© 2010 Swimming Canada – www.swimming.ca                                                                   NCCP Swimming Info – www.nccpswimming.org     

Who are my swimmers?

Number of swimmers in attendance 

Age range of swimmers 

Skills and abilities of athletes 

Gaps in ability level among athletes 

What are the logistics of my practice?

Pool space availability/suitability 

Equipment needed/availability 

Length of the practice (time available) 

Time of day of the practice  

Number of practices per week 

What abilities and skills does swimming require?

Physical abilities  

Motor abilities  

How am I going to organize my practice?

Structure of the session 

Choice of activities 

Sequence of activities  

What am I trying to accomplish with my

practice?

What athletes need to improve 

Purpose of the practice 

Team goals and short‐term objectives 

Goals of coaching staff 

Time of the season 

Links with previous practices and competitions

How will I deliver my practice?

Key points to make 

Teaching methods I will use 

Where I will position myself 

What I will be watching for

My Practice Plan

What are the safety risks? How should I prepare for

them?

The activities the athletes will do and the area in which they will take place (shallow/deep water) 

Facility hazards 

Equipment precautions 

Supervision

Lifeguard on duty?

KEY QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER WHEN PLANNING A PRACTICE  

In order to begin the planning of a lesson or a practice there are numerous logistics that come into play. The diagram below will give you some Key Questions for consideration:   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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© 2010 Swimming Canad

FUN, FUN‐FIT

THLETIC  ABILITY 

 

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1) Fun Fitnes

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Involvement of lamasses is import

 

 

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                                NCCP S

For the Swim

Every repetition purpose:  

Widths Half len 25m (if maintai

 Short rest. 

Timed swim from

Games 

Turns 

Relays 

Speed of limb ac

 

* More rest is re

ems are called: 

n!) and  

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Younger mmer 

must have a 

ngths stroke quality is ined) 

m 5m to 15m. 

ctivities 

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nccpswimming.org  

For the Old

May be swum pmore strokes.  Mand drill. 

 Activity may be rest) or interval and rest/recove Short rest. 

Timed swim from

Work : Rest 

1:12–15 (e.g:  5 and 60 seconds rest) 

 

Total Time for aseconds or 10‐1into 2 sets of 5.

 

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erforming one or May include kick 

continuous (no (alternating work ry). 

m 5m to 15m. 

seconds effort active or passive 

ll reps =  30‐120 2 reps divided  

© 2010 Swimming Canada – www.swimming.ca NCCP Swimming Info – www.nccpswimming.org

DAILY PRACTICE PLAN – FUNDAMENTALS EXAMPLE

Date: April 1 / 2010 Time: 4-5pm Group: FISH, 12 (8-10 yrs old)___ Practice #: 4 of_20___

Pool space(s) to be used & when: 2 lanes shallow end 4:00-4:45 and 4 lanes dive tank from 4:45-5:00 _________

Equipment/Visual Aids needed: Flutter boards, noodles _____ _________ _

OBJECTIVES FOR TODAY

Skills Inventory Focus (ABC): Free and Back – Acquisition skills ________

Main Goals for Practice (1-3): Free body position/breathing/Free arms/Back kick (holding proper body position)_____

Announcements/Reminders: April Calendars are in your swimmer mailboxes outside the office doors ________

Practice Segment

Estimated Time

Teaching Vantage Pt.

Main Theme (Skills / Sequencing of Activities / Diagrams / References)

Metaphors

Welcoming Remarks

Activation

Warm-up

Review of skills

New skills

1 min

3 min

6 min

4 min

15 min

On Deck @ mtg. spot

Mtg. spot

Both ends of lane

Side of lane along wall

Side of lane along wall

“ “

“ “

Question of the day: did you have any April fools jokes played on you today?!

5 slow single leg burpies / 5 regular burpies / 5 cross-over triangle toe-touches (each side) / 4 x 15 sec of ‘flutter kicks’ / duck walks to pick up flutter boards to lanes

4 x 25 free swim @ 10 Rest – at start of each length – do 5 bobs & stay underwater for 3 sec on each bob, jump high and go straight into next bob (set-up breath timing) – after 5 do your super hold streamlines!

Review free body position from last practice – horizontal kick on side - face up to ceiling, both hands @ side. 2 x 25 kick on side - 1st on left, 2nd on right with hands @ side of body. Watch for hips @ surface & body balance. 5x {1 min explanation+2x25’s @1 min with feedback!} 2 x 25 – 1st left side (shoulder to bottom)/2nd right side (shoulder to bottom) so that arms are at side. Face to ceiling to breathe in & face down* to breathe out (*new). Maintain body horizontal position, top hip @ surface.

2 x 25 – 1 on left / 1 on right – bottom arm extended out front and breath as above

2 x 25 – start on left (as above) with bottom arm extended, face to ceiling. Do 8 kicks & turn face to bottom to breathe out. Pull with extended arm under water to your hip and roll to the other side. Other arm remains at your side, turn face up to breathe in & then extend bottom arm up & repeat during each length!

None

Slow like a turtle Fast like a rabbit Kick w/’sharp’ feet / Quack!!

Bobs = jack-in-the-box Streamline = superman hold!

Keep watch dry (top arm) Glue your watch to your hip!

Like a soldier! Hands in pocket!

Fire your arm out soldier!

Hide your head and roll soldier! Roll like a log!

© 2010 Swimming Canada – www.swimming.ca NCCP Swimming Info – www.nccpswimming.org

Practice Segment

Estimated Time

Teaching Vantage Pt.

Main Theme (Skills / Sequencing of Activities)

Metaphors

New skills (cont’d)

Contrasting Activity

Game – move to dive tank

Warm-down

Flexibility

Conclusion & Wrap-up

3 min 12 min

6 min

2 min 5 min 2 min

Side of lane along wall

“ “

Water Break Both ends of lanes

1m diving board

Side of dive tank On deck On deck

2 x 25 – 8 kick skill as above, but this time the ‘dry’ top arm is bent overhead. When the arm pulls underwater, the top arm shoots forward as you roll onto the side.

2 x 25 – freestyle swim, working on horizontal body roll & breathing every 3 strokes.

Organize kids into partners when they return & hand out noodles and kick boards. You’ll want to have a noodle for every swimmer. Set up the noodles in lane 1 @ end. Move the noodles! Each partner kicks on back with 1 hand holding a board over their knees and the other hand holding a noodle* (Partner 1 - holds it @ top on left, other partner @ bottom right). Move the noodle to other end in lane 1 and kick on backs in lane 2 to retrieve the other noodle. Ensure lane directions! (3x25m). Once everyone is done, repeat to move the noodles back!

Sharks and minnows in the deep end.

4 widths of the pool – alternate 1 kick on back, 1 free swim Ankle, calf, hamstring, quad & hip flexor stretches, shoulder, chest, tricep stretches. Congratulate group on what they did well today throughout new skills & remind of notice in mailboxes!

Salute soldier! Make a tent over your head.

Swim soldier!

NOTES & COMMENTS ON TODAY’S PRACTICE

Attendance summary / What went well / What to improve on / Incidents to report / Notes for future practices:

10 of 12 at practice – Must follow up with Tommy’s parents, as this was the 2nd practice missed. Streamlining was awesome today – they recalled the super hold well from last practice. Seeing improvement on body position, they are getting how to keep hips at the surface when rolling.

Need to remind them lots to keep kicking as their body rolls, so should come back to these skills.