Build swimmers’ confidence with these competitive swim team games
Until recently, the coaching philosophy of swimming was to do whatever it takes to build mental toughness through grueling sets and long practices. Today, coaches build relationships with swimmers to foster a love for swimming so that swimmers get faster through smarter training. Here are eight competitive swim team games that will create a love for swimming in your team while developing swimming skills.
Daytona
Swimming skills improved: breath control, underwater kick
This is a relay, so divide your team into several smaller teams. Give each team one hot wheels car. The object is push the car along the bottom of the pool over the given distance (25, 50, 75, …) and then the next person in the relay will take over. The only rule is that the car can’t leave the line on the bottom. Breathing is allowed, but it takes time so encourage swimmers to go as far as they can!
This builds breath control and is the perfect underwater kick set. Playing this game often enough will lead swimmers to build confidence in their underwaters and try to go as far as they can each and every time.
Pigeon
Swimming skills improved: streamline, sprints, shoulder strength
Choose one swimmer (or coach!) to be the storyteller. The rest of the team gets in the water. The storyteller then tells a story to those in the water. Each time she says the word “pigeon,” all swimmers must swim to the other end and climb out of the water. Last one out get’s eliminated.
The storyteller can try to trick the team! Words like “pickle,” “pin,” or “peanut” are all allowed. If a swimmer goes on the wrong word, they’re eliminated!
This swim team game helps swimmers develop fast reaction times and their sprints because they want to get down to the other side before everyone else. And its always good to train your swimmers to get in and out of the pool without much effort so they don’t struggle after a race!
Sharks and minnows
Swimming skills improved: breath control, streamline, underwater kick
This classic game chooses one or two swimmers to be the sharks and the rest of the team to be the minnows. The sharks get out and face their backs toward the pool. When they hear the minnows push off the wall, they dive in and try to tag them. Only catch: the minnows have to be above the water to be tagged.
To prevent swimmers from going underwater the whole way, the sharks are allowed to drag them to the surface to tag them! Depending on your age range, it can be a good idea to limit what age the sharks can drag to the surface.
Once tagged, the minnows become seaweed and must tread water in place. If a minnow comes near them, the seaweed can tag them and turn them into seaweed!
This game also helps build teamwork. The two sharks must work together to round up all the minnows, especially near the end with minimal minnows left!
Capture the change
Swimming skills improved: breath control, kick
Divide your team into two groups. Take a set amount of change (make sure you count how many coins to have!) and spread it along the bottom of the deep end. Have one group tread water above the coins and another a little ways away. On a whistle, the deep end group will dive down and collect as many coins as they can, while the other group begins treading water. After 20 seconds, blow the whistle again and the two teams switch, making sure not to grab the wall or touch the bottom. Continue this cycle until all the coins are out of the pool.
This is a great way to work on breath control because swimmers love grabbing things from the bottom of the pool!
Deadfloat
Swimming skills improved: streamline
Some swim team games are totally dependent on your swimming ability…deadfloat is not. One at a time, have your swimmers push off the wall in streamline and see how far they go. No kicks. No breathing. Farthest one wins!
This is one of the best competitive swim team games because it teaches swimmers that there is more to swimming than just speed. Good technique is required for a good stroke.
Candle Relay
Swimming skills improved: kick, relay familiarity
There are all kinds of relays you can do with your team. Kick relays, noodle relays, and shirt relays are great…but get ready for the candle relay! Give each team a tall candle (something much taller and thicker than a birthday candle!) and light them. Starting in the pool, each relay must complete the relay without the candle going out. If it does, that relay leg must start over and get the candle lit again.
This competitive swim team game is a perfect way to unwind after a good practice while getting swimmers comfortable with relays!
Invisi-bottle
Swimming skills improved: breath control
This one comes courtesy swimmingpool.com. Divide your team into two smaller teams, and place one at each end. After removing the label on a plastic water bottle, fill it with water. Toss the bottle somewhere in the pool. The bottle blends in very well with the bottom of the pool so it’s difficult to find. First team to find the bottle wins.
Jump, twist, dive
Swimming skills improved: really nothing, its just fun
Have the coaches grab a chair and sit at the side of the pool. The rest of the team lines up. One at a time, have a swimmer run to jump in the pool. Right before they jump, the coaches will yell “jump”, “twist”, or “dive.” If the swimmer fails to do so, they are eliminated! As the rounds go on, you can add tasks like “all-star”, “cannonball,” “pirate,” or “belly flop.” You can even come up with your own!
This game is a Forest Hills Tidal Wave classic and has been played for many, many years. It’s just a great way to relax after a long practice and watch some hilarious fails!
These competitive swim team games will help your swimmers learn to be confident in their swimming abilities. Almost all of the games involve teams so its a good idea to split them up according to ability so teams are evenly matched. Before long, the competitive side of your swimmers will kick in and they’ll be building strength to help them learn the proper technique during practice!