Name
Human Cannonball
Core Skill
Streamline
Who
Human Cannonball works for any small or large group that knows how to do a streamline. It is best for more advanced swimmers that need a break from the hum-drum always working hard swimmers. Work with swimmers who can do all 3 things for streamline consistently: look down, squeeze ears, and lock thumb.
What
The swim game Human Cannonball specifically works on explosive streamlines. We want our swimmers to push off the wall with "explosive" force and "ummmph." Here we are working on explicitly being powerful and quick with our push off the wall into streamline.
How
With three members to a group:
- 1 person is the cannonball
- 1 person is the fuse
- 1 person is the igniter
Thecannonballwaits on the surface of the water, getting ready to do their streamline or be the human cannonball.
Thefuseholds their fist above thecannonball'shead and extends their pinky finger so it touches their hair/crown. Thefuseshould then lift their thumb so it is up. When theignitertouches their upraised thumb, thefusecounts to 3 and then "explodes" with a hand flourish and yelling "BOOM!!!" or "EXPLODE!" When counting they can extend their fist fingers so the hand is fully open on the "BOOM!"
Theignitermakes a fist, and raises their thumb. They say, "One, Two, Three, Ignite!" and touch their thumb's up thumb onto thefuse'sthumb.
Once thefuseshouts "BOOM" or "EXPLODE" thecannonballis shot out into the water with a super fast powerful strong jump.
The first 3 times each person goes as thecannonballthey should jump and curl into a ball to "become the cannonball."
The last 3 times each person goes as thecannonballthey should instead do a streamline as strong and as fast as possible once thefuseexplodes them out of the cannon.
Rotate within your group so you do all roles (cannonball, fuse, igniter) 3 times, then another 3 times.
Difficulties Instructors Might Face
As the coach or instructor you'll need to either demonstrate or find someone who understands this game with the picture or a variation of it to initiate the game. In my experience it was very necessary to be loud and energetic to get the swimmers to shout and yell "BOOM!" or "EXPLODE!" and get into the game.
It can help to demonstrate yourself as thefusefor the first round or the first demonstration.
Immediately after this game we did sprints and races and our streamlines were more explosive, quick, and powerful.
Have you played this game? What did you think? Leave a comment, or connect on twitter or facebook.