Name
3 Thanksgiving Activities for Developmental Swimming Practice
Core Skill
These games target a mix of endurance, treading water, back kick, and stroke variety. They are designed for swimmers who can complete at least 25 yards of each stroke and keep total yardage under 300 yards per game.
Who
Developmental swimmers (beginners to intermediate) who are comfortable in the water and can swim basic strokes. Suitable for groups of 4–12 swimmers.
What
Three Thanksgiving-themed games to add festive fun to practice:
How
Game 1: Create a 5-Item Plate of Food on a Whiteboard
Draw a plate with five sections on a whiteboard, each labeled with a food item. Assign a swim set to each item:
Swimmers choose or vote on one item at a time, swim the set, and mark it off. Goal: complete all items before practice ends. Make it competitive with teams or cooperative as a group.
Game 2: Sitting Around the Table Challenge
Give each swimmer a kickboard. Have them form a circle or rectangle in the water, holding the boards horizontally in front of them like a table. All swimmers tread water with heads above water and hands on the board, as if holding a fork and knife. Challenge them to maintain this position as long as possible without letting go or sinking. Add fun by encouraging dinner conversation, splashing, or playing music.
Game 3: Gobble Gobble Thank You!
Swimmers do a 50-yard back kick. For the first 25 yards, they cluck like a turkey with hands in armpits flapping elbows like wings. For the second 25 yards, they say things they are thankful for aloud (e.g., family, friends, coach, health). Use as a warm-up or cool-down.