What better way to enjoy learning different swimming strokes than to play games and fun drills? The following article lists a number of games to improve swimming strokes.
There are many different games to improve swimming strokes. Playing a game or a participating in a challenging drill should drive swimmers to work on their reach. Basically, the better strokes a swimmer has, the more efficient they become in covering distance. The following games not only take into consideration the training of inexperienced and neophyte users but they also consider veteran players. The extent of the game is usually adjusted by the trainer to continually challenge and help players improve their swimming.
Swim-Golf or SWOLF
As the name implies, this game is similar to the golf. The purpose of the game to help swimmers find out which stroke rate and stroke length help them best achieve a certain speed. Whether the stroke rate, stroke length or both needs to be increased depends on how the player can easily move throughout the game.
How It’s Done
There will be a particular distance given for each player to complete: 25 or 50 m or yd. The number of strokes it takes a swimmer to reach that distance is recorded. Along with the time it took for them to complete, the score for the game is computed. For instance, if the a player produces around 40 strokes in 30 minutes for a 50 m distances, he/she would be scored around 70 points. Once the base score is achieved, the players can swim different variations of the game to get the best combination of stroke rate and length. The main point of the game is for the player to reduce their score by as much as they can. This means covering distances at minimal strokes and at a minimum duration.
Sprint Speed
This is like a game of sprint only in water. Just like in track in field, a certain distance is assigned for the swimmers to complete. The stroke count and time are computed as well to see who finished with the lowest number of point. Swimmers take their position per lane. Once the coach signals for a start, each swimmer has to swim fast with the lowest number of strokes. Since it’s a sprint, the number of repeats is less than in swim-golf. The distance is also shorter than the Swolf. The player with the lowest score wins the game.
Kick-Ins
This activity helps improve a swimmer’s stroke length. This activity requires a swimmer to perform around 50 to 100 repeats. The number of strokes is recorded after each repeat is completed. In doing kick-ins, the time and number of cycles is limited. Swimmers should be able to do the repeats within these limitations. Swimmers should complete ahead of the time and in fewer cycles set. If these conditions are not met, the swimmer has to finish the remaining distance through a kick.
Doing these games to improve swimming strokes can benefit swimmers. Since the game always poses a challenge, swimmers are encouraged to do their best.
Reference
https://mytriathlontraining.com/content/swim-golf-a-great-way-focus-stroke-technique
