Simon Says
The classic listening game used to sneak in face wetting, bubbles and movement.
- Stages
- Stage 1
- Difficulty
- Beginner
- Skills
- Water Confidence, Aquatic Breathing
- Equipment
- None
- Age
- 3–9 years
- Group size
- 2–15 swimmers
- Time
- About 4 minutes
- In a lesson
- Introduction / Warm-up, Game / Consolidation
- Shared by
- SwimShare Resource
Safety notes
- Keep commands appropriate to the depth and each swimmer's confidence.
What it develops
- Scoop water and wash the face
- Blow bubbles with mouth and nose in the water
How to run it
- Swimmers stand facing the teacher.
- Give commands starting with 'Simon says…': 'touch your nose', 'splash the water', 'blow bubbles', 'jump up and down'.
- Occasionally leave out 'Simon says' – anyone who moves gets to be the next 'Simon' rather than being out.
- Gradually build more water contact: 'Simon says wet your chin… your cheeks… your nose'.
Teaching cues
- Build water contact slowly – chin, cheeks, nose, eyes.
- Keep everyone involved: no-one is 'out'.
Make it easier
- Hold the wall while playing.
- Commands only involve hands and splashing.
Make it harder
- 'Simon says put your ears in the water'.
- 'Simon says sit on the bottom'.
Common faults
- Nervous swimmers avoid the face-wetting commands.
Corrections
- Let them choose their own amount: 'as much as you like'. Praise any contact.
Assistant / L1 role
- Stand with nervous swimmers and do each command with them, modelling calm face contact.