Push of War
Two swimmers hold opposite ends of one float and kick against each other – whoever kicks best pushes their partner back.
- Stages
- Stage 3
- Difficulty
- Developing
- Skills
- Front Kick, Coordination
- Equipment
- Float
- Age
- 6–14 years
- Group size
- 2–12 swimmers
- Time
- About 4 minutes
- In a lesson
- Introduction / Warm-up, Game / Consolidation
- Shared by
- SwimShare Resource
Safety notes
- Pairs of similar size; floats soft and held low so heads don't clash.
What it develops
- Kick on the front, back and side
- Keep a flat, horizontal body position
How to run it
- Pairs hold opposite ends of one float, bodies stretched out behind.
- On 'Go!', both kick to push the float towards their partner.
- Play for 10 seconds; the pair with more ground gained wins the round.
- Discuss which kicks were strongest.
Teaching cues
- Long body behind you.
- Kick from your hips.
- Small fast kicks.
Make it easier
- Shorter rounds.
- Face out.
Make it harder
- Face in with bubbles, breathing to the side.
- Longer rounds.
Common faults
- Legs dropping to walk on the floor.
- Big bent-knee kicks.
Corrections
- Feet touching the floor loses the round.
- 'Quiet fast feet beat noisy kicks.'
Assistant / L1 role
- Referee one pair at a time, pointing out whose legs are straightest.