Ring Retrieval: A Fun Game for Underwater Comfort and Diving Skills

Name

Diving Retrieval Game

Core Skill

Developing comfort and confidence while going underwater, which is a key skill for swimming.

Who

Children learning to swim.

What

You can play with anything that will sink:

1. Use dive rings or sticks that can be purchased at stores like Target or Walmart.
2. Use rocks found around your yard.
3. To make the game more difficult, use coins. You can make it even more challenging by asking older children to retrieve a certain amount of money.

Involving many children in the same game:

1. Assign a color to each child and ask them to retrieve only their color.
2. Have each child retrieve all of the rings individually. You can time them with a stopwatch so the children can race against each other.

How

1. Throw the rings onto the pool stairs so that the child can retrieve them without going underwater.
2. Slowly start moving the rings into deeper water.
3. As the child gets more comfortable, ask them to retrieve more than one ring per dive.
4. When you first start playing, let the child watch as you throw the rings into the pool. As the child gets more comfortable, have them close their eyes or turn around as you throw the rings into the water.
5. Many children are uncomfortable opening their eyes underwater without goggles. Have the child wear swim goggles when they first start to play.

Difficulties Instructors Might Face

Instructors must be mindful of group dynamics; be careful sending a group into the water without specific instructions, as you don't want underwater fights for rings! Remember that both comfort going underwater and holding one's breath are skills that take time to develop. Always encourage the child to try again, even if they come up empty-handed, and most importantly, don't forget to have fun (perhaps you'll like playing too!).