture game This game idea comes from one of Swimming Ideas’ members. She uses this game in her swimming lessons and it is a wonderful way to encourage younger swimmers to put their face in the water and begin opening their eyes behind the goggles. The …

Four great games to go underwater

August 26, 2025March 30, 2016 by Jeff N

Swimming lessons start with being able to go underwater. If you don’t go underwater, then you cannot proceed with learning how to move well through the water. Sometimes it can be difficult to train new staff what to do in their level 1 lessons. In level 1 we focus on going underwater independently. Usually …

Swimming Game – Roll the dice game

August 26, 2025March 19, 2016 by Jeff N

Category: Group Activity or Challenge Core Skill: All, depending on instructor/coach choice Name: Roll the Dice then Go Who: This game is good for all abilities and all groups. The pictured example was done with a developmental swim team group. Ages 5-12, minimum requirements 25 freestyle with breathing, 25 backstroke. Swimmers in that group are learning breaststroke arms …

Effective Teaching – Series 3 of 3

April 21, 2021February 24, 2016 by Jeff N

Surrounded by indifference? I am so thankful for your attention. I know you have a busy life, especially during the summer when swimming seems to be much more in the forefront of our minds. Thank you for both opening this email, and for your interest in www.swimminglessonsideas.com. I want swim lessons in general to be …

Effective Teaching – Series 2 of 3

April 21, 2021February 17, 2016 by Jeff N

How do you create “fun” in your lessons? This is the second in a series about how to teach swimming effectively. You can use these emails to run your swim lesson program, or to go about creating your staff training. Our first email last week was about two key points: Fill your practices/lessons with …

Swimming Game – Kicking Battle

November 6, 2024January 7, 2016 by Jeff N

Kickboard Wars, Kicking Battle, Kick Tug of War No matter what you call this game, it can be fun, exciting and open to many different variations. We’re going to look today at the different criteria for success and failure, challenges to making the game effective and how to overcome them. Carol gives a good description …

Make an ‘attempt,’ do not “try”

October 25, 2017December 28, 2015 by Jeff N

The language we use as swim coaches and swim instructors is important. Even subtle language has a profound impact on our participants. I make an effort with every sentence to speak exactly with instruction as literally as possible. Yoda had it right when he says in Star Wars, “Do, or do not. There is no …

Create Fun and Effective Swim Games – Tutorial

October 25, 2017September 25, 2015 by Jeff N

Learn how to identify who you’re working with when you want to Create Fun and Effective Swim Games In this brief video tutorial we’ll go through the first step of the new book, How to Create Fun and Effective Swim Games. The first portion of the book gives you the steps you need to clearly …

Swim Lesson Guide – Using imagery to teach swimming

October 6, 2015September 24, 2015 by Jeff N

Learn how to use exciting words to teach swimming well This is another sample of the SLI Swim Instructor Training Workbook section 2. In it we review why you need to use imagery to create exciting and useful words when you teach swimming. There are multiple memory, learning, and brain studies on how people incorporate new …

Swim Lesson Guide – How to Earn trust through repeated honesty

September 21, 2015September 19, 2015 by Jeff N

Learn how to teach swimming by earning the trust of your participants through repeated honesty When you follow through with your commands and are honest with what your intentions are, your students will listen and attempt new things. When you trick them or force your participants into doing things they are afraid of or simply …

Swim Lesson Guide – Removing “okay” from your sentences

December 6, 2023September 19, 2015 by Jeff N

Drop this word at the end of your sentences to teach better. When you remove ‘okay’ from the end of your sentences you empower your language to produce results. Do you want to teach a better class? Would you like to be heard, listened to, and have your instructions followed? There is a simple trick …

Swim Lesson Guide – Underwater Progression

December 6, 2023September 19, 2015 by Jeff N

I created this short, 10 minute training video to supplement the SLI Swim Instructor Training Workbook. This goes along with the first section, Going Underwater. When you teach swimming, sometimes you need a guide to teach going underwater. This is an introductory explanation of the Underwater Progression we use in the SLI swim lesson world. …

Swimming Game – Back float contest

November 6, 2024July 23, 2015 by Jeff N

Category: Individual challenge Core Skill: backstroke, posture, balance Name: Back Float Contest This game is best played in a diving well, or a large open area where you don’t have any lane lines. Here is how we explain the game. “When I say “go,” you will find your own space away from the wall …

