Stroke Scramble
Swimmers change stroke whenever the teacher calls – instant, controlled switches with the right body position for each stroke.
- Stages
- Stage 5, Stage 6, Stage 7
- Difficulty
- Developing
- Skills
- Rotation, Coordination
- Equipment
- None
- Age
- 7–16 years
- Group size
- 4–16 swimmers
- Time
- About 5 minutes
- In a lesson
- Introduction / Warm-up, Game / Consolidation
- Shared by
- SwimShare Resource
Safety notes
- Swimmers switching to backstroke can't see – give space.
What it develops
- Swim with fewer, longer strokes
- Improve stroke efficiency on all strokes
- Keep technique and stroke count as distance increases
How to run it
- Swimmers start front crawl across the width.
- Teacher calls a new stroke: 'Backstroke!' – swimmers roll and continue.
- Calls come every few strokes.
- Focus on switching smoothly without stopping.
Teaching cues
- Listen and switch.
- No stopping.
- Right shape for each stroke.
Make it easier
- Only front and back.
- Calls at the walls only.
Make it harder
- Include butterfly and breaststroke.
- Faster calls.
Common faults
- Standing up to change.
- Poor technique after the switch.
Corrections
- Slow the calls.
- Practise front-to-back rolls first.
Assistant / L1 role
- Watch half the group and name anyone who stood up so they can try again.