Mirror Swimming
Pairs swim side by side trying to stay perfectly in time – stroke for stroke – which needs a steady, controlled rhythm.
- Stages
- Stage 6, Stage 7
- Difficulty
- Developing
- Skills
- Coordination, Stroke Timing
- Equipment
- None
- Age
- 8–99 years
- Group size
- 2–16 swimmers
- Time
- About 5 minutes
- In a lesson
- Game / Consolidation
- Shared by
- SwimShare Resource
Safety notes
- Keep pairs apart enough to avoid hitting arms.
What it develops
- Improve stroke efficiency on all strokes
- Keep technique and stroke count as distance increases
How to run it
- Pairs swim the same stroke in neighbouring lanes or spaces.
- One leads the rhythm; the other matches every stroke.
- Switch leaders at the wall.
- Try each stroke.
Teaching cues
- Same rhythm.
- Watch your partner.
- Smooth and steady.
Make it easier
- Kick only.
- Slow tempo.
Make it harder
- Trios in sync.
- Include a turn together.
Common faults
- Speeding up to catch up.
- Losing technique to keep pace.
Corrections
- Leader keeps it slow and even.
- Breathe to the partner's side to watch.
Assistant / L1 role
- Watch one pair and say who is ahead so they can adjust.