Paid Newsletter: Starter Pack

Here is a starter pack of lesson plans to begin your journey teaching better lessons tomorrow. Swimming Ideas’ goal is for everyone to teach fun and effective lessons. Leverage the “Activity, Activity, Challenge” formula written into every lesson plan and maximize your student’s time on task, effort in the water, and promote deliberate practice opportunities …

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Swimming Game: Holiday Gift Giving

Name Gift Giving Core Skill The core skill in this game is to encourage creativity and communication while enhancing swimming abilities through playful interaction with swim tools and toys. Who This game is appropriate for all levels and abilities, ranging from Level 1 beginners through to developmental swim teams. What Gift Giving is a fun …

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Swimming Game: Holiday Snow Plow

Name: Snow Plow Core Skill The Snow Plow game focuses on developing and refining the swimmer’s kicking technique, body position in the water, and teamwork. This game emphasizes the importance of maintaining a strong, steady kick and proper body alignment while managing to move objects through the water. It also fosters communication and cooperation among …

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Freestyle Drills: One arm, Long Dog, Sculling

This video from Effortless Swimming is a great example of 3 effective drills for developmental and advanced competitive age group swimmers. One Arm Free: Streamline first like normal, then, put one hand next to your side in soldier. Swim Freesytle with the other hand, breathing on every stroke and turning your face towards the arm …

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Backstroke Kick Drill: Titanic

From the Olympics Channel; Elizabeth Beisel explains an awesome drill. Elizabeth Beisel came to our pool to work with our Age Group and Senior swimmers. It was awesome. She taught this drill to our swimmers and it is still in the toolbox of approved drills for Age Group. This is an excellent drill for swimmers …

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Swimming Game – Magic Statue

Name Magic Statue Core Skill This game is designed to help young swimmers practice maintaining their swimming poses and positions like streamline or position 11. It also encourages body control, spatial awareness, and fun role-playing. Who This game is perfect for Guppies and Level 1 swimmers. What Inspired by the Bluey episode where Bluey and …

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Swimming Game – Police and Baddies

Name Police and Baddies Core Skill The core skill of “Police and Baddies” is to enhance swimmers’ confidence and proficiency in basic swimming techniques such as front and back glides, underwater submersion, and unsupported floats. This game also encourages imaginative play and teamwork. Who This game is suitable for swimmers in Guppies, Level 1, and …

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Swimming Game – Challenge: Frozen Magic

Name Frozen Magic Core Skill This swimming game focuses on front and back glides while incorporating the element of fun through imagination and role-play. It helps young swimmers practice staying in a streamlined position and maintaining body control in the water. Who This game is perfect for children aged 3-6 years who are at the …

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Instructor Training Challenge: Rock, Paper, Scissors, CHEER!

Name Rock, Paper, Scissors, CHEER! Core Skill The core skill developed in this game is team bonding and camaraderie. This challenge serves as an icebreaker for new staff members or a fun activity to reinvigorate veteran staff. It encourages communication, enthusiasm, and team spirit among participants. Who This game is ideal for swimming instructors and …

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Swimming Game – Dancing Jumps

Name Dancing Jumps Core Skill The core skill developed in this game is jumping entries with proper body positioning and control. Swimmers will practice maintaining specific poses in the air and during their water entry, improving balance, body awareness, and transition into swimming skills. Who This game is designed for level 2, level 3, level …

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Swimming Game – Challenge: Flip Flop Flap

Name Flip Flop Flap Core Skill This game helps swimmers develop balance and coordination while transitioning between front float and back float positions. It also introduces the concept of controlled movement in the water and promotes water confidence through dynamic activities. Who Suitable for swimmers of varying skill levels, from beginner to intermediate. Perfect for …

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November 2024: Short Distance Training

When will my kid learn to swim? Why are they only swimming short distances? My kid never gets a chance to swim a full length of the pool. How will they get better if they’re always stopping short? I love these questions because they illustrate an opportunity to educate parents on how swim lessons work. …

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Swimming Game – Challenge: Macarena Position 11

Name Macarena Position 11 One-liner Streamline then Position 11 across the pool;hile kicking in Position 11 rotate palms up and then down one hand at a time to the beat of the song “Macarena.” Core Skill The core skill developed in this game is maintaining Position 11 with hands stretched outwards at the surface or …

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Swimming Game – Challenge: Noodle Scull

Name Noodle Scull Core Skill The core skill being developed in this challenge is sculling. Swimmers will learn how to use their hands to push against the water to move. This helps them understand the feeling of water resistance and how their efforts translate into movement. Who This game is suitable for Level 1, Level …

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Swimming Game – Treasure Dive; variation on diving for toys

Name Treasure Dive Core Skill This game focuses on building confidence and improving underwater swimming skills. Who Suitable for Level 1 and Level 2 swimmers who are comfortable submerging their heads underwater. What Participants will need a few small waterproof toys or objects to serve as “treasures.” These can be placed at the bottom of …

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October 2024: Teaching Swimming v4 Preview

Every year is has a new focus of improvement for people running swimming lessons and swim instruction. This year I’m focusing on updating the Teaching Swimming workbook. Fall 2024 – Spring 2025 will see the rollout of version 4 of the Teaching Swimming Workbook: Fun and Effective Instruction. Teaching Swimming v3 was published in 2019: …

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Swimming Game – Challenge: Kick on Side Helicopter Arm

Name Kick on Side Helicopter Arm Core Skill This challenge focuses on improving the swimmer’s front crawl (freestyle) technique, particularly enhancing body rotation, arm movement, and kicking strength. Who This challenge is suitable for: What The “Kick on Side Helicopter Arm” challenge involves swimmers pushing off the wall in a streamlined position on their belly, …

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Swimming Game – Challenge: Position 11 Cartwheel

Name Position 11 Cartwheel Core Skill The core skills targeted in this challenge are Position 11, Streamline, and Flip Turns. These are essential for developing efficient swimming techniques and improving overall performance in the water. Who This challenge is designed for Level 3, Level 4, and Developmental swimmers. These swimmers have a foundational understanding of …

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Swimming Game – Challenge: Hurdles and Limbos

Name Hurdles and Limbos Core Skill The primary skill developed in this game is underwater comfort and breath control. Swimmers will practice going underwater and holding their breath, which is essential for building confidence in the water. Additionally, this game helps improve coordination and body control as swimmers navigate over and under obstacles. Who This …

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Swimming Game – Challenge: Superman, Save Me!

Name: Superman, Save Me! Core Skill The core skills targeted in this game are streamline, position 1, and position 1 breathing to the side. These skills are essential for developing efficient swimming techniques and improving overall water confidence. The game also encourages fun and engagement, making learning enjoyable for young swimmers. Who This game is …

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Swimming Game – Challenge: Be a submarine

Name: Challenge – Be a Submarine Core Skill: Buoyancy Control and Breath Control This game focuses on helping swimmers improve their buoyancy control and breath-holding skills. It also enhances their ability to maintain a stable position underwater while managing an additional challenge. Who: This game is suitable for swimmers of all ages who are comfortable …

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Creating the ultimate swim lesson curriculum with Katie Crysdale and Lakeview Aquatic Consultants Ltd.

#totdecks #levelstructure #activityactivitychallenge #formula #funandeffective #swimgame Thank you very much for the opportunity to talk at length with you, Katie, about swimming lessons and Swimming Ideas.  I had a wonderful time talking with Katie and seeing her unique point of view facing aquatics in Canada. There are many areas of commonality and significant differences (specifically …

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Enhancing Instruction with Command Language and Rotation Methods

Effective swimming instruction is crucial for fostering water safety and developing proficient swimmers. Command language and rotation methods are two essential techniques that instructors can employ to enhance instruction, improve clarity, and ensure equal attention for all swimmers. This article will delve into the significance of these methods, discuss their benefits, and provide training tips …

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Making a Splash: How Effective Supervision Makes Summer Swimming Lessons a Success

Summer beckons with its promise of warm days, sunshine, and cool water. For many children, this also means the opportunity to participate in summer swimming lessons. These lessons are invaluable for developing water safety skills and building confidence in the pool. But behind the scenes, ensuring a safe and positive learning environment hinges on one …

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Swimming Game – Challenge: Singing in the Rain

#swimgame #challenge #level1 #guppies #goingunderwater Name Sing in the Rain Core Skill The core skill focused on in this challenge is water comfort. Swimmers will practice being comfortable with water on their face and head, which is essential for developing confidence in the water. Who This challenge is designed for Guppies and Level 1 swimmers. …

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Swimming Game: Secret Messages

Name Secret Messages Core Skill The core skill of this game is going underwater and observation. It encourages participants to go underwater and open their eyes as players try to decipher the secret messages. Who This game is inclusive and can be played by anyone who can go underwater, including non-swimmers or weak swimmers. They …

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Parent & Tot (Infant)

Ages: 6 months through 3 years old. Parents and children should be in the class together. Appropriate for all children at least 6 months old and up to 3 years old. The Parent and Tot class is designed to introduce parents and infants to swimming in the water through a fun, loving, and caring environment. …

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Membership Benefits: Adaptable Level Structure

All Access Membership gives you and your entire team tools that hook into Swimming Ideas’ level structure. Each daily lesson plan is custom made for a corresponding level and includes multiple activities and challenges aimed at that level’s testable skills. Follow our lesson plans and your swim instructors will teach all the core skills to …

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Lesson plans for beginners and veterans

I love using our lesson plans daily. Even when I get in the water and sub for a class or teach a group of 3 year olds I’m reaching for the TerraSlate printed lesson plans. Why? Because even for a veteran instructor like me, I need to knock the rust off the metal a little, …

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Guppies: Playing with Parents and Toddlers

Welcome to our guide on running a successful Guppies swim class. This post is designed to provide Aquatic Professionals with practical advice on training staff to create an engaging, educational, and fun environment for both toddlers and their parents. We’ll cover the importance of instructor energy, parent engagement, and tips for empowering young instructors to …

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Level 4 Day 3

1 x 100 IM Kick In order, a 25 of each stroke: Butterfly, Backstroke, Breaststroke, FreestyleAll done in soldier position. 2 x 50 Instructor’s choice of swim, kick, or drill. Use fins, or not. Can be a combination or all the same stroke. Question of the Day: What does “bilateral breathing” mean? Correct: 25 Free …

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Swimming Game – Swim then Coach

Name Swim then Coach Core Skill Peer Coaching and Technical Execution What This challenge is tailored for swimmers at levels 3, 4, and those in developmental swim teams, aiming to enhance their technical execution and peer coaching skills. How The process unfolds as follows: Difficulties Participants Might Face Participants may encounter challenges with memorizing the …

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Swim Lessons: On-Boarding, Training, & Longevity Plan

Hire a swim instructor Put up a job application somewhere online. The application should follow your hiring rules with a job description, expected work hours, pay rate, compensation, and typical activities. Schedule an interview with your applicant. I prefer to do things digitally and remotely because it lets me to a lot of meetings without …

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Guppies: Playing games with toddlers

Teaching swimming to toddlers can be a rewarding and challenging experience. Toddlers are curious, energetic, and eager to learn new skills, but they also have short attention spans, limited body control, and varying levels of confidence. As a swim instructor, you need to balance safety, fun, and learning in your classes. In this blog post, …

