Puppet Master Freestyle Challenge

Name

Puppet Master Freestyle

One-Liner

Swimmers work in teams to physically guide a passive "dummy" through three perfect freestyle strokes with a side breath on the second stroke.

Success Criteria

The team that performs the freestyle strokes and breathing with the most accuracy and efficiency wins. The dummy must remain completely passive throughout.

Failure Criteria

The dummy moves on their own, the team cannot complete three strokes, or the breathing technique is incorrect (e.g., lifting the head instead of turning to the side).

Core Skill

Front crawl breathing

Who

Level 3 swimmers in small groups of 3-4

What

A fun and challenging game that involves one dummy and the rest puppet masters in each lane. The puppet masters have to manipulate the dummy's body to perform three full strokes of freestyle with one side breath on the second stroke. The dummy has to remain passive and only move when the puppet masters move them.

How

Divide the swimmers into small groups of 3-4 and assign one lane for each group.
Choose one swimmer to be the dummy and the rest to be the puppet masters in each group.
The dummy floats on their stomach with arms extended in front (position 11) and legs straight behind. They keep their face in the water and breathe out through nose or mouth.
The puppet masters stand on either side of the dummy and use their hands to move the dummy's arms, legs, head, and torso.
The puppet masters coordinate to make the dummy perform three full strokes of freestyle with one side breath on the second stroke. They must follow proper front crawl breathing technique:
Return to position 11 after each stroke (arms extended in front, parallel to each other)
Keep the body long and straight with a slight body roll from side to side
Keep the face in the water except when turning the head to the side during the breath
Breathe in through the mouth and out through the nose or mouth
The instructor observes each group and judges who has the best technique. Winners are the teams that perform the strokes and breathing with the most accuracy and efficiency.