How to make swimming workouts fun for kids

When swimmers are young, practice does not have to be only about training to improve timings. It is important that young swimmers make good memories at the pool and associate swimming with having fun and personal improvement. Swim games should frequently be alternated between workouts, and play. It also helps swimmers build trust with their teammates.

But other than the psychological benefits, playing during practice can also help build stamina. It helps swimmers become more confident in the water, and practice agility in the water needed for different parts of swimming. Unknowingly, swimmers practice sprints, strength training, flips, breath control, and more.

If you swim at a swimming club or swimming academy, chances are you do not need much to let your swimmers play. Most clubs come with toys, kickboards, noodles and other equipment that you can use for play. In this article, we will discuss what you can use for play and what games you can play while in the water.

Safety Measures

While fun is important, it should not lead to an injury. Make sure that your child stays safe while playing such games. Here are a few safety measures you should keep in mind before playing a swimming game.

Confident swimming

If you choose to play a game, you should make sure that you and all the players are confident swimmers. Swimmers that are unsure of how to float, breathe underwater, or cannot easily control themselves in water should not be playing. If you cannot swim very fast, that can be overlooked. But you should have body awareness in the water, and be comfortable enough to not be scared while playing such games. Swimmers who are at best intermediate at swim skill level should consider playing games in the water. Otherwise, it is likely someone will get hurt, choke, or feel panicked.

Swim coach supervision

Playing, just like training, should be done under the supervision of a swimming coach. The coach knows which games are best for the swimmers, and when intervention is needed. They will be able to control the swimmers and make sure they are safe. Coaches can also be a huge source of encouragement during these games if in case they join in. Swimmers under coach supervision will be sure to follow pool safety and stay within their limits so as to not get hurt.

Clear rules for games

While playing at the pool, the rules for any game should be very clear. For team games or any other competitions, young swimmers might try to play dirty. Make sure swimmers do not hurt one another. This includes prohibiting drowning, dunking, or pushing other swimmers into the pool. The game is meant for fun, and if one gets hurt, they might not be able to swim or come to trust being in the water.

Pool Awareness

The pool is never a very safe place. Swimmers should never play inside lane lines, because they can get cut very easily. The metal and plastic can easily hurt a child if they were to crash into it in the midst of a game. They should play in open water, without any lanes.

Secondly, games involving jumping should always be played on the deep end of the pool. This is so that swimmers do not hit the hard bottom of the pool. If swimmers are on the shallow end, they should not be jumping unless they are very young. Young swimmers should stick to the shallow side, because the deep side might be scary for them, or difficult for them to float in. Swimmers should be well aware of the pool’s depth and the location of any shallow or deep areas.

Swimmers should not play near the edges of the pool either. If a swimmer was to slip in this area, it would lead to very bad injuries. No one should play by the ladders either. The slippery metal is a definite hazard, especially during games for young swimmers.

Finally, clear the pool deck. If swimmers trip or slip on the wet pool deck, they could be seriously hurt. The deck will usually always be wet, but ensure that swimmers do not run in this area.

What games can be played while swim training?

There are many games that can be played. It depends on the age and level of the swimmer, but most of these are universal and can be done after practice, or to end an early training session.

Relay

A relay is a classic event and swimmers find it very entertaining to cheer their teammates on to finish first. Players should divide into equal teams. Each swimmer jumps in only once the previous swimmer has finished a lap, until all swimmers have finished. Whoever finishes first wins.

Relay can be done in many ways instead of just freestyle. Swimmers can do different strokes, or each swimmer can do a lap of kick, pull, drill, or swim. Swimmers could also pass each other a kickboard or pull buoy for each lap. They can also try using a noodle for extra fun swim workout. This game is very important for speed, as well as team building.

Scavenger Hunt

This game involves toys, and works best in a 50m pool. Scatter toys throughout the pool, and then ask swimmers to retrieve the scattered objects as quickly as possible within a given time period. Give them certain limitations, such as only being able to swim freestyle kick or breaststroke drill. This will help them swim with body control, precision and speed. It will also make them more comfortable in the water. To make it even more competitive, award points to the swimmer who finds the most objects.

Using swim toys

Swim toys can be used in many ways. Most swimmers like to play after class with plastic toys, rubber ducks, or noodles. While this is usually just for fun, it helps swimmers bond with one another and makes swimming classes interesting and enjoyable.

To make this more interesting, try drills using toys. Ask swimmers to hold balls between their head and neck while swimming breaststroke to practice the correct head position. You can also balance toys on their heads while swimming backstroke to teach them how to hold their head steady.

Diving for Rings

Weighted rings are thrown in the water without the swimmers watching where they have been thrown. The coach will then set a time limit to find the rings, with points for whoever has found the most. The rings should ideally be thrown in the deep end. Swimmers will learn how to swim fast and gain body control underwater. They can also learn how to hold their breath, which is very important for younger swimmers.

Using foam mats

Divide swimmers into teams. Ask them to lay on a foam mat. It is a special unbreakable, hard-wearing foam mat that floats on water. It provides support and comfort for activities inside and outside the pool. The swimmers have to float on it while kicking simultaneously to push their mat forward. Around four swimmers can fit on one mat. As a team, they must kick their way to victory.

Other than seeming like a scene out of Aladdin, this game is good for developing kicking technique, as well as maintaining body control in the water. It takes a lot of effort to ensure the mat does not overturn while having five other people on it.

Water Polo

A swimmer’s favorite, it requires extreme agility and endurance. Water polo is a separate sport, but most swimmers play it as a fun swim workout. Divide your swimmers into equal teams and set up makeshift goals using chairs or nets. This game is very strenuous, forcing swimmers to swim fast while head up, stay afloat and maintain energy levels.

They have to dodge other swimmers, shoot their goals, work with other teammates, and more. Water polo is an exhaustive game, but teaches swimmers a lot. It is incredibly interesting, but also grueling. Water polo is probably one of the best games you can play as a swimmer. It should always be monitored by a coach, because the game tends to get violent, and points are sometimes scored foully.

How do fun swim games help in swim training?

As mentioned previously, playing in the pool during swim training can have several benefits. It is not just for fun, but for the overall development of a swimmer that enjoys their sport, and sustains peak physical ability. Here are some of the ways playing during training can help.

• It makes training more enjoyable and engaging for kids. Often, young swimmers lose motivation to come back to lessons if they are difficult and serious. Games can help them have fun swim workout and gain motivation.
• It can help to break up the monotony of repetitive workouts, which are usually one-dimensional. Games make the workout seem more varied.
• Playing in the pool can also help kids to develop a wider range of swimming skills, as the activities and games require them to use different techniques and styles.
• Incorporating play into training can also help to improve their balance, coordination, and overall body awareness in the water.
• It helps build a swimmer’s water confidence. They try new tricks, strokes, and movements in the water while learning new skills at a pace they are comfortable with.
• It helps to build their social skills and teamwork as swimmers bond as a group to foster their competitive spirit.

Overall, incorporating play into swim training can be a fun and effective way to help kids develop their swimming skills and confidence in the water, allowing our swimmers to enjoy themselves in a way that makes the sport interesting to them.