Artistic Swimming – Stage 10 swimming activities

Putting it together: linking positions and transitions into short sequences, swimming in patterns, synchronising with a partner or small group, surface presentation and introductory choreography. Outcomes are SwimShare focus areas.

Artistic Swimming · 30 activities.

Outcomes

  • Perform a short sequence
  • Swim and hold patterns with spacing
  • Synchronise with a partner or group
  • Surface presentation
  • Create simple choreography

Activities

  • Arm Shapes on the Eggbeater – Hold an upright eggbeater while making simple arm shapes above the water on counts – building the strong legs and expressive arms routines need.
  • Artistic Warm-Up Swim – An easy warm-up linking strokes, sculls and layouts – one width each – to loosen up and switch on body control.
  • Back Tuck Somersault – From a tuck on the back, roll backwards in a tight ball using the hands, surfacing in a back layout – a controlled, introductory rotation.
  • Bent-Knee Lift Preparation – From a back layout, slide one foot up the other leg to a bent knee and hold it – the preparation for leg lifts, kept firmly at introductory level.
  • Choreography Cards – Groups draw picture cards of moves and formations to build a mini routine on the spot – creative, fun consolidation.
  • Circle Formation Swim – A small group forms a circle, swims it round together, then opens and closes it on counts – learning to keep a formation.
  • Cool-Down Float and Stretch – A calm finish: easy swim, gentle floating and simple stretches in the water, with a quick recap of the lesson aim.
  • Create an Eight-Count Phrase – Small groups invent a short movement phrase – two or three moves over eight counts – then teach it to another group.
  • Eggbeater Formation Travel – A group travels together in a line using eggbeater, keeping spacing and facing the audience – moving between positions in a routine.
  • Head-First Surface Dive – A piked surface dive: swim forward, bend at the hips, lift the legs vertically and let their weight drive the swimmer down.
  • Layout, Tuck, Layout Transitions – A short chain of positions – back layout, tuck, front layout, back layout – moving on counts without losing height.
  • Line to Circle Transition – A group moves from a straight line into a circle and back on agreed counts – a simple formation change for routines.
  • Lines and Diagonals – Groups practise straight lines, diagonals and a V shape, moving between them on counts and checking spacing from poolside.
  • Mini Routine Showcase – Pairs or small groups perform a short routine they have built for the rest of the class – celebrating presentation, timing and creativity.
  • Mirror Image Sequence – Two swimmers perform a short sequence as mirror images – one turns left while the other turns right – creating a symmetrical picture.
  • Move to the Mood – Swimmers listen to two contrasting pieces of music and choose movements that match each mood – slow and flowing or bright and sharp.
  • Partner Synchronisation Challenge – Pairs perform the same four-move sequence side by side and score points for starting, changing and finishing together.
  • Poolside Arm Rehearsal – Rehearse a routine's arm movements and counts sitting on the poolside before trying them in the water – common practice in artistic swimming.
  • Position Chain Calls – The teacher calls positions in a random order and swimmers change smoothly – testing control, memory and transitions.
  • Presentation Posture – Practise how to look and hold yourself at the surface – tall, chin level, shoulders back, face expressive – while eggbeating or sculling.
  • Rhythm Eggbeater Bounce – Eggbeater to a beat, rising a little higher on every eighth count – linking leg strength, rhythm and group timing.
  • Rise to the Surface with Presentation – Surface from a short submersion into an upright eggbeater with chin up, a smile and a clear arm shape – showing confidence to an audience.
  • Routine Review Circle – Finish with a calm back float in a circle, then each swimmer names one move they're proud of and one to practise.
  • Scull Switch – Change between sculls on the teacher's call – stationary, head-first, feet-first, spinning – without losing the back layout.
  • Sideways Eggbeater Travel – Travel sideways across the pool using eggbeater with the body upright and hands sculling – the movement used to stay in front of a goal or a player.
  • Smooth Speed Control – Perform the same movement – a roll, a tuck or an arm shape – at three speeds on the counts, learning to control speed rather than rush.
  • Spinning Scull – Rotate on the spot in a back layout by sculling with one hand pushing towards the head and the other towards the feet – like a slow clock hand.
  • Synchronised Entries – Pairs enter the water together feet-first on a count and surface into the same pose – practising a routine's opening.
  • Tuck Sink and Surface – Sink slowly in a tuck, then open and surface in a chosen position – practising controlled underwater shapes and graceful surfacing.
  • Wall-Supported Leg Extension – With the hands holding the wall behind, swimmers lift one extended leg towards vertical from a back layout – an introductory, supported version of a leg-lift position.