Stage 3 swimming activities

Moving with confidence: jumping in and getting back to the side, travelling further without aids, confident submersion and breath control, rolling while moving and early arm and leg actions for all four strokes.

Swim England Learn to Swim · 68 activities.

Outcomes

Jump in safely and return to the side
Submerge confidently and retrieve objects
Breathe out in a controlled way underwater
Streamlined push and glide on front and back
Rotate front to back and back to front while moving
Swim about 10 metres on the front
Swim about 10 metres on the back
Kick on the front, back and side
Show early actions for all four strokes
Keep a flat, horizontal body position
Use simple water safety skills

Activities

Back Rocket – A streamlined push and glide on the back with arms stretched above the head – the starting position for backstroke.
Backstroke Windmills – Swimmers kick on their back and add one arm at a time, lifting it straight up and over like a windmill.
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.
Catch-Up Crawl – One hand waits on a float until the other arm catches up – slows front crawl down so swimmers can feel each part.
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.
Corkscrew Glide – Swimmers roll a full turn during a streamlined glide – rotating while staying long and travelling straight.
Cup on Forehead – A small floating toy balanced on the forehead while kicking on the back – it only stays put if the head stays still.
Distance Ladder – Swimmers climb a ladder of distances without buoyancy aids – 3, 5, 7 and 10 metres – building stamina and independence.
Dolphin Dives – Swimmers porpoise over and under a noodle like dolphins, feeling the head-first wave movement that butterfly uses.
Dolphin on the Back – Dolphin kick on the back with arms by the sides – swimmers can breathe freely while learning the undulating kick.
Duck Dive for Treasure – Swimmers learn a head-first surface dive to reach sinkers on the pool floor instead of just crouching down.
Duck Feet – Swimmers practise 'duck feet' – flexed and turned out – so their breaststroke kick pushes water instead of slicing through it.
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 Survive – Swimmers learn to rest in a back star float for 30 seconds or more, with small hand movements to stay balanced.
Frog Kick at the Wall – Holding the wall, swimmers learn the breaststroke kick: heels up, feet out, kick round and together.
Frog Legs on Back – Breaststroke kick on the back, holding a float on the tummy, so swimmers can see their feet turn out.
Froggy Hops Across – Swimmers cross the pool with a float using breaststroke kicks, counting their 'hops' – fewer hops means a better kick.
Glide Target – Swimmers push and glide to reach a floating hoop target, moving it further away as their glide improves.
Glide, then Engine On – Swimmers glide first, then 'switch on the engine' with a kick when the glide slows – linking glide and kick without losing shape.
Handstand Challenge – Swimmers do handstands in shallow water – great for confident submersion, breath control and body awareness.
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.
Keep the Engine Running – A partner watches the swimmer's feet: the legs must keep kicking while the arms work – fixes kicks that stop when arms start.
Kick and Breathe Sideways – Kicking with a float, swimmers turn the head to the side to breathe instead of lifting it – the first step to front crawl breathing.
Kick and Hold – A breaststroke kick followed by a held streamline glide – teaches swimmers that the glide is part of the stroke.
Kick Train – Three or four swimmers hold one long noodle and kick together as a train – everyone has to kick to make it move.
Mermaid Tails – Legs together like a mermaid's tail, swimmers wiggle through the water with a dolphin kick.
Noodle Crawl – A noodle under the chest keeps the body high so swimmers can focus on front crawl arms and breathing.
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 to Crawl – Swimmers who already paddle gradually lengthen the paddle until the arm recovers over the water – a natural route to front crawl.
Push of War – Two swimmers hold opposite ends of one float and kick against each other – whoever kicks best pushes their partner back.
Push the Wall Away – Technique practice for a strong, clean wall push-off on the front and back – the foundation of every glide.
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.
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 Boat Race – A head-first race on the back using hands only – builds sculling propulsion and a flat back position.
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.
Shape Jumps – Swimmers jump in making different shapes – pencil, star and tuck – learning body control in the air and on landing.
Sharks and Lifeguards – Sharks try to tag swimmers crossing the pool; lifeguards can free tagged swimmers by swimming to them.
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.
Sink or Float Experiments – Swimmers test which body shapes and breathing make them float or sink – learning how breath and shape affect buoyancy.
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.
Slow Leak – Swimmers let air out slowly through the nose underwater, like a slow puncture – the exhale they will need for strokes.
Soldier Kicks – Kicking on the back without equipment, arms by the sides like a soldier – a steady, flat backstroke kick.
Space Mission – A themed circuit: launch (glide), orbit (roll), spacewalk (back float), meteor shower (go under) and splashdown (swim home).
Spy on the Side – Swimmers 'spy' on the teacher walking alongside by turning to breathe – a game that fixes lifting the head forwards.
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.
Streamline Statues – Swimmers move around, then freeze in a perfect streamline when the teacher calls – learning what a streamlined shape feels like.
Stroke Copycat – Swimmers copy the teacher or a leader's stroke on poolside – a quick way to practise switching arm and leg actions.
Stroke Switch Relay – Each relay leg uses a different stroke or kick, so swimmers practise switching between skills under light pressure.
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.
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.
Thumbs Up, Pinkies In – A simple rhyme for backstroke hands: thumb leaves the water first, little finger enters first.
Travelling Bobs – Swimmers bob across the pool – under to breathe out, up to breathe in – building a breathing rhythm for swimming.
Treasure Chest Relay – Teams swim out, dive for a sinker 'treasure' and bring it back – combining travel and submersion under light pressure.
Tunnel Glide – Swimmers push off under the water and glide through a tunnel of hoops or a partner's legs.
Turtle Turn – From a rest on the back, swimmers roll onto their front and swim to the side – turning to find safety.
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.
Underwater Tea Party – Pairs sit on the pool floor and 'pour tea' for each other – staying down calmly by breathing out slowly.
Underwater Word Hunt – Letters on sinkers or laminated cards are scattered on the pool floor; teams collect them to spell a word.
Windmill Arms – Swimmers learn the alternating front crawl arm action standing and walking before trying it swimming.