Swimming Game – Magic Mirror

Name

Magic Mirror

Core Skill

This game helps swimmers practice breath control, underwater vision, and body awareness. It also encourages creativity and social interaction.

Who

This game is for swimmers who can submerge their heads comfortably and hold their breath for at least 10 seconds. It works best with 2 to 6 swimmers per lane.

What

You’ll needswim mirrorsplaced on the bottom of the pool in the swimmer’s lane. The mirrors should be at least 3 body lengths long and cover the entire width of the lane. Here’s how the game works:

1. One swimmer is the “Wicked Witch” and the others are the “Magic.” The witch picks an adjective like silly, goofy, pretty, etc.
2. Before going underwater, the witch says, “Mirror mirror on the wall, who is the … of them all?” and fills in the blank with their chosen adjective.
3. Everyone goes underwater. The witch makes apose close to the mirrorso they can see everyone behind them.
4. The rest of the group stays close but gives the witch room. They mimic the witch but exaggerate the pose—making it silly, goofy, or wrong, but still similar.
5. After 10 seconds, everyone comes up. The witch chooses the best or worst mimic based on the adjective. For example, if they said “pretty,” they pick the prettiest mimic; if “silly,” the silliest.
6. The chosen mimic becomes the new witch, and the game repeats until everyone has had a turn or time runs out.

How

To make the game more fun and engaging, the instructor can:

1. Use a whistle or signal to indicate when to go underwater and come up.
2. Vary the adjectives and poses to challenge swimmers and keep them interested.
3. Use a timer or stopwatch to track turns and time.

Difficulties Instructors Might Face

Some challenges you might run into:

1. Swimmers may not see the mirror clearly due to water quality, lighting, or foggy goggles.
2. Swimmers may not hold their breath long enough or may swallow water.
3. Swimmers might bump into each other or the mirror while posing.
4. Swimmers may not follow the rules or instructions.

To overcome these:

1. Check water quality, lighting, and goggles before starting. Make adjustments as needed.
2. Remind swimmers to exhale slowly through their nose or mouth underwater and to come up if uncomfortable or needing to breathe.
3. Ensure enough space between swimmers and the mirror, and secure the mirror to the pool floor.
4. Explain rules clearly and repeat if needed. Use demonstrations and examples. Monitor and correct mistakes gently.

Looking for swimming mirrors for your program? We bought 6 from Amazon and they’ve been excellent.Note:We taped the corners and sharp edges with thick duct tape to prevent cuts.