Forward Travel – swimming activities

Moving forwards through the water, walking or swimming.

Activities

  • Across the River Relay – A team relay across a 'river' zone where feet must not touch the floor – everyone gets their feet up and travels independently.
  • Animal Parade – Swimmers travel like different animals, trying out new ways of moving on the front and back.
  • Bubble Trails – Swimmers leave a continuous trail of bubbles behind them as they travel – breathing out while moving, not just standing still.
  • Colour Corners – Each corner of the area has a colour and a way of travelling; swimmers race to the called corner using the right skill.
  • Crocodile Chase – When the crocodile snaps, swimmers kick fast with their floats to escape to the wall – short bursts of fast, small kicks.
  • Delivery Boats – Swimmers kick while pushing a float 'boat' carrying a toy, delivering it across the pool without it falling off.
  • Distance Ladder – Swimmers climb a ladder of distances without buoyancy aids – 3, 5, 7 and 10 metres – building stamina and independence.
  • Float Kick Relay – Teams race a float across the width by kicking – every swimmer gets a turn to practise a continuous front kick.
  • Follow the Leader – Swimmers copy a leader's way of moving – an easy way to practise lots of travel skills in one activity.
  • Froggy Hops Across – Swimmers cross the pool with a float using breaststroke kicks, counting their 'hops' – fewer hops means a better kick.
  • Giant Steps, Fairy Steps – Varying the size and speed of steps to build balance and confidence walking in the water.
  • Home Base – Swimmers are released a few metres from the wall and make their own way 'home', building confidence to travel without support.
  • Island Hopping – Swimmers travel between floating 'islands' without walking, building independent front and back travel over short distances.
  • Let Go of the Wall – A gradual progression from holding the wall to standing independently, using small, achievable steps.
  • Motorboats – Holding a float, swimmers 'drive' their motorboat by kicking and blowing bubbles.
  • Noodle Horse Race – Swimmers 'ride' a noodle and gallop or kick forwards – a fun way to get feet off the floor.
  • Noodle Slalom – Swimmers weave in and out of a line of floating noodles, learning to steer while travelling on the front.
  • Obstacle Course – A course that links several skills in a row – enter, travel, go through a hoop, collect a sinker, float and exit.
  • Octopus Tag – Tagged swimmers become octopus arms that stay put and reach out – crossers must swim a chosen route to avoid them.
  • Puppy Paddle – A simple alternating paddle under the water that gives swimmers their first independent arm propulsion on the front.
  • Puppy to Crawl – Swimmers who already paddle gradually lengthen the paddle until the arm recovers over the water – a natural route to front crawl.
  • 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.
  • Sharks and Lifeguards – Sharks try to tag swimmers crossing the pool; lifeguards can free tagged swimmers by swimming to them.
  • Swim to Me – The teacher backs away as the swimmer swims towards them, gently stretching the distance they swim without stopping.
  • T-Shirt Swim – Swimmers float and swim wearing a T-shirt to discover how clothing changes swimming – real-life water safety.
  • Toy Blowing Race – Swimmers blow a floating toy across the water – develops controlled breathing out with the mouth at the surface.
  • Traffic Lights – A travel game where swimmers respond to colour calls – great for warm-ups and forward travel.
  • Treasure Chest Relay – Teams swim out, dive for a sinker 'treasure' and bring it back – combining travel and submersion under light pressure.
  • Turtle Turn – From a rest on the back, swimmers roll onto their front and swim to the side – turning to find safety.