Stroke Switch Relay
Each relay leg uses a different stroke or kick, so swimmers practise switching between skills under light pressure.
- Stages
- Stage 3, Stage 4, Stage 5
- Difficulty
- Developing
- Skills
- Front Crawl, Backstroke, Breaststroke Kick, Dolphin Kick
- Equipment
- Float
- Age
- 7–12 years
- Group size
- 8–16 swimmers
- Time
- About 8 minutes
- In a lesson
- Game / Consolidation
- Shared by
- SwimShare Resource
Safety notes
- One team per lane; check lanes are clear for backstroke legs.
What it develops
- Swim about 10 metres on the front
- Swim about 10 metres on the back
- Show early actions for all four strokes
- Build continuous swimming distance
- Swim continuously at a steady pace
How to run it
- Teams of four line up at the wall.
- Leg 1: front crawl. Leg 2: backstroke. Leg 3: breaststroke kick with float. Leg 4: dolphin kick.
- Each swimmer does one width, then tags the next.
- Rotate so everyone tries each leg.
Teaching cues
- Remember your stroke.
- Good technique first.
- Touch, then go.
Make it easier
- Floats for every leg.
- Only front and back legs.
Make it harder
- Two strokes per leg (half width each).
- Add a push and glide start.
Common faults
- Technique collapses when racing.
- Starting before the tag.
Corrections
- Points for technique as well as speed.
- Assistant checks every changeover.
Assistant / L1 role
- Stand at the changeover end, checking tags and awarding technique points.