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Swimming Game – Fill the Bucket, Empty the Bucket

Name Fill the bucket, empty the bucket Core Skill This challenge aims to improve the swimmers’ streamline, arm strokes, back float, and coordination skills. Who This challenge is suitable for swimmers of Levels 1 to 4. It can be done in two separate lanes or in one lane with an even number of swimmers. What …

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Membership Benefits: Online Courses

Swimming Ideas currently has 4 online courses. 2 of the online courses are intended for teaching and learning new material: Level Structure and Teaching Swimming. The other 2 courses serve different needs. Downloads, Tools & Tutorials is a “holding” course where you can find all your downloadable files like lesson plans, visual skill sheets, workbook …

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Membership Benefits: Lesson Plans; Games & Challenges

Aquatic Professionals know that we don’t all know everything. We reach out for more information, we like to connect with others, and see how other instructors and professionals tackle common problems. My goal with Swimming Ideas and the All Access Memberships is to provide clear and simple tools that make your training, instruction, and swimming …

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Swimming Game – Challenge: Giving Love; your favorite toy

Name Giving Love Core Skill Sharing and swimming skills Who This challenge is suitable for swimmers who can swim at least 50 yards or meters with different toys, tools, or aids. What This challenge is a fun way to celebrate Valentine’s Day by sharing your favorite swimming items with others and trying new ones. How …

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Swimming Game – Challenge: Striking Love

Name Striking Love Core Skill Throwing accuracy and swimming skills Who This challenge is suitable for swimmers who can throw objects over a distance and swim different strokes. What This challenge is a fun way to celebrate Valentine’s Day by throwing “Cupid’s Arrows” into floating hula hoops and swimming to retrieve them. How Difficulties the …

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Swimming Game – Challenge: Cupid’s Heart

Name Cupid’s Heart Core Skill Cardiovascular endurance and social skills Who This challenge is suitable for swimmers who can swim at least 25 yards or meters without stopping and can find their pulse. What This challenge is a fun way to celebrate Valentine’s Day by combining swimming, heart rate monitoring, and positive affirmations. How Difficulties …

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Swimming Game – Challenge: Otter Eating

Name Otter Eating Core Skill Back Float Who This challenge is suitable for 3 – 5 year-old swimmers who are in level 1 or 2. What The goal of this challenge is to have the swimmer float on their back while holding 2-3 floating toys on their belly without letting them float or splash away. …

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Instructor Training Challenge: Conquer Fear Dance

Name The Wild and Goofy Dance Challenge Core Skill Confidence and creativity What This challenge is designed to test the participants’ ability to do something they have never done before, without fear or hesitation. It also encourages them to be creative and have fun. How Difficulties participants might face Some possible difficulties that participants might …

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Instructor Training Challenge: Non-Verbal Directions

Name Non-Verbal Directions Core Skill Non-Verbal Communication and Feedback What This is a challenge that tests the participants’ ability to communicate and give feedback without using words, as well as to follow non-verbal cues from others. How Difficulties participants might face How this challenge relates to swim instruction Beyond Words: The Power of Non-Verbal Feedback …

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What makes a lesson plan good?

Swimming lesson plans are essential tools for swimming teachers to deliver fun and effective lessons to their students. A good lesson plan should have the following characteristics: Provide a clear progression of level relatable skills A good lesson plan should have a clear aim and objective that is relevant to the level and ability of …

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Lesson Plans: Engaging the Parent Tot Parent

As a swim instructor or an aquatic professional, you know how important parent tot swimming lessons are. They are not only a way to introduce young children to the water and teach them essential skills, but also a way to educate and empower parents to be their child’s first and best teacher. However, you also …

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Instructor Training Challenge: Leading the Blind with Commands

Name Leading the Blind with Commands Core Skill Communication and Leadership What This is a challenge that tests the participants’ ability to communicate clearly and effectively, as well as to lead and guide others in a difficult situation. How Difficulties participants might face How this challenge relates to swim instruction

Instructor Training Challenge: Find Your Folk

Name Find Your Folk Core Skill This challenge tests the participants’ non-verbal communication and grouping skills. What The participants will quickly separate into three groups based on their personal characteristics without speaking. How Difficulties participants might face Some possible difficulties that participants might face are: How this challenge relates to swim instruction This challenge relates …

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Instructor Training Challenge: Name and Food Match

Name Name and Food Match Core Skill This challenge tests the participants’ memory and observation skills. What The participants will try to remember and match the names and food preferences of everyone at the training. How Difficulties participants might face Some possible difficulties that participants might face are: How this challenge relates to swim instruction …

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Instructor Training Challenge: Max Class Setup Pictures

Name Max Class Setup Pictures Core Skill This challenge tests the participants’ planning and organizing skills for setting up a pool for multiple classes. What The participants will draw a picture of how they would arrange the pool, the benches, and the toys for different levels of classes. How Difficulties participants might face Some possible …

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Instructor Training Challenge: Random Skill Test

Name Random Skill Test Core Skill This challenge tests the participants’ knowledge and demonstration of various swimming skills. What The participants will randomly select a swimming skill from the Teaching Swimming workbook and explain and show how to perform it. How Difficulties participants might face Some possible difficulties that participants might face are: How this …

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Instructor Training Challenge: Fast Performance

Name Fast Performance Core Skill Communication and creativity What A game where one person (the Speaker) speaks as fast as possible to give instructions, feedback, and praise or criticism to another person (the Partner) who has to follow them physically. How Difficulties participants might face How this Challenge relates to swim instruction

Evaluating your swim instructor staff

Swimming instructors are essential for teaching people of all ages and abilities how to swim safely and enjoyably. However, not all swimming instructors are equally effective or qualified. As a supervisor or manager of a swimming program, you need to evaluate your swimming instructors regularly and provide them with feedback and training opportunities to improve …

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Swimming Game – Challenge: Diving Ring Pickup Progression

Name Diving Ring Pickup Progression Core Skill This challenge aims to improve the swimmers’ underwater skills, such as breath control, body position, buoyancy, and coordination. Who This challenge is suitable for intermediate to advanced swimmers who are comfortable with diving and staying underwater for a few seconds. What The swimmers must each have their own …

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IPRA Conference 2024: Aquatic Operations

Three big areas people are interested in: Tracking swim lesson levels, skills, and report cards. You can use SwimLessons.Pro, our online lesson management system when you’re an All Access Member for Teams. This is a constantly evolving system based on a simple site that is custom built for your team. You have full control over …

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How the Free Lesson Plans Help You

Check out our free lesson plans hosted on gumroad.com. Seriously. They’re awesome and free. Download samples of our daily lesson plans for level specific instruction, a few pages of our visual skill sheets, and even pages from our Teaching Swimming and Lesson Coordinator workbooks. Free Download: Lesson Plans & Workbook PDFs (gumroad.com) At the bottom …

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Swimming Game – Magic Mirror

Name Magic Mirror Core Skill This game can help swimmers practice their breath control, underwater vision, and body awareness. Who This game is suitable for swimmers who can submerge their heads comfortably and hold their breath for at least 10 seconds. It can be played with a minimum of two swimmers and a maximum of …

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Improve Collaborative Leadership and Staff Morale

Running a swimming lesson program for a park district or agency can be a rewarding and challenging task. You have to manage a team of instructors, lifeguards, and other staff members, while ensuring the safety and satisfaction of your participants. How can you make sure your program runs smoothly and effectively? In this blog post, …

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How Swim Games and Challenges Enhance Our Swimming Lesson Plans

At Swimming Ideas, we believe that learning how to swim should be fun, engaging, and effective. That’s why we have created a comprehensive collection of swimming lesson plans that cover all the essential skills and techniques for swimmers of all ages and levels. But our swimming lesson plans are not just about drills and exercises. …

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Putting yards into 2024

New Year, New Goals: How to Improve Your Swimming and Swim Instruction in 2024 Happy New Year, everyone! I hope you had a wonderful holiday season and are ready to dive into 2024 with enthusiasm and determination. As a swim instructor and a swimmer myself, I always look forward to the new year as an …

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Collaborative Leading for Managers

Collaborative Leading: How to Lead a Successful Swim Program with Your Team Collaborative leading is a leadership style that fosters teamwork, trust, and empowerment among co-workers. It is especially useful for managing a swim program, where you have to coordinate with different staff members, instructors, lifeguards, and participants. In this post, we will explore what …

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New Years for a New Program

Why New Year’s is the Perfect Time to Start a New Swimming Lesson Program New Year’s is a time for new beginnings, new resolutions, and new opportunities. If you are an aquatic professional looking for a way to improve your swimming lesson program, this is the perfect time to start with Swimming Ideas. Swimming Ideas …

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Christmas Holiday: Swimming into the Festive Season

Hello Swim Coaches, Aquatic Professionals, and Swim Instructors, We’re warming up (despite the dropping temperatures!) to dive into the vibrant and joyous Christmas season. As professionals who bring the joy of swimming to many, you all must have unique ways to spread the Christmas cheer in your swimming lessons and practices. We’re eager to know …

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Swimming Game – Christmas Presents

Name Christmas Presents Core Skill This game is designed to reinforce the basic skills of swimming, such as streamlining, breathing, kicking, and stroke technique. Who This game is suitable for developmental swim team swimmers who are at least level 4, meaning they can swim 25 yards of freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, and butterfly, and perform flip …

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Swimming Game – Reindeer Jump

Name Reindeer Jumping Core Skill This game helps swimmers practice their fly stroke and explosive power. Fly stroke is one of the four competitive swimming strokes, also known as butterfly. It requires swimmers to move both arms simultaneously over the water, while using a dolphin kick to propel themselves forward. Explosive power is the ability …

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SIP 102: Consistent Dedication to the Mundane

https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/swimmingideas/episodes/SIP-102-Consistent-Dedication-to-the-Mundane-e2covi6 See “Finding Deliberate Practice,” “SIP 052: Swimming is a Habit,” and “SIP 067: Deliberate Practice.” Your framework and routine should reinforce the key things you want to accomplish with your swimmers. My number one goals: Coach behavior on deck: If you see something to fix, you must say sometime. Avoid socializing and standing in …

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Swimming Game – Tic Toc Around the Clock

Name Tick Toc Around the Clock Core Skill Freestyle arms recovery, where to enter the water, and where to initiate an arm pull. Who Level 3 swimmers who are learning front crawl arms independently. What A game that teaches swimmers how to do freestyle arms in the correct position with each recovery How ** Note: …

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The Three Pillars of Effective Teaching for Swimming Instructors

Teaching is a complex and rewarding profession that requires a combination of skills, knowledge and passion. In this blog post, I will share with you the three pillars of effective teaching that I have learned from my experience as a swimming instructor and coach. These pillars are: follow the formula “activity, activity, challenge”, provide a …

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Swimming Game – Do the Twist w/ Mirrors

Name Do the Twist Core Skill Freestyle hip rotation Who Level 4 swimmers who can swim freestyle for at least 25 yards What A game that uses in-water mirrors to help swimmers practice and compare different ways of rotating their hips while swimming freestyle Want some in-water mirrors for your program? We use these: https://amzn.to/3MZYNXV …

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Swimming Game – 3 Thanksgiving Activities for Developmental Swimming Practice

How to Make Your Swim Practice More Fun and Festive with Thanksgiving Games Are you ready for some festivities at practice? Thanksgiving is a time to celebrate with family and friends, enjoy delicious food, and express gratitude for all the good things in life. But it can also be a time to spice up your …

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Swimming Game – Singing and Rolling

Name Singing and Rolling Core Skill Gliding independently, Side breathing for front crawl Who Level 2 swimmers who can float and glide on their front and back with minimal support What A fun game that challenges swimmers to sing a song while gliding on their front and rolling their body or head to breathe How …

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General Lesson Plans: When it’s time to let your instructors experiment.

