Swimming challenge card - School Games

primary Intra-school/Level 1 Resource - challenge cardaquatics - blowtasticQuick introductionA great challenge for developingaquatic breathing and streamlining.Getting started■■Select teams of four.■■Have a fun warm-up.■■Get young leaders to explain the activities.■■Swimmers should practise blowing the egg flipas part of a warm-up.■■Swimmers can walk to start but should beencouraged to swim across the width.■■The event can be scored by the winning teamtouching first or the average number of timesthe egg flip turns.■■Arrange participants in teams and encouragecheering.Health and safety■■Refer to the operating procedures of the pool.■■Ensure that participants are comfortable in thedepth of water.■■Maintain control of activities at all times.■■Keep participants safe when getting in and outof the pool and whilst moving around the poolsurround.Equipment required■■Egg flips.

primary Intra-school/Level 1 Resource - challenge cardaquatics - Aquasplash FestivalTreasure HuntQuick introductionThis treasure hunt challenge involves swimmersretrieving objects from the surface and from thebottom of the pool.Getting started■■Set up an area where the swimmers will placetheir equipment once collected.■■One swimmer from each team to swim at anyone time.■■Communicate to all participants the aim of thechallenge.■■All participants to start in the water holding ontothe side.■■Once a swimmer has an object they need toreturn it to an allocated place on poolside.■■They should high five their team member for thetakeover.■■Encourage cheering from team members.Health and safety■■Once swimmers have had their go they shouldclimb safely out of the pool.■■The activity should be supervised at all times.■■The number of swimmers collecting objectsshould vary depending on the size of the poolarea being used - ensure there are not toomany swimming at any one time.Equipment required■■Aim for an equal amount ofsinking and floating equipment.

aquatics - aquasplash festival treasure huntPhysical me■■Holding on with both hands push off towards thebottom of the pool to collect sinking objects.■■When swimming■■swimmers should focus on pulling their handsthrough the water. Swimmers can choose anystroke on their front.■■Note: these points are especially valid if the swimmeris doing front crawl. If they are collecting items itmight be more appropriate for them to be doingbreaststroke or front paddle – where they are headsupand can see.Task■■Try colour-coding the equipment; teams collectitems of a specific colour and return them to a samecoloured hoop on the side.Equipment■■Vary the size, shape and colour of the items to becollected; for example, some swimmers may find iteasier to collect smaller items.People■■Teams can decide on ability who should go for thenearest items or those further away.Thinking me■■How can I collect objects from thebottom of the pool?■■How should I collect objects floating inthe pool?■■How can I help my team?Social meLeading and volunteering■■Equipment managers can monitor the objects theswimmers collect and can collect the equipment fromthe poolside after the challenge.■■Scorers and record keepers could record the scores.Think inclusively (STEP)Space■■Reduce or increase the collecting space dependingon the ability of the swimmers.Sporting meSpirit of the Games:Excellence through CompetitionCan I sometimes try to collectobjects that are quite hardto reach?www.youRschoolgames.comTactical meCan I help my team chooseobjects they would prefer tocollect?www.youRschoolgames.comwww.youRschoolgames.com

primary Intra-school/Level 1 Resource - challenge cardaquatics - Aquasplash FestivalFooty RelayQuick introductionThis activity can be used to lead in to polo whereswimmers find their own way of controlling a ball inthe pool.Getting started■■In teams of four swimmers practisewalking across the width with a ballkeeping the ball in control.■■After they have established howto control the ball, they should beencouraged to swim.■■Swimmers should be encouragedto swim rather than walk wherepossible.■■All swimmers need to start from theside of the pool holding on with onehand.Health and safety■■Swimmers should becomfortable in the depth ofwater they are moving in.■■If swimmers tire they shouldbe provided with noodlesor similar.Equipmentrequired■■Ensure the ballsare light and of thecorrect size for theparticipants.

aquatics - aquasplash festival footy relayPhysical me■■When swimming■■swimmers should focus on pulling their handsthrough the water. Swimmers can choose anystroke on their front.■■Note: particularly relevant to front crawl.Social meLeading and volunteering■■Swim leaders could support swimmers in the waterwhere appropriate, i.e. fetching a ball if the swimmerloses control of it.Think inclusively (STEP)Space■■Increase or reduce the distance to be covereddepending on ability.Task■■Gradually increase the distance to be covered withfeet off the bottom.■■Some swimmers can throw the ball a short distanceand swim after it; stand up and throw again until thewidth is completed.Equipment■■Use flotation aids to enable swimmers who requiresupport to participate.People■■Provide help in the water for swimmers who requirephysical support, for example, those who havesevere physical impairments.Thinking me■■How can I keep the ball under controlwhile swimming with my arms out of thewater?■■How can I keep the ball under controlusing my head, nose, pushing the ballthrough the water?Sporting meSpirit of the Games:Excellence through CompetitionHow can we ensure fair playis encouraged throughout thecompetition?Tactical meI know this is good practice forpolo, could I practise picking theball up with one hand at the endof the width?www.youRschoolgames.comwww.youRschoolgames.comwww.youRschoolgames.com