Swimming Game – Swimming Musical Chairs

November 6, 2024July 20, 2015 by Jeff N

Category: Group Challenge, Race Core Skill: speed, stroke work chosen by instructor Name: Swimming Musical Chairs It isn’t really musical chairs, and there isn’t any music unless you want there to be. I use that name because it conveys the general rules of the game very well. Get a group of participants. Generally, between 4-8 people. Have them …

Swimming Game – Floating toy hurricane

August 26, 2025July 17, 2015 by Jeff N

Category: Independent Challenge Core Skill: blowing bubbles / going underwater. Name: Floating toy hurricane Level 1 class (going underwater), 5 participants, 1 teacher Assume we have a small pool, water none of the class can touch the bottom in, a platform for the participants to stand in, and a range of toys available. Our goal …

7 Essential Training Topics for New and Returning Summer Swim Instructors

March 27, 2019June 19, 2015 by Jeff N

Keep your staff on task with these key training topics 1. Never Turn your back on a swimmer During swim lessons or when you’re in the chair lifeguarding you should never turn your back to a participant. At all times you should have those swimmers in your care within your field of view. I understand …

Swimming Game – Challenge Day

November 6, 2024June 16, 2015 by Jeff N

Take a break from your regular instruction and assign points to each challenge completion. This game is great for beginners and advanced swimmers as you can dynamically alter the exact challenges to meet the needs of the group you’re working with. My favorite part of this game is how creative you can be based on …

Swimming Game – 100 Point Swim

November 6, 2024June 2, 2015 by Jeff N

Who is this game for? Swim teams, and upper level swimmers. You’ll need to do this with a group that has a decent understanding of general swimming requirements. How many do you need to play? You should have enough people to create two or three teams. You will need enough coaches on deck or swim …

Swimming Game – If you’re Happy and you know it

November 6, 2024April 8, 2015 by Jeff N

The best swimming games are also songs that you can play and sing with multiple groups of people. Ideally you will use this song and game for your Parent Tot classes (infants) and with your beginners who are learning to go underwater. You could adapt this to a more advanced class, but the simplicity of the song and game make it better suited to younger participants.

Swimming Game – Streamline Launch

November 6, 2024March 25, 2015 by Jeff N

We should all know that streamline is the most essential and foundational swimming skill. Every stroke uses it and every portion of each competitive stroke goes through a streamline position with each stroke. In an effort to always approach the benefits of streamline without being dry, boring or needlessly repetitive, we approach good quality streamline …

How to Teach Swimming Lessons: 5 Steps to Diving Like a Pro

October 25, 2017March 19, 2015 by Jeff N

Have your swimmers get used to jumping in from the side. If you’re attempting to teach diving from the blocks for racing starts, have them jump off the blocks first. Being comfortable leaping from the side into the water is the first step to diving. If the swimmers are not comfortable going deep underwater they …

How to Teach Swimming Lessons: Dunk a Child Infographic

March 12, 2015March 12, 2015 by Jeff N

How to Dunk a Child | Create infographics For more guides and lesson plans, check out our Premium Swim Lesson Plans Here! To get games and toys to go with them, check out this post: Swim Toys and the Games to Play

How to Teach Swimming Lessons: Back Glide Script

December 6, 2023February 25, 2015 by Jeff N

Back glides are one of the core essential skills in teaching swimming lessons. The first is going underwater, the second is doing a front glide with your face in the water, and the third, you guessed it, is doing a back glide. We will go over each of the specific phrases you should use to …

Swimming Game – Flip Turn or Open Turn Race

November 6, 2024February 19, 2015 by Jeff N

Setup Game is basically a race between two teams. We have a 4 lane pool. Lanes 1 and 2 get out and stand on their side of the pool, and lanes 3 and 4 stand on their side of the pool (outside). Each team then chooses 2 champions for each round. Race is by individual …

How to Teach Swimming Lessons: Front Glide Script

December 6, 2023February 17, 2015 by Jeff N

You can teach Front Glide in a variety of different ways. It is a skill you can use in Parent Tot, Level One, and Level Two. How you teach it changes in each level, and the focus changes based on the ability of the swimmers. We will break down each ability level for you and …

Swim Lesson Toys and Games to play

November 6, 2024January 23, 2015 by Jeff N

The toys to buy for your swimming lesson program:
These are the best swimming lesson toys that you can get for your swim lessons or swim lesson program. If you use American Red Cross, Starfish Aquatics, or Swim America, you’ll benefit from any or all of these swim lesson toys. Every game, song, or activity is possible, or made better by using these toys.