The Swimming Ideas All Access Memberships provide many tools for your swimming lesson program. One of those tools is the general lesson plan. This guide is a good reference if you are using Swimming Ideas’ levels and lesson plans and will serve as a reference guide if you’re creating your own levels and lesson plans, …

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SIP 101: Routine for Developmental Swimming

https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/swimmingideas/episodes/SIP-101-Routine-for-Developmental-Swimming-e2bre5a Establishing your habits, your consistency, and defining the framework that will lead to better swimmers faster. Why routine is important:SIP 052: Swimming is a habit (swimminglessonsideas.com)SIP 045: Importance of Routine (swimminglessonsideas.com) What is our routine and why do we do it? Warmup: 100 IM K50 Swim2 x 25 Position 11Question of the DayWhat is …

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Training Module: Fixing non-position 11 free arms

Critical Issue with Free Arms One of the most common problems that swimmers face when learning freestyle is not using their free arms correctly. At a recent audit of Level 3 swimmers doing freestyle swimming not a single one was reaching forward in position 11. Instead I saw a disturbing amount of freestyle swimming with …

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Swimming Game – Mirror, Mirror, Pose

Name Mirror Mirror Pose Core Skill This game helps swimmers to improve their streamline, stroke technique, and body awareness by using swim mirrors to observe their own movements in the water. Who This game is suitable for level 3 swimmers who have learned the basics of freestyle, breaststroke, and butterfly, and can swim at least …

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Swimming Game – Halloween Practice with Coach Drake

This series of games comes from Coach Drake and the Nazareth Easton YMCA. If they played these exciting games on Halloween then I think they must have had an exciting practice full of laughing memories and joyful learning. Keep up the great work Coach Drake and thank you for sharing your ideas and PDF for …

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Swimming Game – Challenge: Witch Which Witch

Name Witch Which Witch Core Skill This game helps swimmers practice their streamline position, balance, and coordination. Who This game is suitable for swimmers who can swim at least 25 meters without stopping and are comfortable in deep water. What This game is a swimming challenge where swimmers pretend to be witches flying on broomsticks. …

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SIP 100: A plan, a formula, a guide

https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/swimmingideas/episodes/SIP-100-A-plan–a-formula–a-guide-e2b7j4b This can be that guide for you. But… you need to know where you’re going. What are you going to have as your plan? What is your formula for success going to be? How will you structure your swimming developmental program for fun and effective instruction. Fun. Children. Establishing habit. Enforcing excellence. You need …

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Swimming Game – Challenge: Halloween Costume Stroke

Name Halloween Costume Stroke Core Skill Freestyle swimming with creativity and fun Who Level 3 and Level 4 swimmers who are familiar with the freestyle stroke and can swim at least half a length of the pool. What The challenge asks swimmers to identify what costume they’re going to wear for Halloween. Then, they must …

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Swimming Game – Challenge: One Stroke FREE w/ Mirror

Name One stroke FREE mirror Core Skill Freestyle stroke technique Who Level 3 swimmers who can swim at least 25 yards of freestyle with proper breathing and body position. What A challenge that requires the swimmer to push off the wall in streamline, do one freestyle stroke over a mirror on the bottom of the …

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Swimming Game – Challenge: One Finger Floating

Name One Finger Floating Core Skill The core skill of this challenge is to develop the swimmer’s confidence and balance in the water, as well as to introduce the concept of buoyancy. Who This challenge is suitable for level 1 swimmers who are learning the basic skills of swimming, such as breathing, floating, and gliding. …

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Swimming Game – Challenge: Puppet Master Freestyle

Name Puppet Master Freestyle Core Skill Front crawl breathing Who Level 3 swimmers in small groups of 3-4 What A fun and challenging game that involves one dummy and the rest puppet masters in each lane. The puppet masters have to manipulate the dummy’s body to perform three full strokes of freestyle with one side …

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Why swimming games are a crucial component of a swim lesson

Swimming is a great way to stay fit, have fun, and learn a valuable life skill. However, learning how to swim can also be challenging, boring, or even scary for some people. That’s why swimming games are a crucial component of a swim lesson. Swimming games can help participants get better at real swimming skills …

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Swimming Game – Challenge: One Breath Waltz

Name One breath waltz Core Skill Side breathing for freestyle Who Level 3 swimmers who have mastered the basic freestyle stroke and want to improve their breathing technique and coordination. What A swimming challenge that involves doing a streamline underwater, then at the surface they should take one freestyle breath while leaving the other arm …

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Giving Feedback during swimming lessons

This is a summary of the pages found in the Lesson Coordinator Handbook. The handbook is included in the All-Access membership, or available for direct purchase as a PDF or print book. As a swim instructor, one of your most important tasks is to give feedback to your swimmers. Feedback is the information you provide …

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Swimming Game – 6 Jumps from the blocks

Name Jumping off the Blocks Core Skill This game helps swimmers practice their jumping or diving skills from the blocks, as well as their underwater swimming and wall exit. Who This game is suitable for swimmers on a developmental swim team or in level 4, who have some experience with jumping or diving from the …

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Swimming Game – Challenge: Backstroke Kick Count

Name Backstroke Kick Count Challenge Core Skill Backstroke and kicking to the wall Who Level 3 swimmers who can swim at least 15 yards of backstroke with proper body position and arm movement What A personal challenge game where swimmers try to touch the wall on their back with the least number of kicks after …

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Swimming Game – Challenge: 25 Position 11 Freestyle

Name 25 Position 11 Freestyle Challenge Core Skill Freestyle arms reaching to position 11 with every stroke Who Level 4 swimmers who can swim at least 25 yards of freestyle with proper breathing What A personal challenge game where swimmers try to swim a 25 with as few strokes of position 11 freestyle possible, which …

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SIP 097: Training Swim Instructors in person

https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/swimmingideas/episodes/SIP-097-Training-Swim-Instructors-in-person-e2a14f1 Today we look at the lesson coordinator handbook for finding an effective instruction segment on training swim instructors in person. We will do a brief overview of what’s included in the workbook as well as any discussion on why certain elements are included and what the activity activity discussion format looks like.

Swimming Game – Challenge: Stroke Switch

Name The Stroke Switch Challenge Who Level 4 swimmers who can swim 50 meters of front or back crawl, and have some experience with breaststroke and butterfly. What A personal skill challenge that involves switching strokes. Swimmers must do at least 3 strokes of each of the 4 competitive strokes, Fly, Back, Breast, Free before …

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Fighting Burnout

How to Avoid Burnout as an Aquatic Professional After the Summer If you are an aquatic professional, you know how hectic and rewarding the summer season can be. You get to manage a large and diverse staff, oversee the operations of outdoor pools, and create memorable experiences for your guests. You also face many challenges, …

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Swimming Game – Bubble Pop; AI generated

Name: Bubble PopObjective: To teach toddlers how to blow bubbles in the water and control their breath.Materials: A pool noodle or a long inflatable toy.Instructions: Benefits: Source: Conversation with Bing, 8/29/2023(1) 5 fun and easy games that teach your kids how to swim. https://www.todaysparent.com/kids/teach-kids-swimming-with-five-fun-and-easy-games/.(2) Learn to Swim games | Videos & descriptions | Games to …

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Swim Lesson Super Powers

Do you want to electrify your swimming lessons? See the spark of pure joy blossom in your swimmer’s eyes?  We can capture lightning in a bottle. We can reproduce delightful laughter and thrilling accomplishment.  We have two “super powers” in our toolbox. And you can use them in your lessons right now!! There is nothing …

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Teaching Swimming Workbook Preview: 1 of 3

The Teaching Swimming Workbook PDF is an excellent tool to give to you and your staff a wonderful introduction into teaching swimming lessons.  Broken into 3 different sections this book will serve as a resource for all 15 essential swim skills, guide instructors into effective teaching, and provide instruction on how to run a swim …

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Choosing Levels

Why Swimming Ideas’ level structure makes instruction simple, effective, and robust.  From Parent-tot through swim team competition we cover all the essential swim skills, prepare children and adults for competition if they want it, and quickly get swimmers moving.  American Red Cross Level Requirements.pdf Swimming Ideas Levels Testable skills vs Good to know skills Not …

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Swimming Question: How should I prepare for the first day of practice as a new High School Swimming Coach?

I get a lot of questions about swimming from a diverse range of people. Sometimes they’re interesting enough that I can share them with the world. This is one such question. I implore you to look at the list from SwimSwam. USA Swimming is a fantastic resource for coaches of all levels and skill. Dear …

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Swimming Game – Mirror Me

Category: Personal Challenge Core Skill: Any swimming skill or activity Name: Mirror Me How: I would describe the Mirror Game for swimming to a swim instructor like this: The Mirror Game is a fun and easy game that can help swimmers practice their coordination, balance, and imitation skills. It can also encourage creativity and social …

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Using feedback in a swimming lesson effectively

Feedback is an essential component of any learning process, especially in swimming. Feedback can help swimmers improve their skills, correct their mistakes, and increase their confidence. However, not all feedback is equally effective. In this blog post, we will discuss some principles and tips for using feedback in a swimming lesson effectively, based on the …

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Swimming Game – Spray Dance Streamline

Category: Group activity, physical movements Core Skill: Learning swim terminology, practicing on land, following directions Name: Spray Dance Streamline How: The instructor leads the activity by introducing the directions and then demonstrating the pretend play and movements. It is super important that the instructor Demonstrates and participates in this activity. They must set the tone. …

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Swimming Game – Animal Hunt (splashpad)

– **Swimming Game – Animal Hunt**: A pretend play game for 2-4 year olds in the splash pad where they have to rescue animals that escaped from the zoo by imitating their sounds and movements.
– **Core Skill**: Listening, playing, and following directions. The instructor leads the game by demonstrating the animal actions and the swimmers mimic them¹[1]. The goal is to build trust and encourage the swimmers to join in the fun²[2].
– **Examples of Animals**: Elephants, giraffes, lions, monkeys, snakes, and alligators. Each animal has a different water feature and a way of interacting with it. The instructor should make the motions goofy, funny, and interesting³[3].
– **Free Resources and Community**: The document invites the readers to join a free community of aquatic professionals and provides contact information and categories of swim lesson games.

