Stage 4 swimming activities

Recognisable strokes: developing front crawl, backstroke and breaststroke technique, early dolphin kick and butterfly movement, sculling, treading water and stronger aquatic skills.

Swim England Learn to Swim · 81 activities.

Outcomes

Swim front crawl with side breathing
Swim backstroke with a recognisable arm action
Show an effective breaststroke leg action
Show breaststroke arms linked with breathing
Show dolphin kick and early butterfly movement
Push and glide in a tight streamline
Scull to support and to travel
Tread water for a short time
Submerge with controlled breathing out
Enter the water in different ways and return to the side
Build continuous swimming distance
Know how to stay safe and help others safely

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.
Body Wave Glide – From a streamlined glide, swimmers make a gentle wave from chest to toes – the movement that drives dolphin kick and butterfly.
Bubble Trails – Swimmers leave a continuous trail of bubbles behind them as they travel – breathing out while moving, not just standing still.
Butterfly Arms Walk – Swimmers walk in waist-to-chest-deep water practising butterfly arms – the keyhole pull and low swinging recovery.
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.
Coach Says – A 'Simon Says' for older swimmers using technical commands – 'Coach says six-kick switch' – a lively warm-up that revises drills.
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.
Deep Water Confidence Ladder – A step-by-step route into deep water: hold the wall, let go for a count, turn and swim back – each rung builds trust.
Deep Water Jump and Tread – Jump into deep water, surface, tread for a count, then swim back to the side – entries and survival combined.
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 Kick on the Side – Dolphin kick lying on the side with one arm extended – swimmers can breathe easily and feel the kick go forwards and backwards.
Dolphin on the Back – Dolphin kick on the back with arms by the sides – swimmers can breathe freely while learning the undulating kick.
Double-Arm Backstroke – Both arms recover and pull together – a balanced way to feel straight arms and entry width before alternating.
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.
Easy Choice Swim – Easy continuous swimming on a stroke of the swimmer's choice – a warm-up or calm finish that builds distance without pressure.
Eleven and One – Imagine a clock above the head: the left hand enters at eleven and the right at one – fixes entries too wide or too narrow.
Entry Menu – Swimmers choose the right entry for the depth – step, slide, jump, crouch fall – and explain their choice.
Eyes on the Line – Swimmers keep their eyes on the line on the pool floor – a steady, low head gives a flat body and higher legs.
Feet-First Scull – On the back, swimmers change their hand angle to travel feet-first – real control of sculling rather than flapping.
Feet-First Surface Dive – From treading water, swimmers push down with the hands and sink feet-first with a streamlined body to reach the floor.
Flags to Wall – Swimmers count their backstroke strokes from the flags (or a marker) to the wall so they never bump their head.
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.
Focus Point Swim – Each length has one focus – head, kick, reach, breathing – so swimmers practise thinking about their own technique.
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, 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.
Heart-Shape Arms – Breaststroke arms that draw a small heart in front of the shoulders – stops pulling too far back.
Heel Touch Kick – On the back, swimmers recover their heels to touch their fingertips – keeps the knees low and the feet turned out.
Jump and Turn – Swimmers jump in, turn straight back to face the wall and swim to it – the essential safety habit after any entry.
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 Tempo Changes – Swimmers switch between slow, long kicks and fast, small kicks on the back and front – they feel the kick coming from the hip.
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.
One Goggle In – Holding the wall, swimmers turn to breathe with one goggle staying in the water – fixes lifting the head forwards.
Press the T – Swimmers gently press their chest (the 'T' across the shoulders and down the breastbone) into the water to bring the hips up.
Pull and Peek – Breaststroke arms with a small forward breath as the hands sweep in – linking arm action and breathing without lifting too high.
Pull, Breathe, Kick, Glide – The breaststroke timing progression: arms first, breathe, then kick, then glide – built step by step to full stroke.
Push the Wall Away – Technique practice for a strong, clean wall push-off on the front and back – the foundation of every glide.
Safe Relay Changeovers – Teams practise safe relay takeovers – wait until the incoming swimmer touches, enter safely, move away from the wall.
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.
Side Kick Breathing – Kicking on the side with one arm extended; the face rolls down and back to the side – the easiest way to learn to breathe without lifting.
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.
Side Push-Off – Push off on the side and rotate to the front during the glide – the push-off used after open and tumble turns.
Silent Kick Challenge – Kick as effectively as possible with as little splash as possible – fast, small kicks from the hip beat big, noisy ones.
Single-Arm Backstroke – One arm works while the other rests by the side – isolates a straight recovery and an entry in line with the shoulder.
Single-Arm Butterfly – One arm does butterfly while the other stays extended in front – timing the kick with the arm and breathing without the effort of full stroke.
Single-Arm Front Crawl – One arm works while the other stays extended in front – isolates the arm action and breathing to the working side.
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.
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.
Stop at the Top – Swimmers pause each arm straight up at the top of the recovery to check it is straight, thumb-first turning to little-finger-first.
Streamline Dolphin with Forward Breath – Streamlined dolphin kick on the front, breathing with a low forward lift – rhythm and breathing without the arms.
Streamlined Back Kick – Back kick with arms locked in a streamline above the head – a long, high body position and a steady kick from the hip.
Streamlined Front Kick – Front crawl kick with arms locked in a streamline – builds a long, flat body and a kick that starts at the hip.
Stroke Bingo – Bingo cards with skills and strokes – swimmers complete a row by performing each skill correctly.
Stroke Detective – Pairs take turns as 'detectives' watching a partner swim with a simple checklist, then give one clue to improve.
Stroke Switch Relay – Each relay leg uses a different stroke or kick, so swimmers practise switching between skills under light pressure.
Swim and Scull Circuit – Stations around the pool – scull head-first, tread water, tub turn, float – swimmers rotate every minute.
Swim Passport – A personal distance log: each lesson swimmers add continuous distance while keeping a technique 'stamp' – distance with quality.
Swim, Stop, Float – Swim a set distance, roll onto the back to float and recover, then carry on – teaches swimmers to rest without standing.
Symmetry Check – Kicking breaststroke on the back so swimmers can see both feet do exactly the same thing – the fix for a scissor kick.
T-Shirt Swim – Swimmers float and swim wearing a T-shirt to discover how clothing changes swimming – real-life water safety.
Technique Relay – A team relay where points are awarded for technique points the teacher calls – fast swimmers with poor technique don't win.
Technique Treasure Hunt – Cards around the pool edge each hold a technique task; swimmers find a card, do the task well and collect a treasure token.
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.
Tight Streamline Test – Pairs check each other's streamline – locked hands, squeezed ears, pointed toes – then test it on front, side and back push-offs.
Train Tracks – Hands enter the water on two imaginary train tracks in line with the shoulders – stops crossing over and keeps swimming straight.
Tread and Talk – Swimmers tread water while answering questions or playing a word game – they learn to stay relaxed long enough to talk.
Treading Water Basics – Upright in deep water with a noodle, swimmers learn slow cycling legs and flat sculling hands – then gradually loosen the noodle.
Tub Turn – Sitting in a 'tub' (knees tucked, shins on the surface), swimmers scull to spin round – great for control and confidence.