Rotation – swimming activities

Turning the body around its long axis, e.g. from front to back.

Activities

• Backstroke Six-Kick Switch – Kick on the side with one arm up, then pull through to switch sides – links rotation, kick and arm action.
• Barrel Roll – Hugging a float on the chest, swimmers roll from their back to their front and back again – the float supports both positions.
• Clock Face Turns – Swimmers turn on the spot to face 12, 3, 6 and 9 o'clock, learning to turn their body around in the water with control.
• Corkscrew Glide – Swimmers roll a full turn during a streamlined glide – rotating while staying long and travelling straight.
• Forward Roll to Push – Swimmers learn the forward somersault in open water before trying it at the wall – the first step towards a tumble turn.
• Log Roll Along the Wall – Holding the wall with one hand, swimmers roll from front to back and swap hands – rotation with the wall as a safety net.
• Pancake Flip – With a noodle for support, swimmers roll from front float to back float like flipping a pancake.
• Rescue the Teddy – Swimmers travel on the front to rescue a floating toy, then bring it home on their back – combining front and back travel.
• Roll-Over Kick – Swimmers kick six on the front, roll to the back, kick six, and roll again – rotating without stopping.
• Rotation Relay – A team relay where every swimmer must roll from front to back at the halfway noodle – rotation under game pressure.
• Sausage Roll – Swimmers roll along the long axis of the body, front to back to front, staying long like a sausage.
• Sculling Circles – Floating on the back, swimmers use only their hands to spin slowly in a circle – learning how sculling supports and moves the body.
• Shoulder Peek – Kick on the back and roll so one shoulder then the other peeks out of the water – the rotation that powers backstroke.
• Show Your Shoulder – Front crawl where swimmers roll enough for one shoulder to break the surface each stroke – easier breathing and a longer reach.
• Side Kick Breathing – Kicking on the side with one arm extended; the face rolls down and back to the side – the easiest way to learn to breathe without lifting.
• Side Kick Surfing – Swimmers kick lying on their side with the lower arm stretched out – body balance and a kick that works in any position.
• Side Push-Off – Push off on the side and rotate to the front during the glide – the push-off used after open and tumble turns.
• Single-Arm Backstroke – One arm works while the other rests by the side – isolates a straight recovery and an entry in line with the shoulder.
• Six-Kick Switch – Six kicks on one side, one stroke to roll through to the other side – teaches rotation and breathing without stopping the kick.
• Space Mission – A themed circuit: launch (glide), orbit (roll), spacewalk (back float), meteor shower (go under) and splashdown (swim home).
• Stroke Scramble – Swimmers change stroke whenever the teacher calls – instant, controlled switches with the right body position for each stroke.
• Tub Turn – Sitting in a 'tub' (knees tucked, shins on the surface), swimmers scull to spin round – great for control and confidence.
• Tumble Turn at the Wall – From the forward roll to a front crawl tumble turn: roll, feet to the wall, push on the back, rotate to the front.
• Turtle Turn – From a rest on the back, swimmers roll onto their front and swim to the side – turning to find safety.