Swimming Activities

fun and creative swimming activities for different skills.

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Nose, Mouth

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

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Bubble Hunt

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. 

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5 Little Bubbles

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

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Progression Bubbles

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

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Slow vs. Fast Bubbles

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

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Candles

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

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Partner Bubbles

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

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Toy Blowing

In partners, participants take turns blowing a floating toy to the wall.

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

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I’m Being Swallowed By A Boa Constrictor

Sit on the side of the pool and sing: I'm being swallowed by a boa constrictor, I'm being swallowed by a boa constrictor, I'm being swallowed by a boa constrictor, And I don't like it very much. Oh no, he’s got my toe (dip feet in water)

Repeat the song but change the final line with the following body parts:

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)

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Tiny Tim

Sing:

I had a little turtle 

(make a turtle with one fist with your thumb poking out)

His name was Tiny Tim I put him in the bath tub To see if he could swim 

(move arms in swimming motion)

He drank up all the water He ate up all the soap And when it was all over He had a bubble in his throat 

(blow bubbles)

Bubble Bubble Bubble Bubble Bubble Bubble POP! 

(bob underwater)

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Diving In

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.

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Chin Tuck

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.

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Deep Divers

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

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Diving Hoop

The instructor holds a hula-hoop submerged near the surface of the water. Participants aim to dive in the hula-hoop. 

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

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Watch the Noodle

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

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Tickle, T, Touch

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.

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How Far, How Few

Have participants lay on their stomach with their arms extended and perform whip kick. During the power phase of the kick, have participants think about turning the ankles so the toes are pointing up and out. Have them kick a designated length with as few kicks as possible.

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