Swimming Game - Race: Pick Your Pieces

Name

Race: Pick Your Pieces

Core Skill

Race strategy, teamwork, and individual stroke technique (dive, breakout, swim, turn, finish).

Who

Swim teams or advanced swimmers (Level 3 and above) who can perform each race stage independently.

What

A team relay where each swimmer chooses one or two pieces of a race to complete. Teams compete to see who can finish the entire race fastest by combining their chosen stages.

How

Create teams. Each swimmer selects one or two stages from the list below. The coach starts a continuous timer (without resetting) for each stage, recording split times. The final time is the aggregate of all pieces.

The coach starts and stops the watch for each stage without resetting it, so the final time is the cumulative time of all stages.

Difficulties Instructors Might Face

Timing can be tricky if the coach isn't quick with the stopwatch. Practice the sequence beforehand. Also, ensure swimmers understand their specific stage and starting position—especially for the "Swim" stage, which depends on previous distances. To avoid confusion, mark distances clearly on the pool deck with cones or tape.