Parent Tot Songs

Ring around the rosy Wheels on the bus: If you’re happy and you know it The Hokey Pokey London Bridge is falling down General swimming and preparation songs. Can play in the background at the start of class, or during “free play.” COCO Swimming Song Little Baby “Let’s go swimming”

Tips for New Hires

If you are a new hire at a swimming pool and you are 15 years old, you might feel nervous, excited, or overwhelmed by your first summer job. You might wonder how to do your best as a swim instructor, how to get along with your coworkers and supervisors, and how to have fun while …

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How to create swimming challenges/Streamline through Hula Hoops; an AI article

**Written by Bing Chat using www.swimminglessonsideas.com as inspiration. Edited and updated by Jeff N.** I’m constantly impressed by the quality of these articles and feel like they’re somewhat cheating, though they summarize and disseminate information from this website so well it seems stupid to waste time typing myself. Does it cheapen the information if it …

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Tips on swimming butterfly; an AI written article in the style of this site

I’ll try to create that. Here is a short article about butterfly swimming using the style of swimminglessonsideas.com: “` I read through and listened to this article before posting. It’s accurate. I’m impressed and a little terrified. How to Swim Butterfly: A Beginner’s Guide Butterfly is one of the most challenging and rewarding strokes to …

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Get ready! Lesson Coordinator Handbook

The companion book for swim lesson managers is well underway! Are you ready to have a training guide for in-person staff on-boarding? Ready to have a resource that goes into detail for each of our Levels? We have the book for you: Lesson Coordinator Handbook: a companion guide for fun and effective instruction. This book …

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Swimming Game – Challenge: Elite; DO 4 BR kicks on back

The belly should remain at the surface of the water; ideally with the belly button over the surface. Do 4 breaststroke kicks keeping your knees underwater. This challenge works on balance and body control and is extremely difficult to do even for more elite swimmers. Pay special attention to the belly button and the knees. …

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Level 1 Day 1

Goals: Learn student names Introduce self (instructor) Give clear expectations: “We’re doing supported front glides. This is what it looks like.” Earn trust: demo activities first and offer modified alternatives if you sense fear. Focus on FUN and routines. Introduce framework: activity, activity, challenge. Smile, laugh, play! Challenge – Lift one foot above water and …

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Lesson Formula: Activity, Activity, Challenge

Better lessons and easier instruction starts when you can lean into a proven pattern. Your teachers will be more effective, be able to teach complex skills with predictable effectiveness and still provide a fun and exciting lesson for younger swimmers. Why use a formula? When you work with a large staff and have multiple lessons …

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Swimming Game – Challenge: Streamline on Side to flags

Name: Side Streamline Challenge Core Skill: Body Position and Balance Who: Swimmers who have mastered the basic streamline position and can kick on their front and back. What: A challenge to practice maintaining a horizontal and streamlined position on the side, while looking at the wall. How: Swimmers start at one end of the pool, …

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Parent Tot

Round 1: -Sit child on the side. -Splash feet or play with toys. Use the floating smiley faces. -Press smile underwater with 1 foot, then the other. -Press smile under with both feet.– Sing Ring around the Rosey, and at the end say “…all jump in!” -Jump in; see picture: Get together in the middle: …

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Parent Tot 1/22/2022

Things to remember: -Go slow. Take your time with everything.-Play! The more you play, use toys, and explore the water the more fun your swimmer will have. -Relax. If you’re anxious or struggling, stop. Move on to an activity you’re familiar with. Your anxiety will pass to your swimmer.– Repeat everything over and over and …

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Parent and Tot 1/15/2022

Round 1: -Sit child on the side. -Splash feet or play with toys. Use the floating smiley faces. -Press smile underwater with 1 foot, then the other. -Press smile under with both feet.– Sing Ring around the Rosey, and at the end say “…all jump in!” -Jump in; see picture: Get together in the middle: …

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Minnows 12/30/2021

1 x 100 IM KICK1 x 50: FREE Kick w/ FINS1 x 50: FREE w/ FINS2 x 25: Position 11, w/ FINS, together. review all 3 things to SL and 11 before going. Question of the Day:What are the three things to SL and Position 11?Correct: Do your favorite ChallengeWrong: 50 Position 11 Challenge #1: …

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Minnows 12/29/2021

1 x 100 IM KICK1 x 50: FREE1 x 50: BK K w/ FINS2 x 25: Position 11 w/ FINS, togetherreview all 3 things to SL and 11 before going. Question of the Day:What are two things you can do to make a flip easier?Correct: Stand at the T mark. Jump towards the wall and …

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Minnows 12/28/2021

1 x 100 IM KICK1 x 50: FREE Kick w/ FINS1 x 50: BK Kick w/ FINS2 x 25: Position 11 w/ FINS, togetherreview all 3 things to SL and 11 before going. Question of the Day:What group comes after “Minnows” on COHO?Correct: Swim to the flags with only a shark fin showing above water. …

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Minnows 12/27/2021

1 x 100 IM KICK1 x 50: BK Kick w/ FINS1 x 50: BK w/ FINS2 x 25: Position 11 review all 3 things to SL and 11 before going. Question of the Day:When swimming backstroke at a meet, what happens if you roll on your stomach, even for a second?Correct: Roll like a log …

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Minnows 12/21/2021

1 x 100 IM KICK1 x 50: FREE kick 1 x 50: BK 2 x 25: Position 11, Togetherreview all 3 things to SL and 11 before going. Question of the Day:When swimming FREE you should breath to both sides. You should breath on every _______ stroke.Correct: Do 3 front flips and 3 back flipsWrong: …

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Minnows 12/20/2021

1 x 100 IM KICK1 x 50: FREE Kick w/ FINS1 x 50: FREE w/ FINS2 x 25: Position 11 w/ FINS, together review all 3 things to SL and 11 before going. Question of the Day:Kicking is important to swimming. What is the name of the kick you do for FREE and Backstroke?Correct: Do …

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Minnows 12/16/2021

1 x 100 IM KICK1 x 50: FREE Kick1 x 50: FREE Kick w/ FINS2 x 25: Position 11 w/ FINS, together.review all 3 things to SL and 11 before going. Question of the Day:What parts of your head should remain in the water when you take a breath during FREE?Correct: Walk from the wall …

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Minnows 12/14/2021

1 x 100 IM KICK1 x 50: BK Kick w/ FINS no board1 x 50: FREE kick w/ FINS w/ board2 x 25: Position 11 w/ FINS, together.review all 3 things to SL and 11 before going. Question of the Day:How many feet should you push off the wall with to do a FREE streamline?Correct: …

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Minnows 12/13/2021

Start of new season 1 x 100 IM KICK1 x 50: FREE kick w/ FINS1 x 50: FREE Drill: Fists w/ FINS2 x 25: Position 11; together, w/ FINSreview all 3 things to SL and 11 before going. Question of the Day:How many yards long is this pool? How many do we say it is?Correct: …

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Parent Tot – 12/11/2021

Round 1: -Sit child on the side. -Splash feet or play with toys. Use the floating smiley faces. – Use buckets to pour water over body. Can sing “Itsey Bitsey Spider”– Sing Ring around the Rosey, and at the end say “…all jump in!” -Jump in; see picture: Get together in the middle: sing this …

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Minnows 12/9/2021

1 x 100 IM KICK1 x 50: FLY Kick1 x 50: FLY Kick w/ FINS on BK2 x 25 Position 11 w/ FINS (together)review all 3 things to SL and 11 before going. Question of the Day:Is it okay to roll your body to the side when breathing during FREE?Correct: 3 x roll like a …

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Minnows 12/8/2021

1 x 100 IM KICK1 x 50: Fists Drill: FREE w/ FINS1 x 50: BK w/ FINS2 x 25: Position 11 (together) w/ FINSreview all 3 things to SL and 11 before going. Question of the Day:Show a coach how you push the water during Backstroke.Correct: Swim to 1/2 way BK, pulling on the lane …

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Minnows 12/7/2021

1 x 100 IM KICK1 x 50: FREE w/ FINS1 x 50: Bk Kick w/ FINS2 x 25: Position 11 (together) w/ FINSreview all 3 things to SL and 11 before going. Question of the Day:When doing a flip turn, what tells you you’re close to the wall?Correct: Jump off the T mark and get …

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Minnows 12/6/2021

1 x 100 IM KICK1 x 50: BK w/ FINS 1 x 50: BK K w/ FINS2 x 25: Position 11 w/ FINS (together)review all 3 things to SL and 11 before going. Question of the Day:What was the name of last weekend’s swim meet?Correct: Do an extreme swim to the flags.Wrong: 50 FREE 2 …

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Parent Tot 12/4/2021

Round 1: -Sit child on the side. -Splash feet or play with toys. Use the floating smiley faces. -Press smile underwater with 1 foot, then the other. -Press smile under with both feet.– Sing Ring around the Rosey, and at the end say “…all jump in!” -Jump in; see picture: Get together in the middle: …

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Minnows 12/2/2021

1 x 100 IM KICK1 x 50: 3 kick pause, BK Drill1 x 50: BK K w/ FINS1 x 100: FREE Kick w/ FINS2 x 25: Position 11 w/ FINS (together)review all 3 things to SL and 11 before going. Question of the Day:What part of your hand enters the water first during backstroke?Correct: Float …

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Minnows 12/1/2021

1 x 100 IM KICK1 x 50: Hip Slap Drill FREE1 x 100: FREE Kick w/ FINS 2 x 25: Position 11 w/ FINS (together)review all 3 things to SL and 11 before going. Question of the Day:When you do a flip turn for FREE do you streamline after the flip on your side, back, …

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Minnows 11/30/2021

1 x 100 IM KICK1 x 50: Both arms at same time (double arm) BK DRILL1 x 50: Finger Tip Drag Drill (FR) w/ FINS2 x 25: Position 11 w/ FINSreview all 3 things to SL and 11 before going. Question of the Day:What stroke was invented first? BR or FLY?Correct: Do a 25 BR …

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Minnows 11/29/2021

1 x 100 IM KICK1 x 50: CH1 x 50: Kick on your side, in position 1 w/ FINS2 x 25 Position 11 w/ FINSreview all 3 things to SL and 11 before going. Question of the Day:How much turkey did you eat?Correct: 50 BK K w/ FINS with a huge turkey bellyWrong: 100 FREE …

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Minnows 11/23/2021

1 x 100 IM KICK1 x 50: Finger Tip Drag Drill FREE1 x 50: Fists Drill: FR or BK 2 x 25: Position 11 ; do it together. review all 3 things to SL and 11 before going. Question of the Day:What does “bilateral breathing” mean?Correct: Do a 50 FREE w/ FINS breathing to both …

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Minnows 11/22/2021

1 x 100 IM KICK1 x 50: HLBw/R on BK w/ FINS1 x 50: FREE Kick w/ board w/ FINS2 x 25: Position 11 ; togetherreview all 3 things to SL and 11 before going. Question of the Day:How many lengths did you swim at Laps for COHO?Correct: Do that many mini jumpsWrong: Do a …

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Parent Tot – 11/20/2021

Round 1: -Sit child on the side. -Splash feet or play with toys. Use the floating smiley faces. -Press smile underwater with 1 foot, then the other. -Press smile under with both feet.– Sing Ring around the Rosey, and at the end say “…all jump in!” -Jump in; see picture: Get together in the middle: …