Swim Lesson Templates and Plans: Learn How and When to use them and Create your own

December 6, 2023December 19, 2014 by Jeff N

Think of a lesson plan for swimming as the roadmap for your instructors to follow. Lesson plans are the guideposts along the path to a successful swim lesson. They help with the class’s flow and skill transitions. With a well written lesson plan you’ll naturally flow from one swimming skill into the next. You’ll gracefully move from underwater activities to glides to arm strokes

Swimming Game – Fly and Back

November 6, 2024October 8, 2014 by Jeff N

What Swimming Skill will be the focus? Flatter surface fly, and pressing down with arms extended Explain the game in detail. What gives a challenge to everyone, but allows for failure? Relay race. Everyone will get a chance to compete, and be part of the team. Put toys at the bottom of the pool just …

Swimming Game – Glide through the Hula Hoop

November 6, 2024October 7, 2014 by Jeff N

What Swimming Skill will be the focus? Breaststroke Glide What can we do that gives a challenge to everyone, but allows for failure? Have one person hold a Hula Hoop and have another swimmer do 2 strokes BR by a certain point and then hold the GLIDE through the hula hoop. Possibly have 3 people …

Swimming Game – Slalom

November 6, 2024October 3, 2014 by Jeff N

We play this game with the middle groups of our swim team. Have at least 7 people in each lane. Have 6 people stand on the middle line down the middle of the lane (on the bottom of the pool) 1 swimmer will push off the wall, and then slalom around the standing swimmers. They …

Getting Level One in the water

October 22, 2014September 7, 2014 by Jeff N

Getting in the water can often be overlooked by most lesson plans and teaching programs. It is generally the first contact that the teacher has with their potentially hesitant participants. We recommend having an established routine. At our pool we have the students come in and go right to their teacher who is waiting on …

Teaching the Level One Swimmer: Assumptions and Goals

October 22, 2014August 18, 2014 by Jeff N

Assumptions We’ll start with a few assumptions: Level One swimmers do not willingly go underwater on their own. They know nothing about freestyle, backstroke, or swimming. They see you move through the water like it is magic, and may not believe that they can do the same thing too. Let’s assume that level one …

Swimming Game – True or False

November 6, 2024July 28, 2014 by Jeff N

We play this game at the end of our swim team practices. Typically we go to the diving well (if we have one). The game is True or False, and there are two ways to play: 1) Swimmers stand on the side with their toes curled over the edge. If the coach says something true, …

Swimming Game – Driving the Stake

November 6, 2024July 23, 2014 by Jeff N

You’ll need a deep pool to play this game! Have your swimmers find a partner. One swimmer gets in as straight as a body position as possible, hands at sides, feet together, and head in line with the spine (basically streamline with hands at hips). The partner pushes the straight swimmer by the shoulders straight …

Why “Mr. Fox” is the worst swim game you can play

November 6, 2024June 18, 2014 by Jeff N

If you are not familiar with the game, check this out: wikipedia on “Mr. Fox” Basically: – swimmer 1 stands away from the others, who typically remain on the wall. -Swimmer 1 waits while others chant: “Mr. Fox, Mr. Fox, what time is it?” -Swimmer 1 then shouts, with their backs turned to the others, …

Swimming Game – Choice Grid

November 6, 2024March 27, 2014 by Jeff N

Use your chalkboard, whiteboard, or poster and create a grid on it.

Activity 1 3x streamline + 3 strokes Free	Activity 2 3x streamline + 2 fly strokes no kick	Activity 3 3x streamline + 3 BK strokes	Activity 4 3x streamline + 2 BR strokes
10 Flips	10 Handstands	10 Streamline Jumps	10 Handstands that turn into flips
4×25 FLY K	4×25 FR K	2x 50 BK	1×100 BR
Float on back from bottom to surface	Put nose, belly button and 1 big toe on bottom for 2 seconds 3x	Do 5 second front float, then flip 5x	Find place in lane to do 3 creative streamlines

Here is an example grid that you could use. Notice how it is a mix of games, workouts, short distance skill work.

Swimming well secret; What is the Magic formula?

December 6, 2023March 19, 2014 by Jeff N

Spend time in the water.

Woah, I have to stop answering the question before I write anything else. Unfortunately, there is no secret, there is no magic. The “poof” moment when the smoke clears is simply time spent in the water doing purposeful practice. Here is some science proof for you, should you want it: BOOK.

The book basically says that just doing something repeatedly for 10,000 hours doesn’t make you an expert, but rather purposeful deliberate practice, preferably under the tutelage of a master teacher will get you to mastery.

