“Is it game day?”
Every coach probably hears this question at least once a week. But, how often do we really consider the role of game at swim practice? Everyday, there is so much to get done. There needs to be time for warm up and warm down, technique work, main sets, dryland, and to fit in time for a game seems impossible (and, often, unnecessary). In reality, when integrated well, games at swim practice can actually develop the skills in swimmers necessary to be successful in the pool and the “real world.”
Games at swim practice can be blended into already made practice sets or they can stand alone. Either way, it is important to call it what it is: a game! Games encourage fun and fun promotes buy-in, engagement, and motivation. Games can increase attendance at practice and also be challenging and develop swimming skills. Games at swim practice should be simple and easy understand. Games should appeal to all ability levels, not just the fastest swimmers.
Games can be integrated into practice at any level: beginner to college. There is probably less of a place for games in senior and college level swimming because of the demands of practice, but games are important for younger swimmers to develop a sense of excitement at swim practice. Fun and excitement at an early age can lead a child becoming a lifelong swimmer.
Finally, the frequency that games should be integrated into practice lessens as swimmers age. At the 8 & under level, coaches can integrate short games everyday to allow young swimmers to rest, while still having fun. Longer games that take time out of practice are often used more on special occasions, like holiday practice or a birthday, and do not occur everyday. The frequency is up to the coach and his or her style, but short games can be integrated into practice regularly and can promote skills like friendly competition, confidence to meet a challenge, and motivation.
Short, daily games for younger swimmers
Name Game: Swimmers say an adjective that begins with the first letter of their name and their name (ex: “Jazzy Jason” “Cool Christine”). Once they know each other’s names, have each swimmer say another swimmer’s adjective + name.
Underwater Dance Party: Swimmers go underwater for 10 seconds and show off their best dance moves. This one is good for a short rest!
Games that can be built into practice
Relays: These can be classic relays or any relay the coach decides to make up. Underwater kick relays are a good way to develop necessary swimming skills in a fun and competitive environment.
Stopwatch Roulette: This takes some initial planning by the coach: on a sheet of paper, split up every time in hundredths of a second on a stopwatch between :00 and :99. Assign each “time” a swimming set or game. More desirable games can be assigned to one time (example: .74 = sharks and minnows) and swimming sets can be assigned a chunk of time (example: .70-.74 = 10 x 50 choice best average). This allows for a mix of games and swimming, though the coach has no influence over the actual sets.
“Game Day”
While these games can take up an entire practice or a significant chunk of practice, it is important to remember that these games develop coordination and general athletic skills that can be beneficial to swimmers.
Water Polo
Volleyball
Kickboard Baseball
Sharks and Minnows: A classic swimming game, but it can be played with many variations: fins, only tagging someone when the swimmer comes up to breathe,
We do a half hour of relays every Friday night (except during championship season). All ages together. Older kids love they get to do 25s and the little ones love it because they get to mingle with the older ones. Really brings the entire team together. It also increases practice attendence on Fridays. The older swimmers still get in a quality practice after relays.
For warm up we used to have everyone start in one lane and come back in another .. sort of snaking through the whole pool. Sometimes the faster swimmers would go first and complete the tour of lanes more than once or we’d put the little kids first and try to have the older ones catch up. It was really nothing much but they loved it. Let’s face it, swimming can be BORING. Games are a must.
I asked the men’s swim coach of my alma mater what a kid should get out of a good swim team, and he said “He should learn to love swimming.”
As a swimmer in my senior year, my game times at practice have widdled down to close to nothing. Swimming is an extremely physically and mentally demanding sport, we all know that. Not all “games” are a waste of time, and there are parts of the season where a game could be appropriately incorporated (first day back from a long break, for example) just to reward the kids for their hard work and take a breather. No coach is a bad coach for allowing his or her kids to take a break from their strenuous training from time to time. Are games a need? No. But I don’t know a single swimmer who doesn’t enjoy a game every now and… Read more »
As a coach, I try to incorporate games that build the particular skills I am emphasizing with my swimmers. I also use them as a reward after a meet or a particularly challenging workout. It gives the kids something to look forward to for their hard work and keeps them motivated.
Is kickboard baseball like water polo? How do play it ?
My daughter is an assistant coach and the kids love the game “Peanut” . They all start on the first block and she throws a pull buoy to them as they catch and jump in the water. If they miss catching it they stay at the first diving block. If they catch it they move on to the next diving block and so on until they get to the last diving block.
As a swim mom nothing drove me more crazy than watching my 11 year old playing sharks and minnows while I was thinking they should be getting through another set. Fast forward a couple years of hard non-stop training and now I have a very fast swimmer who say’s swim in no fun anymore and has quit to try water polo. I’m sure there is a balance to find here especially with age group swimmers. The goal should be to have a healthy happy swimmer that keeps swimming.