- Check the space and the kit.
- Get your child's attention first.
- Show it from two sides.
- Say one thing only.
- End on one that works.
Put the phone down where you can see it. Tap Next with your thumb, or use the arrow keys.
Is the space marked?
A pool lane; a landmark at the far end.
Three minutes to get warm.
Easy jogging on the spot, then arms and legs. How to warm up well is explained at workonfitness.com.
- Stand in the shallow end and show the breath: turn the head to the right as that arm pulls back, breathe, and put the face back in.
- Do the same to the left.
- Show sighting: lift the eyes just above the water for a moment, like a crocodile, then turn the head to breathe.
Show it once from the front and once from the side, slowly. Then let your child try.
- Swim 20 strokes breathing only to the right.
- 20 strokes breathing only to the left.
- 20 strokes breathing every third stroke.
- Lift the head to sight a landmark every so often.
How much: 4 rounds
Look forward, keep the body flat
Sight and call
The rules
You hold up a number of fingers at the far end; the swimmer sights and calls the number at the wall.
- The swimmer swims a length breathing every third stroke
- Every few strokes you change the number of fingers you hold up
- The swimmer sights at least 3 times and, at the wall, calls the last number seen
- 6 lengths
Fair play: A grown-up swimmer sights every 6 strokes.
- Points
- 1 point for each length breathing both sides; 1 point for the right number called.
- Fouls
- No points for that length: breathing to one side only; stopping to look instead of sighting while swimming; pulling on the lane line
- Win
- Beat your best from 6 lengths.
- 4
- 8
- 12
100 m with breathing both sides and 3 correct sightings of the landmark.
End on one that works. If it was hard today, finish with the easier version.
Well played.
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