Swimming – Stage 9 swimming activities

Technique that lasts: rotation and timing on every stroke, a better catch, breathing to both sides, starts and turns linked into swimming, underwater streamline and steady pacing. Outcomes are SwimShare focus areas.

Swimming · 55 activities.

Outcomes

Front crawl: rotation, early catch and bilateral breathing
Backstroke: shoulder rotation with a bent-arm pull
Breaststroke: compact pull and well-timed breath
Butterfly: low forward breath and linked strokes
Streamlined starts linked into swimming
Turns with a streamlined underwater phase and breakout
Use stroke count and tempo to swim efficiently
Hold an even pace over repeated swims

Activities

Backstroke Flip Turn – Backstroke turn: count strokes from the flags, roll onto the front, one stroke, then a forward roll and push off on the back.
Backstroke Pull Buoy Lengths – Backstroke arms with a pull buoy between the thighs so swimmers feel the catch and push without relying on the kick.
Backstroke Start – An in-water backstroke start: hold the wall, feet on the wall, then push back over the water into a streamlined glide.
Backstroke Streamline Kick-Out – A tight streamline off the wall on the back, head between the arms, then kick to the surface – fixing the head-up, arms-apart push-off.
Bend and Push – The backstroke underwater arm bends and then pushes the water down to the thigh – a stronger, safer catch than a straight-arm sweep.
Breakout Timing – Swimmers practise the moment to take the first stroke after a push-off, so speed carries straight into swimming.
Breaststroke Pull-Out – After the push-off: one long arm pull to the thighs, one kick, then surface into the stroke – a short, streamlined underwater phase.
Breaststroke Streamline Kick Count – Breaststroke kick with arms in streamline, counting kicks per width – a powerful, well-finished kick means fewer kicks.
Breath Up, Head Down – Times the breaststroke breath: the head rises as the hands sweep in and returns between the arms before the kick drives.
Breath Window Check – Partners watch for 'one goggle in, one goggle out' as the swimmer breathes, turning a common fault into something swimmers can see and fix themselves.
Breathe Early, Breathe Late – A contrast drill: swimmers deliberately breathe too late, then on time, so they can feel why an early, rotating breath keeps the stroke flowing.
Butterfly Breathe Every Two – Alternate a breathing stroke with a non-breathing stroke so the breath stops disrupting the butterfly rhythm.
Butterfly Linking Strokes – Butterfly in small sets – two strokes and a glide, then three, then four – so swimmers learn to link strokes instead of stopping after each one.
Chin on the Water – Butterfly breathing drill: the chin stays on the water surface as the swimmer breathes forward, early in the pull.
Continuous Mixed-Stroke Swim – A steady continuous swim changing stroke every length or width, building distance while each stroke stays recognisable.
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.
Crouch Dive to Streamline – From a crouch with toes over the edge, swimmers push out into a streamlined entry and glide before swimming.
Doggy Paddle Catch – Front crawl with the arms recovering under the water, so swimmers can concentrate on catching and pressing water back in front of the face.
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.
Easy, Steady, Strong – Swim the same distance at three effort levels and learn what each feels like – easy, steady and strong (never all-out) – so swimmers can choose a pace on purpose.
Elbow Over Fingers – Builds an early, bent-elbow catch: the elbow stays high while the hand and forearm tip down to press water back, first standing, then swimming.
Even-Pace Repeats – Four short repeats at an even effort, judged by stroke count and time together – learning that steady beats fast-then-slow.
Finish on a Full Stroke – Practise arriving at the wall at full stretch – no gliding in, no tiny extra stroke – with the right touch for each stroke.
Five Kicks Off the Wall – After every push-off, swimmers take a set number of small dolphin or flutter kicks in streamline before breaking out – controlled underwater skill, never a breath-holding test.
Focus Point Swim – Each length has one focus – head, kick, reach, breathing – so swimmers practise thinking about their own technique.