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Body Line and Positioning

The last few weeks I’ve been teaching a parent at class while training new staff. It’s giving me some insight into why we do the things we do. Why are we spending so much time on body position and how to hold the child? During swim lessons why do we spend the majority of the …

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Minnows 11/15/2021

1 x 100 IM KICK1 x 50: Back Drill: Fists1 x 50: FREE2 x 25 Position 11 w/ FINS; do together. review all 3 things to SL and 11 before going. Question of the Day:At a swim meet, what does the LOOONG whistle before your race mean?Correct: Sprint, swim as fast as possible to the …

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Parent Tot 11/13/2021

Round 1: Sit on the side. Slide in, or let child lay on the yellow mat. Parent gets in, then child. – Motorboat song: “Motorboat, Motorboat…: …go so slow / …go so fast/ …step on the gas!”– Sing Itsy Bitsy Spider and pour water on the child with a bucket. Start pouring water on shoulders, …

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Minnows 11/10/2021

1 x 100 IM KICK1 x 50: FREE Drill: Fists1 x 50: Backstroke2 x 25 Position 11; together. review all 3 things to SL and 11 before going. Question of the Day:What habit does Coach Jeff want you to learn, the most?Correct: Do 1 Streamline that turns into a flipWrong: 3 x SL 1 x …

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Minnows 11/9/2021

1 x 100 IM KICK1 x 50: FREE Drill: Fists1 x 50: BK; touch wall on your back.2 x 25 Position 11: Do this together.review all 3 things to SL and 11 before going. Question of the Day:How many more strokes do you take at the flags when swimming BACK?Correct: Do 3 x Front flip …

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Parent Tot 11/6/2021

Round 1: -Sit on side. Splash and Kick-Motorboat Song-Push float toy underwater with feet or hands. -Humpty Dumpty Round 2: Front Floats and climbing out of the water. Throw a toy and get it. Round 3: Throw a toy and Get it. Motorboat to the toy. Go FAST and pull in an “S” shape. Back …

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Minnows 11/4/2021

1 x 100 IM KICK1 x 50: FREE Drill: Fingertip Drag1 x 50 Position 11 review all 3 things to SL and 11 before going. Question of the Day:Drills are doing something different or wrong to make a stroke better. Name a drill that isn’t “Fingertip Drag”Correct: Do that drill to 1/2 way and backWrong: …

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Minnows 11/3/2021

1 x 100 IM KICK1 x 50: FREE Drill: Fingertip Drag 1 x 50 Position 11 review all 3 things to SL and 11 before going. Question of the Day:What is a “drill” in swimming?Correct: Pick something specific to improve and do it: 50 FREEWrong: 100 FREE kick w/ fins w/ board 2 x {5 …

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Minnows 11/2/2021

1 x 100 IM KICK1 x 100: CHOICE (fly, bk, br, free) 1 x 50 Position 11 review all 3 things to SL and 11 before going. Question of the Day:During FREE and BK you rotate along your “long axis.” What does that mean?Correct: Do a 50 HLBw/R on BK w/ FINSWrong: Do a 100 …

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Minnows 11/1/2021

1 x 100 IM KICK1 x 100: FREE Kick w/ Board 1 x 50 Position 11 w/ FINSreview all 3 things to SL and 11 before going. Question of the Day:How much candy did you get?Correct: Celebrate like you’re throwing your candy in the airWrong: Pout in the corner for at least 2 minutes. 2 …

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Parent Tot 10/30/2021

Halloween! Halloween Round 1:– Sit on side. Splash and Kick. – Sitting on side, push the smile face floats underwater with hands and feet.– Throw a toy, jump in, front float to the toy, back float back to the wall. – Repeat. SONG: To scare some folks on Halloween,I’ll tell you what I’ll do.I’ll hide …

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Minnows 10/28/2021

1 x 100 IM KICK1 x 50: Vampire Bat Attack!1 x 50 Zombie Position 11 review all 3 things to SL and 11 before going. Question of the Day:If a Vampire Bat bites you, when do you become a vampire?Correct: Outrun the vampiric strain with a vigorous 50 FREE KICK w/ FINS w/ BoardWrong: Collapse …

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Minnows 10/27/2021

1 x 100 IM KICK1 x 100: FREE1 x 50 Position 11 review all 3 things to SL and 11 before going. Question of the Day:What is better, as a beginner, to focus on: speed or skill?Correct: Do a SL + 3 Super Good FREE strokes.Wrong: Do a 50 SPRINT FREE Kick w/ FINS w/ …

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Minnows 10/26/2021

1 x 100 IM KICK1 x 100: FREE Kick w/ board 1 x 50 Position 11 review all 3 things to SL and 11 before going. Question of the Day:What part of the body exists the water first when swimming Backstroke? during each strokeCorrect: Do 3 handstands for 3 seconds eachWrong: Do a 50 BK …

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Minnows 10/25/2021

1 x 100 IM KICK1 x 100 FREE Kick 1 x 50 Position 11 w/ FINS review all 3 things to SL and 11 before going. Question of the Day:Should you stop kicking during freestyle to breathe? Correct: Do 20 flutter kicks without moving in the shallow. Wrong: Do a 50 FREE where you never …

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Minnows 10/21/2021

1 x 100 IM KICK1 x 100: FREE Kick w/ FINS w/ Board1 x 50 Position 11review all 3 things to SL and 11 before going. Question of the Day:At a swim meet what do the 5 short whistles mean?Correct: Do 3 handstands that turn into front flips.Wrong: Do a 50 FREE 2 x {r1:5 …

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Parent Tot 10/23/2021

Round 1: -Sit child on the side. Splash and Kick feet; Motorboat song.-Throw a toy from the side. Jump in together after your personal cueing. — Front float to get toy. — Back float back with the toy. – Repeat Song 1: Round 2:– Blast off the wall. Hold in back float, put feet on …

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Minnows 10/20/2021

1 x 100 IM KICK1 x 50: FREE1 x 50 Position 11 review all 3 things to SL and 11 before going. Question of the Day:Wearing FINS helps your kick and makes you go faster. How does it help you breath to the side?Correct: 50 FREE w/ FINSWrong: 100 FREE K w/ fins w/ board …

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Minnows 10/19/2021

1 x 100 IM KICK1 x 50: HLBw/R on BK1 x 50 Position 11 w/ FINSreview all 3 things to SL and 11 before going. Question of the Day:When swimming FREE show me how much your hips and shoulders should tilt with each stroke.Correct: 50 FREE w/ FINSWrong: 50 FREE Kick w/ board 2 x …

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Minnows 10/18/2021

1 x 100 IM KICK1 x 50: BK Kick 1 x 50 Position 11 w/ FINSreview all 3 things to SL and 11 before going. Question of the Day:What can you swim in a 50 FREESTYLE at a swim meet?Correct: Do a 50 “FREESTYLE”Wrong: Do a 50 back crawl 2 x {5 x SL + …

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Minnows 10/14/2021

1 x 100 IM KICK1 x 50: HLBw/R w/ FINS on BK1 x 50 Position 11 w/ FINSreview all 3 things to SL and 11 before going. Question of the Day:What swim skill is the BEST for a lazy swimmer?Correct: Do 2 x SL with no kickWrong: Do a 50 FREE w/ FINS w/ 2 …

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Minnows 10/13/2021

1 x 100 IM KICK1 x 50: FLY Kick w/ FINS1 x 50 Position 11 w/ FINSreview all 3 things to SL and 11 before going. Question of the Day:What does “undulate” mean? Say or show.Correct: Do a 50 FLY K w/ FINSWrong: Do a 100 FLY K w/ FINS 2 x {10 x SL …

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Minnows 10/11/2021

1 x 100 IM KICK1 x 50: HLBw/R 1 x 50 Position 11 review all 3 things to SL and 11 before going. Question of the Day:Is swimming like dancing?Correct: Do a 10 second swim dance.Wrong: Do 50 jumps in one place. 2 x {10 x SL + 5 Kicks in Position 11 + 1 …

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Minnows 10/7/2021

1 x 100 IM KICK1 x 50: BK Kick in soldier1 x 50 Position 11 review all 3 things to SL and 11 before going. Question of the Day:Show me how you would begin (before you push off) a backstroke streamline.Correct: Push off the wall and do a back flip.Wrong: Do 3 x BK SL’s …

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Minnows 10/6/2021

1 x 100 IM KICK1 x 50: Super Slow BK1 x 50 Position 11 review all 3 things to SL and 11 before going. Question of the Day:How many more strokes do you take during BK after the second set of flags?Correct: Do 3 handstands that turn into front flips.Wrong: Do 3 x SL on …

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Minnows 10/5/2021

1 x 100 IM KICK1 x 50: FREE as slow as possible, still moving, still kicking.1 x 50 Position 11 review all 3 things to SL and 11 before going. Question of the Day:What part(s) of your foot pushes the water during flutter kick?Correct: Do a 50 FLY K w/ FINSWrong: DO a 50 FREE …

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Minnows 10/4/2021

1 x 100 IM KICK1 x 50: FREE Kick w/ FINS w/ Board1 x 50 Position 11 review all 3 things to SL and 11 before going. Question of the Day:What should STAY in the water when you take a breath on FREE?Correct: Do 10 spins above the water without touching the bottom.Wrong: Turn your …

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Parent Tot 10/2/2021

Parent Tot – Safe Entry Song: Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes Child seated on the wall. Parent in the water. Sing while touching your head and shoulders while you match lyrics. Touch child’s “head,” and “shoulders” with hands or splashes in tune to the lyrics.

