Swimming Activities

Participants blow on the water alternating nose, mouth, nose, mouth.

Put out a variety of items that float in the pool (foam blocks, ping pong ball, water bottle etc.). The goal is to blow all of the items to the other side. 

Count for participants and have them blow on the water 5 times in a row.

Participants first blow on their hand (mouth or nose), then on the water, and then in the water.

Cue participants to blow on the water for one fast short puff then a slow long exhale.

Two participants face each other. One participant holds their fingers up like candles just under the water. The other person blows out the candles.

Participants hold hands with a partner, facing each other blow on the water together.

As a class, have them try a competition of who can blow their floaty toy to the wall the quickest.

Oh me, he swallowed my knee (dip full legs in water). Oh fiddle, he's up to my middle (stand in the water). Oh heck, he swallowed my neck (crouch down in water). Oh GULP! (bob underwater)

(bob underwater)

Participants line up at the edge of the pool in two lines. The instructor is in the water, positioned between the two lines, and holds a submerged hula-hoop on each side of them. The hula-hoop should be held at a shallow depth to serve as a target for each diver. Participants from each line dive one at a time and try to go through the target. If the participant dives at the appropriate depth and with the correct technique through the hula-hoop, they get to swim on to the other side of the pool. If not they have to get back in line and try again. The first team that gets all of their members to the other side of the pool wins. Note: Hold the hula-hoop loosely so it will be pushed out of the way if a participant crashed into it.

Participants place a small object like a sinking ring under their neck and hold it there while performing their dive to reinforce tucking in their chin.

The instructor places a bunch of sinking objects on the bottom of the deep area. Participants perform a deep dive to retrieve an object.

Note: Hold the hula-hoop loosely so it will be pushed out of the way if a participant crashed into it.

The instructor holds a noodle out by the surface of the water. Participants aim to dive over the noodle.

Have participants line up in the water facing the wall. On your queue, have them push off into a back position with the arms at their sides. Have them stroke on your queues: - When you say “tickle,” they draw their fingers up their sides and drop their heels. - When you say “T,” they extend their arms straight out at shoulder level and their legs begin the leg action of the elementary backstroke kick. - When you say “touch,” they squeeze their arms to their sides and complete the leg action of the elementary backstroke kick.

Variation: Repeat this drill but have participants add in the arm stroke.