Even or Faster Second Half
Swim a distance so the second half is the same pace or a little quicker than the first – a gentle introduction to controlling pace without racing.
- Stages
- Swimming – Stage 10
- Difficulty
- Advanced
- Skills
- Stroke Efficiency, Endurance & Pace
- Equipment
- Pace Clock
- Age
- 9–99 years
- Group size
- 1–16 swimmers
- Time
- About 7 minutes
- In a lesson
- Skill Development 2, Game / Consolidation
- Shared by
- SwimShare Resource
Safety notes
- Not a race: make clear swimmers compete only with their own earlier swim. Allow anyone to stop and rest at the wall.
What it develops
- Plan and control pace for a longer swim
How to run it
- Explain the aim: start comfortably so you can finish just as strongly.
- Swimmers swim 100 metres (or 4 widths) of a chosen stroke; the teacher calls or shows the time at halfway and at the end.
- Swimmers compare their two halves and decide whether to start a little slower or faster next time.
- Repeat once, aiming for an even split while keeping technique.
Teaching cues
- Start easier than you think.
- Same stroke count both halves.
- Finish strong, not frantic.
Make it easier
- Use 2 × 25 metres with a short rest, comparing the two times.
Make it harder
- Swimmers predict both half times before swimming.
- Use 200 metres with checks every 50.
Common faults
- Sprinting the first length and fading.
- Technique falls apart in the second half.
Corrections
- 'Find a pace you could keep chatting at.'
- 'Count your strokes – if the count rises, slow your arms a touch.'
Assistant / L1 role
- Operate the stopwatch or read the pace clock and call halfway times clearly to the swimmers in your lane, as the teacher directs.