Stage 2 swimming activities

Growing independence: getting in and out without help, travelling further on the front and back, going fully under, early glides, kicks and rolling between front and back.

Swim England Learn to Swim · 55 activities.

Outcomes

Enter the water safely without help
Travel about 10 metres on the front
Travel about 10 metres on the back
Go fully under and pick up an object
Blow bubbles with mouth and nose under
Float on front and back and return to standing
Roll from front to back and back to front
Push and glide on the front
Push and glide on the back
Kick on the front and back
Exit the water safely without help
Know simple ways to stay safe in water

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.
Barrel Roll – Hugging a float on the chest, swimmers roll from their back to their front and back again – the float supports both positions.
Boiling Pot – Kicking on the back, swimmers try to make the water at their toes 'boil' with small bubbling kicks.
Bubble Orchestra – Swimmers make different bubble 'instruments' with their mouth and nose, learning to control how they breathe out.
Bubble Trails – Swimmers leave a continuous trail of bubbles behind them as they travel – breathing out while moving, not just standing still.
Captain's Coming – A pool version of the ship game: each command is a skill – scrub the deck, man overboard, lie on deck – done as quickly as possible.
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.
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.
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.
Duckling Line – Swimmers follow the 'mother duck' across the pool on their backs, practising steady back travel in a line.
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.
Fingertip Float – A structured way to fade support in a back float: whole hand, two fingers, one fingertip, then none.
Fishing Net – Two helpers hold a noodle 'net' across the water; the fish must duck fully under it to escape.
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 Kick Relay – Teams race a float across the width by kicking – every swimmer gets a turn to practise a continuous front kick.
Glide Target – Swimmers push and glide to reach a floating hoop target, moving it further away as their glide improves.
Hold On and Kick to Safety – Swimmers practise the survival habit of grabbing something that floats and kicking it back to the side.
Home Base – Swimmers are released a few metres from the wall and make their own way 'home', building confidence to travel without support.
Hum and Glide – Swimmers hum steadily through a front push and glide so breathing out becomes part of every glide.
Island Hopping – Swimmers travel between floating 'islands' without walking, building independent front and back travel over short distances.
Kick Train – Three or four swimmers hold one long noodle and kick together as a train – everyone has to kick to make it move.
Knee Tray – Swimmers kick on their back holding a float over their knees – if the knees bump the 'tray', they're bending too much.
Listen to the Pool – Swimmers put their ears in and listen for underwater sounds – a gentle way to get comfortable with ears under for back floating.
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.
Musical Floats – Swimmers move around freely; when the music or whistle stops they make the float shape the teacher calls.
Noodle Chair Paddle – Sitting in a noodle 'chair', swimmers use their hands to move themselves backwards – an early feel for sculling.
Noodle Pillow Back Float – A noodle under the shoulders gives nervous swimmers a supported back float.
Noodle Reach – Swimmers learn the most important rescue rule – reach, don't go – by pulling a partner to the wall with a noodle.
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.
Pass the Parcel – A ball is passed around a circle; whoever holds it when the music stops does the skill written on the next 'layer'.
Pool Edge Circuit – A mini circuit of getting out, walking safely and getting back in, repeated so safe exits and entries become automatic.
Puppy Paddle – A simple alternating paddle under the water that gives swimmers their first independent arm propulsion on the front.
Push the Wall Away – Technique practice for a strong, clean wall push-off on the front and back – the foundation of every glide.
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.
Rocket Launch – Countdown, blast-off, glide! Swimmers push from the wall in a rocket shape and the teacher watches for a long, thin, still body.
Safety Detectives – Swimmers become detectives spotting safety clues around the pool: depth signs, the lifeguard, the steps and the deep end.
Sausage Roll – Swimmers roll along the long axis of the body, front to back to front, staying long like a sausage.
Seabed Spotter – A memory game: swimmers look underwater at a group of sinkers and try to remember the colours they saw.
Sharks in the Shallows – A chase game where the only safe place is floating like a starfish – swimmers must float quickly to avoid the shark.
Silent Entry Challenge – Swimmers get in on their own using a controlled swivel entry, aiming to make as little splash as possible.
Sinker Ladder – Swimmers retrieve sinkers placed at increasing depths – knee, thigh, then waist – so going fully under builds step by step.
Sit on the Bottom – Swimmers breathe out steadily to sink and sit on the pool floor – a clear test of controlled exhalation and relaxed submersion.
Space Mission – A themed circuit: launch (glide), orbit (roll), spacewalk (back float), meteor shower (go under) and splashdown (swim home).
Star to Rocket – Swimmers float as a star, then squeeze into a rocket shape and push off the floor into a glide – linking floating and gliding.
Starfish Constellation – The group floats on their backs in a circle holding hands, making a giant star – shared support for back floating.
Streamline Statues – Swimmers move around, then freeze in a perfect streamline when the teacher calls – learning what a streamlined shape feels like.
Treasure Chest Relay – Teams swim out, dive for a sinker 'treasure' and bring it back – combining travel and submersion under light pressure.
Tummy Treasure – A small floating toy rests on the tummy during a back glide – it only stays on if the body stays flat.
Underwater Rock, Paper, Scissors – Pairs play rock, paper, scissors under the water – swimmers must open their eyes and stay under calmly to see who won.
Wall Kick Countdown – Holding the wall, swimmers kick with face in for a set count, linking a steady kick with blowing bubbles.
Wave Machine – Half the group makes gentle waves while the others float or travel, learning to stay calm when the water isn't flat.