Science is awesome, but why do I care and how does it relate to swim lessons?

Take your children to swim lessons. Drop them off, and let them spent 30 minutes of corrective, deliberate instruction with a “professional.” Now, you will likely have a high school kid teaching your child, but the skills are very basic, and require a modicum of understanding to teach. If you are going to send your child to a swim team where they are exercising and advancing to the more competitive areas of the sport, you want to send your swimmer to a professional coach, preferably one with ASCA certification.

When your child spends time in a swim lesson they are contributing to the 10,000 hours of practice, but are also getting constant and repeated feedback specifically targeting their deficient points. If you read my previous article about the swim instructor’s curse, then you’ll know you’re paying some novice to teach you child something you could easily do.

The Swim Instructor’s Curse

October 25, 2017March 14, 2014 by Jeff N

You will not be able to teach your own children how to swim easily.

I don’t have children. What I’m about to say is from my experience as a swim teacher and swim coach over the last 15 years. I have seen parents that swim take their kids to swimming lessons and always thought, “Why don’t they just teach them their selves?” Most times i was thinking, why is this swimming professional trusting my band of high school kids more concerned about themselves to teach their children how to swim?!

They are thinking “long game”

Swimming professionals understand that progress does not happen over night. Learning swimming takes time and effort, and most importantly, time in the water. Most swim lesson parents that also teach, spend their time playing in the water with their children, and let the high school kids do the receptive classical conditioning for their children. These parents are looking down the road 3 years from now, 10 years from now and hoping that their children are excited about swimming, love being in the water, and associate positively with pools and water. When parents try to teach a repetitive skill, the child may resent the parent for forcing them to do something they don’t want to do at the time. Parents want their children to be happy and have fun with them in the water because it makes for happier children and memories. Parents want to avoid fighting with their child in a public place, and that confrontation my create bad associations with the water and pool. By forcing skill work on a child as a parent, your love of the sport may backfire and make the child rebel against what you are pushing.

Swim professionals bypass that backfire possibility by having a teenager teach their kids and take the brunt of the angst or boring repetition.

Swimming Game – Turtle Swim

April 23, 2025March 10, 2014 by Jeff N

Group swimming lesson or swim team game. One player gets a kickboard puts one toy on top of it. Player then floats on back with kickboard balanced on their stomach like it is a turtle shell. Goal is to get to the other side without toy falling off the kickboard, or his shell falling off. …

Swimming Game – Legs on Fire

November 6, 2024July 15, 2013 by Jeff N

Swim Game – Legs on Fire Have all your swimmers get kickboards. Get into one lane or an open large area. Get 1 bucket and fill with water. All but 1 swimmers starts an easy kick set. Waiting swimmer not participating is the Fire Truck. Coach/Instructor gives an item to one of the …

How to Dunk a Child and Manage their fear

November 18, 2014June 7, 2013 by Jeff N

If you are teaching swim lessons to a child you will inevitably get one that will not willingly go underwater. The most important thing for you, as a teacher, to know is to not be afraid of the child. Any sign of hesitation, apprehension, or fear will be apparent to your student and make them …

Swimming Game – Spider

November 6, 2024May 16, 2013 by Jeff N

Game Name: Spider. Skills Developed: Breath control, confidence and swimming under water. This game is meant for private classes that do not have too many learners. There are two roles: one swimmer will act as the web while another acts as the spider. The thing that should act as a pre-requisite for this game is …

Swimming Game – Streamline through Hula Hoops

November 6, 2024April 22, 2013 by Jeff N

This is a very simple game you can play multiple ways. Hold 2 hula hoops underwater and have your child streamline through them. Hold them close enough to the wall so the swimmer can get through both by pushing off the wall. Give clear goals that are “difficult” but easy to accomplish. For example, the …

What to do if a child is crying

September 11, 2023March 12, 2013 by Jeff N

At swim lessons and a child starts crying. What do you do? As a parent there is a long list of things you should do to help your crying child and the swim program that you’re at. We are going to first go through what a parent should do to keep their child from crying …

Swimming Game – Noodle Race Partners

November 6, 2024February 15, 2013 by Jeff N

This game is good for developmental swim teams, large swim lesson classes, or the more advanced swimmers. You will need: 1 noodle for every 2 participants Have swimmers form pairs or partners Give each pair 1 noodle Both partners are to be on TOP of the noodle in some fashion (some swimmers will straddle the …

