Question of the Day

Developmental practice timeline:
[get in and go] + [2 x 25 SL + Position 11] + [Question of the Day] + [Warmup set: 4 x 25 on 1:00]

I loved doing the question of the day and many of the swimmers did too. They looked forward to it and saw it as a challenge and moment of triumph or opportunity.

In the examples you’ll see moments of my own amusement peppered in and I encourage you to put your own flair on this entertaining and important learning moment.

Look at some of the examples and see if you can see hints to the answer in the Correct and Wrong portions. I often hid the right answer in the activity in the Correct, and the wrong answer in the Wrong activity.

Make the question like Goldilocks; not too difficult but not too hard.

The sweet spot of a good Question of the Day is an answer that swimmers just might know or is just outside of their knowledge and requires a moment of thought or reverie to remember their training and instruction.

Some examples:

Question of the Day:
When swimming backstroke at a meet, what happens if you roll on your stomach, even for a second?
Correct: Roll like a log at least 5 x.
Wrong: Do a 50 BK

Question of the Day:
When swimming FREE you should breath to both sides. You should breath on every _______ stroke.
Correct: Do 3 front flips and 3 back flips
Wrong: 50 FREE breathing to both sides.

Question of the Day:
Kicking is important to swimming. What is the name of the kick you do for FREE and Backstroke?
Correct: Do 3 handstands where you spin around while doing it.
Wrong: Do a 50 FREE Kick (no fins).

Question of the Day:
What parts of your head should remain in the water when you take a breath during FREE?
Correct: Walk from the wall to the flags with that much in the water.
Wrong: 50 FREE Kick w/ FINS

Objective

To engage swimmers with daily questions that reinforce swimming skills, terminology, and team knowledge, while also providing a fun and interactive start to each practice.

Why

Daily questions serve multiple purposes: they stimulate the swimmers’ minds, reinforce previous learning, foster a sense of community, and make practice sessions more engaging. This approach helps swimmers retain important information and builds a stronger connection between the coach and the swimmers.

Coach’s Actions

  1. Daily Question Preparation:
    • Come up with a “Question of the Day” before each practice.
    • Topics can include swimming skills, swimming terminology, references to prior practices and activities, coach-specific questions (getting to know you), or relevant calendar date information (holidays, notable events, etc.).
  2. Presentation and Interaction:
    • Present the question at the beginning of practice or wait until everyone finishes the prior set.
    • Alternatively, ask individuals when they arrive at the wall, ensuring that each person answers independently.
    • The coach should give no verbal, physical, or indication of what each response is until all answers are given. If answers are given in private (1:1), a thumbs up or down can be used to indicate correctness.
  3. Response and Engagement:
    • Provide an activity or swim as a reward for a correct answer, and a different activity or swim (often a boring one) for an incorrect answer.
    • Encourage participation by making the questions fun and sometimes providing hints through the way the question is written or through the actions associated with correct or incorrect answers.
  4. Reinforcement and Fun:
    • Keep the atmosphere light and fun to maintain engagement.
    • Use the answers as teaching moments to reinforce key concepts or team knowledge.

Swimmer Expectations

  • Participate actively in the daily question discussions.
  • Think critically and recall previous practices and learnings.
  • Accept both correct and incorrect answers as learning opportunities.

Examples

  • Question of the Day:
    • What group comes after “Minnows” on COHO?
      • Correct: Swim to the flags with only a shark fin showing above water.
      • Wrong: 1 x 50 FREE kick.
    • The correct answer is “Sharks,” with the shark fin reference in the correct answer portion.

Common Mistakes

  • Making the questions too difficult or too easy, which can either frustrate or bore the swimmers.
  • Not providing enough context or hints, leading to confusion.
  • Failing to use incorrect answers as teaching moments.

Actionable Takeaway

Incorporating a “Question of the Day” into practice sessions creates an engaging and interactive environment that reinforces swimming skills and knowledge. This daily activity not only makes learning fun but also strengthens the coach-swimmer relationship and builds a cohesive team atmosphere.

Previous Topic
Back to Lesson
Next Topic