Water Safety – swimming activities

Knowing how to stay safe in and around water and how to get help.

Activities

  • Aquatic Skills Sequence – Swimmers link entry, swim, surface dive, scull, tread and exit into one continuous, controlled sequence.
  • Buddy Float Tow – A lifesaving taster: one swimmer holds a float and relaxes on their back; the rescuer tows them by the float, never by grabbing them.
  • Clap and Stand – Swimmers glide on the front and must recover to standing the moment they hear a clap – quick, safe recovery from a glide.
  • Deep Water Jump and Tread – Jump into deep water, surface, tread for a count, then swim back to the side – entries and survival combined.
  • Deep Water Object Recovery – Swimmers use a surface dive to recover objects from deeper water and return them to the side – a practical lifesaving foundation.
  • Elbow, Elbow, Knee, Knee – A step-by-step routine for getting out over the pool edge safely.
  • Entry Menu – Swimmers choose the right entry for the depth – step, slide, jump, crouch fall – and explain their choice.
  • Fall In, Float, Shout – A calm rehearsal of what to do after an unexpected fall in: get back to the surface, hold on or float, and call for help.
  • Flags to Wall – Swimmers count their backstroke strokes from the flags (or a marker) to the wall so they never bump their head.
  • Float Countdown – Swimmers set a personal best for how long they can float, front and back – floating is both a skill and a way to rest.
  • Float Then Go – Swimmers start from a still star float and get moving into a swim – learning to go from resting to travelling without standing.
  • Float to Rest Positions – Swimmers try different ways to float and rest – star, vertical, tucked (HELP position) – and discuss when each helps.
  • Float to Survive – Swimmers learn to rest in a back star float for 30 seconds or more, with small hand movements to stay balanced.
  • Good Idea / Bad Idea – A quick poolside quiz game that teaches pool rules without a lecture.
  • Head-Up Crawl – Front crawl with the head up, eyes forward – builds a stronger kick and prepares for water polo, lifesaving and open-water sighting.
  • Hold On and Kick to Safety – Swimmers practise the survival habit of grabbing something that floats and kicking it back to the side.
  • Jump and Turn – Swimmers jump in, turn straight back to face the wall and swim to it – the essential safety habit after any entry.
  • Jump, Float, Signal – A full water safety sequence: jump in, float on the back to calm down, signal for help, then swim to the side.
  • Lane Swimming Skills – Circle swimming, passing and resting at the wall – the lane skills swimmers need for clubs and public sessions.
  • Noodle Reach – Swimmers learn the most important rescue rule – reach, don't go – by pulling a partner to the wall with a noodle.
  • Open Water Talk – A short poolside talk about open-water risks – cold water, currents, no lifeguards – and 'float to live' if you fall in.
  • Pancake Flip – With a noodle for support, swimmers roll from front float to back float like flipping a pancake.
  • Pool Edge Circuit – A mini circuit of getting out, walking safely and getting back in, repeated so safe exits and entries become automatic.
  • Safe Relay Changeovers – Teams practise safe relay takeovers – wait until the incoming swimmer touches, enter safely, move away from the wall.
  • Safety Detectives – Swimmers become detectives spotting safety clues around the pool: depth signs, the lifeguard, the steps and the deep end.
  • Sit in the Chair – Teaches safe recovery from a back float: chin forward, knees up, 'sit' and stand.
  • Starfish Wake-Up – Swimmers float as starfish and 'wake up' to standing on the teacher's call – practises floating and recovery together.
  • Stay Upright Challenge – In water just too deep to stand, swimmers stay upright using sculling hands and cycling legs – an early step towards treading water.
  • Survival Sequence – A calm self-rescue sequence: enter, float to recover, tread and signal, then swim to safety and exit.
  • Swim, Stop, Float – Swim a set distance, roll onto the back to float and recover, then carry on – teaches swimmers to rest without standing.
  • T-Shirt Swim – Swimmers float and swim wearing a T-shirt to discover how clothing changes swimming – real-life water safety.
  • Throw a Float – From poolside, swimmers throw a float to a partner in the water, who grabs it and kicks back – rescue without getting in.
  • Tread and Talk – Swimmers tread water while answering questions or playing a word game – they learn to stay relaxed long enough to talk.
  • Tread and Wave – Tread water while signalling for help with one arm – combining two survival skills.
  • Tuck and Stand – Recovery from a front float: knees to chest, press the water down, feet down, stand.
  • Turtle Turn – From a rest on the back, swimmers roll onto their front and swim to the side – turning to find safety.
  • Wave for Help – Practise what to do if you are in trouble: hold on, wave one arm and shout for help.
  • Wave Machine – Half the group makes gentle waves while the others float or travel, learning to stay calm when the water isn't flat.