Minnows 9/29/2021

1 x 100 IM KICK1 x 50: FREE w/ FINS & breathing every 3 strokes (both sides)1 x 50 Position 11 w/ FINS; review all 3 things to SL and 11 before going. Question of the Day:A “6 beat” kick is where you do 6 FREE kicks every “_______.”Correct: Do a 50 FREE K w/ …

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Minnows 9/28/2021

1 x 100 IM KICK1 x 50: BK Kick1 x 50 Position 11; review all 3 things to SL and 11 before going. Question of the Day:During FREE, your hand exits the water next to what body part?Correct: ANYTHING to 1/2 wayWrong: 50 FREE 2 x {5 x 3 FREE + Front Flip 6 x …

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Minnows 9/27/2021

1 x 100 IM KICK1 x 50: FREE w/ FINS1 x 50 Position 11 w/ FINS; review all 3 things to SL and 11 before going. Question of the Day:What position should your arm be in when it enters the water during FREE?Correct: FLY Kick w/ head above water to 1/2 wayWrong: 50 BK kick …

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Minnows 9/23/2021

1 x 100 IM KICK1 x 50: FREE Kick w/ Board w/ FINS1 x 50 Position 11 w/ FINS; review all 3 things to SL and 11 before going. Question of the Day:If you breathe every three strokes, is it “bilateral?”Correct: Do 3 Dolphin flipsWrong: 50 BK w/ FINS 2 x {6 x 25 on …

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Minnows 9/21/2021

1 x 100 IM KICK1 x 50: BK w/ FINS1 x 50 Position 11 w/ FINS; review all 3 things to SL and 11 before going. Question of the Day:How do you hold the board for FLY kick? And for FREE kick?Correct: 50 BK or FREE or FLY K w/ finsWrong: BK K w/ FINS …

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Minnows 9/20/21

1 x 100 IM KICK1 x 50: FREE Kick w/ FINS and Board1 x 50 Position 11; review all 3 things to SL and 11 before going. Question of the Day:Show me the three ways to hold a kickboard. Correct: Do a 50 CHOICE kick w/ FINSWrong: Do a 50 FREE Kick w/ FINS 3 …

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Lessons

4 x SL on the surface FREE arms review 6 x SL + 5 FREE + 1 breath to the side 4 x 25 FREE Kick w/ FINS 4 x SL on BK

Minnows 9/14/2021

Need fins today. 1 x 100 IM KickFly, Back, Breast, Free; all kicking. No arms 2 x 25 Position 11Review 3 things to SLReview 3 things to Position11 Question of the Day:What is the name of the freestyle and backstroke kick? Correct: Do 20 jumps in one place, always touching the bottom.Wrong: Do 100 flutter …

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Minnows 9/13/2021

Warmup: 1 x 100 IM Kick1 length of each stroke in order: Fly, Back, Breast, FreeAll in soldier; NO ARMS 2 x 25 Position 11: What are the 3 things to SL?What are the 3 things to Position 11? Question of the Day:What part of your arm should be the highest above the water when …

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Minnows 9/9/2021

Warmup: 1 x 100 IM Kick: one length of each strokeFly, Back, Breast, Free: all kicking in soldier position. 2 x 25 Position 11: Review 3 things to StreamlineReview 3 things to Position 11 Question of the Day: You should do a streamline every single time you push off the wall. True or FalseCorrect: Put …

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Minnows 9/8/2021

Warmup:1 x 100 IM Kick 1 length of each stroke, Butterfly Kick, Backstroke Kick, Breaststroke Kick, Freestyle Kick 2 x 25 Position 11: Review 3 things to Streamline, and 3 things to Position 11 before we start Question of the Day: This pool is 20 yards. True or FalseCorrect: 2 handstands that turn into a …

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Minnows 8/2/2021

Deerspring Pool: 50 Meters Review what 50 meters means and how we say it. 100 IM Kick: switch at 1/2 way.1 x 50 Position 111 x 50 FREE Question of the Day:This pool is 50 meters long. How long are Olympic Pools?Correct: Jump off the blocks 2 times. Wrong: Swim to the lifeguard chair and …

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Minnows 7/29/2021

1 x 100 IM KICK1 x 50: Kicking on your side 1 x 50 Position 11; review all 3 things to SL and 11 before going. With FINS Question of the Day:What MUST touch the wall at the end of a 50 FREE race? Correct: Push off the wall with your hands and do a …

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Minnows 7/28/2021

1 x 100 IM KICK1 x 50: BK w/ FINS1 x 50 Position 11; review all 3 things to SL and 11 before going. W/ FINS Question of the Day:Good swimming has three things. Choose the wrong answer.Posture, Line, Balance, Variation. Correct: show good swimming to 1/2 way and backWrong: Do a 50 FREE Kick …

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Minnows 7/27/2021

1 x 100 IM KICK; no board1 x 50: FLY Kick w/ FINS1 x 50 Position 11; with FINS Question of the Day:When you’re doing a streamline, how far should you get before you get to the surface?Correct: Do 2 wrong streamlines.Wrong: Do 3 x streamline on the surface 3 x {1 x 100: BK …

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About Swim Lessons PRO

Swim Lessons PRO gives you the power to create your own levels and skills, track them, and have parents see their own child’s progress. Want to modify Swimming Ideas’ level structure to fit your personal site-specific needs? You can do that! Want to use an easier method for tracking your swimmer’s progress? See each swimmer’s …

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Jordan

1 x 50 Freestyle kick with FINS and a Board 3 x Streamline to the flags. 1) Lock your thumb2) Squeeze your ears3) Look down. Challenge #1:Push off the wall in AIRPLANE on surface with no kicking and get to the flags.Do it again, underwater 3 x Streamline to the flags then 3 free strokes …

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Sharks Week 1 #3

1 x 100 IM Kick1 x 100 BK Kick w/ FINS1 x 100 FREE Kick w/ FINS1 x 50 Position 11; no fins; tell coach all 3 things to SL and 11 Question of the Day:How many lengths do you do in a 50 at Deerspring?Correct: 1 super slow, lazy flip as slow as you …

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Evaluations for swimmers in Lesson Management

Skill assessment is crucial to a robust swimming program. You need to be tracking skill progress and using metrics you’re comfortable with to guide your swimmer through your swimming progression. When you create your own skills and levels with our online Lesson Management database you can easily update your swimmer’s progress through evaluations. Evaluate swimmers …

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Easily add your own Levels and Skills

Setting up your swimming lesson program online has never been easier. You can now log into our online lesson management and create your own levels and skills within a few short minutes. Add your own levels: Click on “levels” then using the menu at the top click, “Add Level.” Type in the name of the …

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Sharks Week 1: #2

1 x 100 IM KICK1 x 100: BK w/ FINS2 x 50: FREE w/ FINS1 x 50 Position 11; review all 3 things to SL and 11 before going w/ FINS Question of the Day:What rotates along your spine while you’re swimming freestyle?Correct: Kick in SL to 1/2 way spinning the whole time w/ FINSWrong: …

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Sharks Week 1; #1

1 x 100 IM KICK1 x 100: FREE w/ FINS1 x 50: BK1 x 50 Position 11; review all 3 things to SL and 11 before going. Question of the Day:When doing a flip turn, where should your hands be when your feet touch the wall?Correct: Do 3x SL with any kickWrong: 50 FREE 3 …

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Minnows Week 3; #3

1 x 100 IM KICK1 x 50: CHOICE1 x 50 Position 11; review all 3 things to SL and 11 before going. Question of the Day:What stroke is (11, Eat, 11) used in?Correct: Do 10 BR kicks underwater; look at your feet.Wrong: Do a 25 BR Kick on your back, then a 25 FREE 3 …

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Minnows Week 3; #2

1 x 100 IM KICK1 x 50: BK1 x 50 Position 11; review all 3 things to SL and 11 before going. Question of the Day:Should the knees rise above the water when you’re doing Breaststroke kicks on your back?Correct: Wrong: 3 x {2 x 50: BK; #1 with FINS, #2 w/o FINS3 x SL …

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Minnows Week 3; #1

1 x 100 IM Kick1 x 100 FREE w/ FINS1 x 50 Position 11 w/ FINS; tell coach 3 things to SL and 11 before going. Question of the Day: During Freestyle, what part of your arm should be highest as you reach over the water back into position 11?Correct: Do a 10 yard “chicken …

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Minnows Week 2; #3

1 x 100 IM Kick1 x 100 BK K1 x 50 Position 11; tell coach all 3 things to SL and 11 before starting. Question of the Day:You do a flip turn on which two strokes?Correct: Do 3 handstands that turn into front flips. Wrong: Swim to 1/2 way and back. Do a flip at …

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Minnows Week 2, #2

1 x 100 IM Kick1 x 100 FREE w/ FINS1 x 50 Position 11; tell coach 3 things to SL and 11 before starting; with FINS Question of the Day: Fins help you go faster. What part of the swim do they help you learn?Correct: Do 50 Flutter kicks between wall and flags; don’t have …

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Minnows Week 2 #1

1 x 100 IM Kick1 x 50 FLY Kick1 x 50 Position 11: tell coach all 3 things to SL and 11 before you begin Question of the Day: When you’re doing front flips, what skill are you working on?Correct: Do 3 flips of any typeWrong: Do 2 handstands and 2 front flips, then 30 …

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Minnows Week 1, #2

1 x 100 IM KICK1 x 50: BK Kick in soldier1 x 50 Position 11; review all 3 things to SL and 11 before going. Question of the Day:The pinky finger enters the water first on which stroke? Butterfly, Backstroke, Breaststroke, or Freestyle?Correct: 50 CHWrong: 50 BK 3 x {1 x 100 FREE w/ FINS3 …

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Minnows Week 1, #3

1 x 100 IM Kick1 x 50: FREE w/ FINS1 x 50 Position 11 with FINS; review all 3 things for SL and 11 before starting. Question of the Day:What is the official name of a freestyle and backstroke kick?Correct: 50 Kick with FINSWrong: 50 FLY Kick no fins 3 x {1 x 100 FREE …

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Minnows Week 1, #1

1 x 100 IM Kick1 x 50 BK1 x 50 Position 11: review 3 things for 11 and SL before starting Question of the Day:What is the fastest position in the water?Correct: Do 3 x SL, top, bottom, or underwater, and on any side of body.Wrong: 50 FREE 3 x {1 x 50: Position 11 …

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Creating your own swimming lesson levels

Swimming Ideas’ levels are designed to be quick and easy target points for skill assessment. They’re refined and concise to make testing and placement easier.  When I was sixteen, over 25 year ago, teaching my first swimming lessons we followed the American Red Cross level system.  At the end of the week we had to …

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BR Kick Drill – Breathe, Kick, Glide

Using a kickboard, have your swimmers do 25’s or short distances (from the wall to 1/2 way). Start in position 11, holding the bottom of the board. Breathe: take a breath. Put your head back in the water. Kick: do a breaststroke kick. Glide: using the strength of the BR kick glide through the water …

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Min / Sharks #3

1 x 100 IM Kick2 x 50: Kick on your side; always looking at Lifeguards1 x 50 Position 11; tell coach all 3 things to SL and 11 before you go. Question of the Day:What is best for good swimming?a) strong arms. b) straight, long body. c) crazy fast kickingCorrect: 50 CHWrong: 50 BK Kick …

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Min / Sharks #2

1 x 100 IM Kick1 x 100 FREE build; swim each 25 a little bit faster.1 x 50 Position 11; tell coach all 3 things to SL and 11 before you go. Question of the Day:When you breathe during freestyle, where should your arm be? The one that you’re not breathing towards.Correct: 50 CHWrong: 50 …

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Min / Sharks President’s Week #3

1 x 100 IM Kick1 x 100 IM1 x 50 Position 11: tell coach 3 things for SL and 11 before you go. Question of the Day: What kick should you do during your streamline on FLY, BK, and FREE?Correct: Do around the world FLY K to the flagsWrong: Do a 50 Fly Kick 3 …

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Community Questions: 1/26/2021

The place where you get to benefit from the community questions we get from our subscribers, clients, and visitors. We get emails and phone calls often asking about different aspects of teaching swimming. One of my favorite things in life is to give feedback and hear the story of how it went. Check out this …

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Parent Tot #2

Throw a Toy and Get it Have the child or a parent throw a toy into the water. The parent does their cueing, “1, 2, 3, Go!” and then pulls the child into their arms in the water, and into a front float. Do a front float to the toy and get it Return to …

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Private Lessons 12/9/2020

1 x 100 IM Kick3 x 50 (Min/Shark) 100 (White+) CHOICE, 1 must be Kick1 x 50 Postion 11; recite 3 things for SL and 11. Question of the Day:This is a 20 yard pool. How many lengths do you need to do for an exact 200?Correct = 50 CHWrong = 50 FLY K on …

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Private lesson challenges

Challenge: Underwater place the crown of your head against the middle of the + mark. While staying underwater, and keeping head pressed to the wall, do 3 Breaststroke Kicks Challenge:Float on back in SL. Press legs and feet together too. Only wiggling body like a worm switch orientation. Rotate so feet go where your head …

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Parent Tot 11/14/2020

Song: Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes Child seated on the wall. Parent in the water. Sing while touching your head and shoulders while you match lyrics. Touch child’s “head,” and “shoulders” with hands or splashes in tune to the lyrics. Parent Tot – Song – If you’re happy and you know it Can do this …

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Halloween Eve!