Front Quadrant Timing – One hand stays in front until the other passes the head, so the stroke stays long and the body stays balanced on the extended arm.
Hold the Count – Swimmers find their stroke count for a length, then try to hold it within one stroke over a longer swim – technique under tiredness.
Kick Variety Warm-Up – Widths of front crawl, backstroke, breaststroke and dolphin kick with a float or in streamline – wakes the legs up and checks kick technique.
Low Swing Recovery – Butterfly arms swing round low and relaxed with thumbs down and little fingers up – the recovery that swimmers can sustain.
Mirror Swimming – Pairs swim side by side trying to stay perfectly in time – stroke for stroke – which needs a steady, controlled rhythm.
One-Arm Front Crawl – Single-arm front crawl with the other arm stretched forward, breathing to the side of the working arm, to isolate entry, catch, pull and rotation.
Pace Clock Lengths – Learn to read the pace clock: leave on the top, note the time at the end, and use it to swim repeats at an even pace.
Pace Prediction – Swimmers predict their time for a distance, then try to swim exactly that time – pace awareness rather than flat-out effort.
Personal Technique Goal Card – Each swimmer picks one technique goal, swims a short test, practises with a chosen drill, and re-tests – owning their own improvement.
Pull Inside the Shoulders – A compact breaststroke pull: hands sweep out and in, staying in front of the shoulders, with elbows never passing the chest.
Push, Glide, Kick, Break Out – A short, controlled underwater push-off: streamline, a few kicks, then rise gently into the first stroke.
Show Your Shoulder – Front crawl where swimmers roll enough for one shoulder to break the surface each stroke – easier breathing and a longer reach.
Standing Dive – A streamlined standing dive from the side: bend, swing or reach, push out and enter through one hole.
Start Into Stroke – Links a taught start to the swim: entry, streamline, kick, breakout and the first strokes all in one smooth sequence.
Streamline Off Every Wall – During normal swimming, every push-off becomes a streamline check – partners score walls, so streamlining becomes a habit, not a drill.
Streamline Turn Relay – A relay where teams earn points for streamlined push-offs and tidy turns, not for finishing first.
Stroke Clinic – Swimmers identify their own main fault (with a partner or the teacher) and choose a drill from a menu to fix it.
Stroke Count Challenge – Swimmers count strokes per width, then try to take fewer while keeping the same effort – rewards efficiency, not speed.
Stroke Sampler Warm-Up – An easy warm-up of one width of each stroke with a single focus each – loosens up and lets the teacher see everyone's strokes.
Swim Golf – Strokes plus seconds for a width or length makes a 'golf score' – lower is better – so swimmers balance stroke length and speed.
Tempo and Count Ladder – Swim widths at three tempos – slow, medium, brisk – counting strokes each time, to discover the most efficient balance between stroke rate and stroke length.
Three-Stroke Breathing Ladder – A step-by-step route to comfortable breathing to both sides: breathe every two, then mix in every three, then every three for a whole length.
Tumble Turn Approach Count – Swimmers find how many strokes they take from the T-mark to the wall, so tumble turns start at the right distance every time.
Tumble Turn at the Wall – From the forward roll to a front crawl tumble turn: roll, feet to the wall, push on the back, rotate to the front.
Two Kicks, One Pull – An extra kick between arm strokes – forces swimmers to separate kick and pull and to glide in a streamline.
Two Stars and a Wish Cool-Down – An easy cool-down swim followed by each swimmer naming two things that went well and one thing to work on next time.
Two-Hand Touch Turn – The breaststroke and butterfly turn: both hands touch together, one elbow drops back, turn, push off in a streamline.
Two-Kick Rhythm – Butterfly timing: one kick as the hands enter, one as they push past the hips – the rhythm that makes the stroke flow.
Vertical Dolphin Kick – Dolphin kick upright in deep water, holding a noodle, so swimmers feel the kick start from the chest and hips rather than the knees.
Wall Approach – Swimmers learn to judge the wall using the T on the pool floor and stroke counting – safer, more confident turns.