Swimming Game – Duck Partner Kick

November 6, 2024February 11, 2013 by Jeff N

This is a great game to play with both swim teams and swim lessons. Ideally your swimmers will be able to kick with a kickboard by themselves for more than 4 lengths. Start at one end of the pool with everyone Have swimmers form partners Give 1 little rubber duck to each group Swimmers …

Swimming Game – Jumps

April 23, 2025July 17, 2012 by Jeff N

Swimming lessons idea game: Jumps This seems like a stupid thing to write about or talk about. Jumps. Really? something that simple? Yes. Jumping into the pool w/ assistance or without works on a number of different skills and can be a good gauge of trust and progress. Here are a few: Go …

Swimming Game – Alligator Walk

April 23, 2025July 2, 2012 by Jeff N

Alligator walks are a great thing to do with novice and little swimmers. This game/activity is perfect for swimmers under 6 years old. This swimming lessons game is excellent! This works best in a zero-depth pool (beach like simulated pool). Lay on your belly and use your arms to hold your head above the water. …

Swimming Game – Buckethead

April 23, 2025June 28, 2012 by Jeff N

This is the best swimming lessons game of all time. Buckethead’s success is directly proportional to the amount of enthusiasm the instructor puts into it. With action, fearlessness, and boldness this can be the most successful game of all time. Get a bucket/pail/bowl Fill it with water pour it over the participant’s head while shouting/singing/saying …

Swimming Game – Treasure Hunt

April 23, 2025June 25, 2012 by Jeff N

This swimming lessons game works best in a zero-depth pool; a pool that simulates a beach. There are a number of swimming skills that it works on, and many more depending on how creative your instructors or you are. Treasure Hunt: Get a kickboard. This will be your “boat.” Every child in your class is …

Swimming Game – Pigeon

November 6, 2024June 4, 2012 by Jeff N

A great game to play in a diving well or in the deep end of the pool. This Swimming lessons game, Pigeon, can be modified to work on any number of skills! Children line up along the outside edge of the pool, standing. (they can dive in or not as you choose) The …

Swimming Game – Parent Tot – Hokey Pokey

November 6, 2024May 30, 2012 by Jeff N

Hokey Pokey For Parent Tot Swimming Lessons The best thing for infant swimmers is routine. Repetition, repetition, repetition, repetition. If you play the Hokey Pokey in your class, I suggest you do it at the end of your class session. It can be time consuming, and get monotonous and droll. Focus on a few key …

How to find Swim Lessons in your area

December 6, 2023May 25, 2012 by Jeff N

Google is your friend. That is the real key to the whole process, though Bing or any other search engine will do. Before typing in your location and “swim lessons” I recommend you go to your local park district first. Find your local park district here Park districts often have quality swimming pools of varying …

Swimming Game – Sharks and Minnows

November 6, 2024April 20, 2012 by Jeff N

Are you a swim teacher looking for some new games to teach your kids? Their are many fun games to lessons to teach kids, but this game is sure to get yours wanting more. The game is called Sharks and Minnows and this how you play: This game is for advanced swimmers, or swimmers who …

Swimming Game – Monkey Walks

April 16, 2025April 20, 2012 by Jeff N

A great swim lesson skill for smaller and younger swimmers is called Monkey Walks. To teach Monkey walks in a learn to swim class follow these steps: The swimmer walks along the side of the pool using their hands and feet to move along the edge. I’ve included a video demonstrating the action. This is …

Swimming Game – Ring Retrieval

November 6, 2024April 20, 2012 by Jeff N

Being able and comfortable going underwater is one of the key skills for swimming. One way to acquire this skill is by playing a retrieval game. The rules are simple: throw something that will sink (dive rings or sticks are perfect) into the water and ask the child to retrieve them. How to play: *Throw …

Swimming Game – Diving In

November 6, 2024April 20, 2012 by Jeff N

Diving is one of the hardest swim skills to teach, especially diving from a block. This game, simply named “Diving in,” will help to teach proper diving technique. Depending on the age of the swimmer, they can either dive from the block or from the edge of the pool. 1) Have all of your swimmers …

Swimming Game – Bake a Cake

April 23, 2025April 19, 2012 by Jeff N

Bake a Cake -Get a hoola hoop, or a circular object and make that your “cake” -Have swimmers circle around the hoola hoop and hold the sides. -Take turns asking each swimmer what they would like in their cake. Exp: “Susie, what would you like in your cake?” “CHOCOLATE!” “Ok, lets put some chocolate in …