Warmup: 1 x 100 IM Kick1 x 50 Graveyard scramble. Weave between the headstones.1 x 50 Frankenstein Monster Raise: groan and float, get struck by lightning and zoom into life for 5 strokes.1 x 50 Defend against the Vampire Bats!1 x 50 Position 11 Zombie! tell coach jeff 3 for SL and 11 first. 3 …

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Parent Tot 10/24/2020

Motorboat Song The child sits on the sides with feet in the water. The parent stands in front of them. Holding their feet. Move feet like kicking while singing the song: “Motorboat, motorboat, go so slow,Motorboat, motorboat, go so fast,Motorboat, motorboat, step on the gas!!!!” At each line, move the feet kicking faster. Humpty Dumpty …

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Parent and Infant 10/17/2020

Parent Tot – Seated Entry How to hold video: Focus on the “saddle” and keeping three points of contact on the ladder when you enter slowly. Watch at about the third or fourth pass where the parent does NOT submerge their child. Begin there. Start with catching and passing. Game – Buckethead: Get a bucket. …

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Lesson 1 10/9/2020

Swimming In the Lane: 6 x Walk around the benches. In a square motion. Challenge:Put one foot above the water so that all 5 toes are in the air. Can only use one hand to help stand. Move Benches a little apart. Do a front glide to go across. At the Corners of the bench, …

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SIP 092: Are you comfortable teaching?

What should you do if you are comfortable? What should you do it if you’re not comfortable? Covid-19 and the coronavirus pandemic is real. We just saw this week that the president got infected and foolishly hosted events without face coverings that subsequently infected many other people at a White house event. I know. This …

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SIP 091: Swimming Ideas’ Levels

Find out what Swimming Ideas Level structure is and why we use it. Learn the nuances of each level and the progression of skills that takes a 3 year old who doesn’t like the water to a competitive swim team swimmer. For all the information covered here go to: https://www.swimminglessonsideas.com/resources/ Level 1: https://www.swimminglessonsideas.com/blog/level-1/ Level 2: …

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SIP 090: Teaching Swimming, Method and Delivery

Today we review the online course, Teaching Swimming, fun and effective instruction and the second section: Method and Delivery. Today is all about the online course, Teaching Swimming, that comes with the companion PDF of the physical book available on Amazon. This training course covers the crucial skills your teachers need to begin having effective …

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Minnows & Sharks

Warmup: 1 x 100 IM Kick (1 length of Fly, Backstroke, Breaststroke, and Freestyle)1 x 100 BK Kick1 x 100 BK1 x 50 Position 11: Tell Coach Jeff all 3 things to SL and Position 11 before you go. Question of the Day: Backstroke improves your body position for the other strokes. Which strokes? Correct: …

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SIP 089: Safe children that LOVE swimming with Julia Johnson

Teach better Parent Tot, Parent and Infant classes with Julia Johnson. Julia Johnson grew up in Michigan where she learned to swim during summer swim lessons by going to beaches and pools. She swam competitively in high school and then completed a few aquatrathons, sprint triathlons and a 5k swim in the years after graduation. Julia …

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SIP 088: Teaching Breaststroke Kick to Beginners

Breaststroke kick is difficult to do. It is an unnatural motion for many swimmers. There will always be that small subsect of people that have learned how to do it on their own and in fact prefer it to the flutter kick motion. I believe these are people that pushed the water in the “breaststroke …

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Practice 8/10/2020

Return to swimming! 1 x 100 IM Kick1 x 100 CH1 x 100 A different CH1 x 100 Another different different CH1 x 100 Anything Question of the Day: What sport has the least amount of long term “impact” on your body? Like things hitting other things inside your body. Correct: 50 CH anythingWrong: 50 …

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086: Training Summer Swim Lesson Managers

What are the essential skills you should be teaching your lesson managers? You can find information at https://www.swimminglessonsideas.com/resources/ Under the Level Description guides. They details the specific needs of each “level” and what to look out for including guidance for lesson managers. Criteria for an effective swim lesson manager: Understanding of level structure, essential skills, …

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SIP 085: Finding Deliberate Practice Opportunities at Swim Lessons and Practices

What can you do at your swim practice and swim lessons to promote Deliberate Practice, and how does mediation teach you to be a better swimmer. What is deliberate practice: https://jamesclear.com/beginners-guide-deliberate-practice “ While regular practice might include mindless repetitions, deliberate practice requires focused attention and is conducted with the specific goal of improving performance. From …

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Practice 7/22/2020

Warmup: 1 x 100 IM Kick1 x 100 CH1 x 100 BKReview Streamline and Position 11 together because…. people STILL STILL! don’t do it every time correctly. A correct Streamline requires all three components: 1) Locked thumb. 2) Squeezed elbows behind the head, or over the ears. 3) Face aiming down.1 x 50 Position 11. …

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Practice 7/17/2020

Warmup: 1 x 100 IM Kick1 x 100 BR1 x 100 FLY KickReview Streamline and Position 11 together.1 x 50 Position 11 Question of the Day:If streamline should be a habit by the time you leave Sharks, what is one reason to NOT do one during practice? Correct: Handstand Rewind.Wrong: 1 x 1/2 FREE + …

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SIP 084: Why “Challenges” have replaced games.

Intro: What are Challenges? Why have they replaced games? Quicker Individual based apply to broad ability levels tailored for groups sideways learning they are games celebrated success opportunities striving to “challenge” self improves overall swimming Live use Where you can find them

Practice 7/10/2020 White & Blue

Warmup: 1 x 100 IM Kick1 x 100 DRILL. Pick one: Fists, 1 arm only, 2K + 1 Pull, HLBw/R1 x 100 BK Kick1 x 50 Position 11 Question of the Day: What position should you get into after every Breaststroke Kick, and at the finish of every fly stroke? Correct: 50 FLY or BRWrong: …

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Practice 7/7/2020

Warmup: 1 x 100 IM KICK (25 FLY K, 25 BK K, 25 BR K, 25 FR K)1 x 50 BackReview Position 11: Together:2 x 25 Position 11 Question of the Day:Name two countries that have won olympic medals in swimming. Correct: 20 Flutter kicks but don’t move anywhere.Wrong: 50 flutter kicks but don’t move …

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SIP 082: Teaching Private Swim Lessons During Covid-19

How should you protect yourself and others when you’re teaching swimming lessons to individuals or duos? Today we’re listening to a user submitted question and answering it after a brief unrecorded phone call. Rowenna and I spoke on the phone and we reviewed much of the same things. Her favorite games are Treasure hunt and …

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Swim team during Covid-19; indoor plan

Our USA Swimming team is starting swimming practices again starting this week, June 18th. We’ve been paying attention to the guidelines put forth by our state, Illinois, and have worked with our risk management agency to implement safe protocols for users and staff. My wife is immune compromised and I’ve been taking the social isolation …

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Covid-19 and Swimming

I sincerely hope that you and your loved ones are healthy, happy, and safe. All of us are struggling with either stay at home orders or a reduction in hours and livelihood.   Our businesses hinge on having people in the water. If we get more people we’re more successful. Moving forward the suggestion is that large …

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Sharks 3/11/2020

Warmup 100 IM Kick 100 FLY K 2 x 25 Position 1, with side breaths away from arm. Question of the Day: What is the first day of spring?Correct = 50 CHWrong = 50 BK 4 x 25 on 1:00 FREE with 4 fly kicks in SL 16 x 50 on 1:45: CHOICE w/ or …

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Minnows 3/11/2020

Dryland Activities: Question of the Day: Name a swimming skill.Correct = Show us that skill, if you can. and do 2 jumps of celebration.Wrong = Do 5 situps and 5 pushups. Warmup in water: 100 IM Kick2 x 25 position 11. Review 3 things for Streamline before first 25.1) Lock your thumb.2) Squeeze your ears …

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Minnows 3/10/2020

Dryland Activities: Question of the Day: Name one thing you can do to earn points for Coho.Correct = Do that many jumps per point for the thing you said.Wrong = Do 10 situps. Warmup in water: 100 IM Kick2 x 25 position 11. Review 3 things for Streamline before first 25.1) Lock your thumb.2) Squeeze …

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Sharks 3/10/2020

Warmup 100 IM Kick 100 Position 11 with FINS 2 x 25 Position 1, with side breaths w/ FINS Question of the Day: Name one thing that you earn points from.Correct = 50 CH w/ FINSWrong = 50 FREE 4 x 25 on 1:00 FREE with FINS 16 x 50 on 1:45 with or without …

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Sharks 3/9/2020

Warmup 100 IM Kick 100 Position 11 w/ FINS 2 x 25 Position 1, side breath away from arm, w/ FINS Question of the Day: What date is the Coho Banquet?Correct = 50 CH w/ FINSWrong = 50: 5 FREE + 5 FLY 4 x 25 on 1:00 FLY w/ FINS 8 x 100: CHOICE …

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Minnows 3/9/2020

Dryland Activities: Question of the Day: When is the last day of Coho Practices for Winter?Correct = Celebrate spring break for 20 seconds.Wrong = Lament the end of swimming season with 10 situps. Warmup in water: 100 IM Kick2 x 25 position 11. Review 3 things for Streamline before first 25.1) Lock your thumb.2) Squeeze …

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Sharks 3/5/2020

Warmup 100 IM Kick 100 2 x 25 Position 11 Question of the Day: What do we focus more on in Sharks: Endurance or Technique?Correct = 50 BRWrong = 50 FREE 4 x 25 on 1:00 FREE with SL on your back doing fly kicks. 4 x {4 x 502 x SL} 1)50 = FREE …

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Minnows 3/5/2020

Dryland Activities: Question of the Day: What does “endurance” mean?Correct = Run from black to black 2 xWrong = Run from black to black 4 x Warmup in water: 100 IM Kick2 x 25 position 11. Review 3 things for Streamline before first 25.1) Lock your thumb.2) Squeeze your ears (back of head).3) Look down …

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Sharks 3/4/2020

Warmup 100 IM Kick 100 HLBw/R on BK 2 x 25 Position 1, with side breaths. NO HIP ROTATING at all (Challenge) Question of the Day: What should your at practice breathing pattern be for freestyle?Correct = 50 FREEWrong = 50 FLY K on back. 4 x 25 on 1:00 FREE w/ 5 fly kicks …

