Counting to music and a split on land
Ready when: nothing needed.
What you are learning
To move exactly on the beat. Artistic swimmers count the music in eights, "1 to 8" again and again, and every move happens on a count, all together. This card also starts gentle flexibility for the legs.
Words on this card Routine, 8 counts, Unison, Split
- Routine
- A whole performance to music, planned move by move.
- 8 counts
- Counting the music "1 to 8" and starting again. Every move is planned on these counts.
- Unison
- Moving at exactly the same moment as the others.
- Split
- Sitting with one leg straight in front and the other straight behind.
Set up
Music with a steady beat. A soft mat.
Weather: any weather
Show it first for the one teaching
- Play the music and clap on each beat, counting aloud "1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8", then start again.
- Do one simple arm move on each count: arms up on 1, out on 2, down on 3, and so on.
- Sit on the mat and slide gently toward a split, only as far as is easy, and hold 5 seconds.
Your part while they practise
Clap eight counts with the child; then both do simple arm movements on the counts. For the land split, hold a gentle split for 5 seconds each leg; do not push.
Step by step
- Clap 8 counts together with the music, 4 times.
- Do an arm pattern on the counts together, 4 times.
- A gentle split on each leg for 5 seconds, only as far as is easy.
How much: 4 rounds of 8 counts of clapping, 4 rounds of arm patterns, then a gentle split each leg for 5 seconds 6 min a session 3 days a week
Say one thing Pick one line from "What you will see" for today and say only that.
The game: Copy me
The leader makes an 8-count pattern, the other copies it, then both do it together in unison.
Who plays: 2 players, taking turns as leader.
How to play, turn by turn
- Turns
- The leader makes up an arm pattern for 8 counts while the follower watches
- The follower copies it on the next 8 counts
- Both do it together on the next 8 counts, in unison
- Swap leader. 5 patterns each
- Fair play
- A younger leader may make 4-count patterns.
- Points
- The follower scores 1 point for copying the whole pattern on the beat; both players score 1 point when they finish together in unison.
- Fouls
- No point
- Falling behind or getting ahead of the beat
- A move missed or changed
- Stopping before count 8
- Winning
- The most points after 5 patterns each.
- 4 points for 1 star
- 7 points for 2 stars
- 10 points for 3 stars
Easier or harder
A slower beat.
A faster beat or a longer pattern.
What you will see, and what to say
- the child falls behind the beat
Listen for the one
Count 1 is the strong beat where each pattern starts. - the knee bends in the split
Slide only as far as is easy
Stop where the legs can stay straight.
Self-check
16 counts in time with the music, twice.
Stop and get a coach when
Pain in the hip or groin in the split.
Fitness for this
Warm up first: how to warm up, at workonfitness.com. For strength and stretching, its exercise library shows each exercise step by step, with an easier version.
This card trains timing, flexibility, patience. A routine is set to music and swum in unison.
awiseathlete.com/sports/artistic-swimming/artistic-swimming-b2