Hold the Count
Swimmers find their stroke count for a length, then try to hold it within one stroke over a longer swim – technique under tiredness.
- Stages
- Stage 6, Stage 7
- Difficulty
- Advanced
- Skills
- Stroke Efficiency, Endurance & Pace
- Equipment
- None
- Age
- 9–99 years
- Group size
- 1–16 swimmers
- Time
- About 6 minutes
- In a lesson
- Skill Development 1, Skill Development 2
- Shared by
- SwimShare Resource
Safety notes
- Lane organisation – swimmers counting may not notice others.
What it develops
- Swim further with pace awareness
- Improve stroke efficiency on all strokes
- Swim continuously with controlled pace
- Keep technique and stroke count as distance increases
How to run it
- Swim a length and count strokes.
- Swim three lengths, counting each; aim to stay within one of the first count.
- If the count rises, slow down and lengthen the stroke.
- Discuss what changed when tired.
Teaching cues
- Hold your count.
- Long strokes when tired.
- Steady pace.
Make it easier
- Hold the count over two widths.
- Choose an easier stroke.
Make it harder
- Hold the count over five lengths.
- Hold count and pace together.
Common faults
- Stroke shortening and rate rising.
- Kick fading at the end.
Corrections
- Slow the tempo slightly.
- Think 'reach and finish'.
Assistant / L1 role
- Record each length's count for one swimmer and tell them after the swim.