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Minnows 3/4/2020

Dryland Activities: Question of the Day: During breaststroke do you breathe on every stroke?Correct = In Tree Pose remain in streamline for 10 breaths.Wrong = Stay in side plank for 10 breaths on each arm. Warmup in water: 100 IM Kick2 x 25 position 11. Review 3 things for Streamline before first 25.1) Lock your …

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Sharks 3/3/2020

Warmup 100 IM Kick 100 Side Kicking with FINS. Smell your stinky armpit and look at the ceiling when you breathe. 2 x 25 Position 11 w/ FINS Question of the Day: Can you streamline TOO far in a race? at practice? (Yes/No x 2).Correct = 50 Streamline to 1/2 way then FREEWrong = 50 …

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Minnows 3/3/2020

Dryland Activities: Question of the Day: Can you do a streamline for too long?Correct = Do 3 streamline jumps from a squatWrong = Do 3 pushups, 3 situps, and 5 streamline jumps from a squat. Warmup in water: 100 IM Kick2 x 25 position 11. Review 3 things for Streamline before first 25.1) Lock your …

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Sharks 3/2/2020

Warmup 100 IM Kick 100 Position 11 w/ FINS 2 x 25 Position 1, roll to the side and get vertical to breathe. Question of the Day: What was the name of the qualifying meet last weekend?Correct = 50 of your best strokeWrong = 50 of your most HATED stroke. 4 x 25 on 1:00 …

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Minnows 3/2/2020

Dryland Activities: Question of the Day: Correct = Wrong = Warmup in water: 100 IM Kick2 x 25 position 11. Review 3 things for Streamline before first 25.1) Lock your thumb.2) Squeeze your ears (back of head).3) Look down (with your whole face).Review 3 things for Position 11 before second 25:1) Keep your arms straight.2) …

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Sharks 2/27/2020

Warmup 100 IM Kick 100 IM Swim 2 x 25 Position 1, side breathing away from that 1 arm. Question of the Day: Should you float up to the surface in streamline or curve to aim up at the surface? Correct = 50 FREEWrong = 50 FLY K 4 x 25 on 1:00 FREE KICK …

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Minnows 2/27/2020

Dryland Activities: Warmup in water: 100 IM Kick2 x 25 position 11. Review 3 things for Streamline before first 25.1) Lock your thumb.2) Squeeze your ears (back of head).3) Look down (with your whole face).Review 3 things for Position 11 before second 25:1) Keep your arms straight.2) Stay at the surface (even when you breathe).3) …

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Sharks 2/26/2020

Warmup 100 IM Kick 100 FLY KICK on your side. FINS 2 x 25 Position 11 Question of the Day: Which direction do you press against the water in butterfly kick?Correct = 50 FLY K w/ FINSWrong = 50 FLY K on back no fins. 4 x 25 on 1:00 2 FLY + FREE rest …

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Minnows 2/26/2020

Dryland Activities: Question of the Day: Which direction (s) do you “kick” during the fly kick?Correct = Flop like a fish out of water for 5 seconds.Wrong = Do 3 fish flops and 3 situps. Warmup in water: 100 IM Kick2 x 25 position 11. Review 3 things for Streamline before first 25.1) Lock your …

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Sharks 2/25/2020

Warmup 100 IM Kick 100 FREE 2 x 25 Position 1, with side breaths away from arm. Question of the Day: Which stroke has a “whip kick?”Correct = 50 BR Kick with board.Wrong = 50 Fly kick on your side 4 x 25 on 1:00 FREE Split up into two groups: Group 1: Group 2: …

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Minnows 2/25/2020

Dryland Activities: Question of the Day: Which kick is also called the “Whip Kick?”Correct = Do a dance from black line to line including 3 spins.Wrong = Dance in place for 20 seconds and do 3 situps. Warmup in water: 100 IM Kick2 x 25 position 11. Review 3 things for Streamline before first 25.1) …

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Minnows 2/24/2020

Dryland Activities: Question of the Day: What strokes have a flip turn?Correct = Do three rolls on teh side.Wrong = Laugh 10 times as loud as you can and do 10 situps. Warmup in water: 100 IM Kick2 x 25 position 11. Review 3 things for Streamline before first 25.1) Lock your thumb.2) Squeeze your …

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Creativity through Failure.

Yesterday I sat through a webinar about how to leverage your creativity and empower your employees. It was lead by a veteran of the parks and recreation industry. She wasted our time. I know. Harsh. Scandalous.  If you’re going to have your staff sit through an hour long powerpoint presentation then give actionable insight. Provide more …

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Sharks 2/20/2020

Question of the day: How many kicks should you do during each arm stroke of butterfly? Correct = Show Coach Rachel or Jeff your “I’m awesome” pose. Hold for 20 seconds.Wrong = Do 20 situps. 20 x 25’s on 1:00 1-5= 2 FLY + FLY K the rest of the 25 w/ FINS6-10= BK FINS11-15= …

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Minnows 2/20/2020

Dryland Activities: Question of the Day: Generally how many kicks per arm stroke of fly should you do?Correct = Run from black line to black line 3 times flapping arms like a bird.Wrong = Do a 30 second plank and a 30 second down dog. Warmup in water: 100 IM Kick2 x 25 position 11. …

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Sharks 2/19/2020

Warmup 100 IM Kick 100 FREE Kick no board *turn head to the side to breathe!* 2 x 25 Position 1 with side breaths away from the arm in 1. Question of the Day: What does “I.M.” stand for?Correct = 50 Do your individual favorite strokes.Wrong = 50 Do 1 stroke of each stroke over …

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Minnows 2/19/2020

Dryland Activities: Question of the Day: What does “I.M.” stand for?Correct = Pose with an individual flair while the wrong people do their stuff.Wrong = Do 1 push up. Do 1 plank for 10 seconds. Do 1 situp. Do 1 squat and stand. Warmup in water: 100 IM Kick2 x 25 position 11. Review 3 …

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Sharks 2/18/2020

Warmup 100 IM Kick 100 IM 2 x 25 Position 1 with side breath away from arm. Question of the Day: Name one thing that is at the Coho Banquet. Correct = 50 CHWrong = 50 BK K 4 x 25 on 1:00 flip 1st and sl on back, then BK Split up into two …

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Minnows 2/18/2020

Dryland Activities: Question of the Day: Name one thing that is at the Coho Banquet.Correct = Do a squat then jump in celebration 3 times. Wrong = Do 5 situps and 3 squat and jump celebrations. Warmup in water: 100 IM Kick2 x 25 position 11. Review 3 things for Streamline before first 25.1) Lock …

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Sharks 2/17/2020

Brought to you by Hannah Kaiser. Warmup 100 IM Kick 100 BR 2 x 25 Position 11 Question of the Day: What month does the spring season beginCorrect = 50 Hannah’s favorite strokeWrong = 50 Hannah’s least favorite stroke 4 x 25 on 1:00 Split up into two groups: Group 1: 3 x SL + …

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Minnows 2/17/2020

Dryland Activities: Question of the Day: What month does the next, spring season begin?Correct = Do a May Day dance around a pole or tall person.Wrong = Do situps until everyone is done dancing (no more than 15 seconds). Warmup in water: 100 IM Kick2 x 25 position 11. Review 3 things for Streamline before …

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Sharks 2/13/2020

Warmup 100 IM Kick 100 IM K no board (everything in soldier) 2 x 25 Position 11 Question of the Day: Should you hang on the bars / use them during a backstroke start at a meet?Correct = 50 BKWrong = 50 BK Kick 4 x 25 on 1:00 FREE 4 x 100: IM swim. …

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Minnows 2/13/2020

Dryland Activities: Question of the Day: Are you supposed to use the bars when doing a backstroke start at a meet?Correct = Do 3 rolling situpsWrong = Do 3 situps and 3 pushups. Warmup in water: 100 IM Kick2 x 25 position 11. Review 3 things for Streamline before first 25.1) Lock your thumb.2) Squeeze …

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Sharks 2/12/2020

Warmup 100 IM Kick 100 IM 2 x 25 Position 11 Question of the Day: What is the minimum depth you can learn diving? (how deep?)Correct = 50 CHWrong = 50 Streamline Kick on back 4 x 25 on 1:00 Free w/ fly kick on streamlines 10 x 50 on 1:30 BACK Be confident. Be …

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Minnows 2/12/2020

Dryland Activities: Question of the Day: How deep does the water have to be to practice diving in?Correct = Do 6 jumps that are all differentWrong = Do 6 jumps all the same and do 3 situps and 3 pushups. Warmup in water: 100 IM Kick2 x 25 position 11. Review 3 things for Streamline …

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Sharks 2/11/2020

Warmup 100 IM Kick 100 IM SWIM 2 x 25 Position 11 Question of the Day: What are three things you should do to make position 11 and swimming easier?Correct = 50 FREE Kick with a boardWrong = 50 FREE Kick w/o (no) board. 4 x 25 on 1:00 FREE 5 x 100 FREE No …

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Minnows 2/11/2020

Dryland Activities: Question of the Day: What stroke, or strokes, does position 11 work on?Correct = Do four different jumps with 4 different ways to do a pushup.Wrong = Do eight different jumps with 8 different ways to do a pushup. Warmup in water: 100 IM Kick2 x 25 position 11. Review 3 things for …

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Sharks 2/10/2020

Warmup 100 IM Kick 100 BK 2 x 25 Position 11 Question of the Day: How many teams are in a Dual Meet?Correct = 50 of your two favorite strokesWrong = 50 of your two least liked strokes 4 x 25 on 1:00 BK K Split up into two groups: Group 1: 3 x SL …

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Minnows 2/10/2020

Dryland Activities: Question of the Day: How many teams compete in a Dual Meet?Correct = Do two jumps with both legs.Wrong = Do two jumps with both legs and throw both arms in the air. Do 2 pushups too. Warmup in water: 100 IM Kick2 x 25 position 11. Review 3 things for Streamline before …

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Sharks 2/6/2020

Warmup 100 IM Kick 100 FREE kick with a board and 12 BR kicks peppered through the 100. 2 x 25 Position 11 Question of the Day: Name two things that can make a front flip easier.Correct = 50 FREE with a flip turnWrong = 50 FREE Kick with a flip turn 4 x 25 …

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Minnows 2/6/2020

Dryland Activities: Question of the Day: Name two things that make a front flip easier.Correct = Jump in the air and clap 2 times while in the air.Wrong = Do 10 jumps and 4 situps. Warmup in water: 100 IM Kick2 x 25 position 11. Review 3 things for Streamline before first 25.1) Lock your …

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Sharks 2/5/2020

Warmup 100 IM Kick 100: 1st 50, FLY K/ 2nd 50, BR K (no arms) 2 x 25 Position 11 Question of the Day: Where does the butterfly kick begin (on your body)?Correct = 50 FLY KWrong = 50 FLY K on your back 4 x 25 on 1:00 FREE with exaggerated FLY kicks on …

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Minnows 2/5/2020

Dryland Activities: Question of the Day: Where does the fly kick start, or “undulation” begin?Correct = Do 4 rolling fly kicks with your bodyWrong = Do 4 rolling fly kicks with your body and do 4 pushups from belly touching the ground. Warmup in water: 100 IM Kick2 x 25 position 11 Review 3 things …

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