Training Science & Competition Skills
Swimming
•Year 8
•8 Lessons
This unit transforms students from recreational swimmers into informed, performance-focused athletes who understand the science behind elite swimming training. By combining interval training principles, heart rate monitoring, and competition-standard techniques for starts and turns, students develop both physical competence and theoretical understanding of how swimmers train and compete at high levels. The unit bridges the gap between technique and tactics, empowering students to train with purpose and precision.
Lessons in This Unit
8 lessons in this unit
Lesson 1
Big Question:
How can we measure our swimming progress and swim safely alongside others?
Key Objectives:
- • Assess current swimming ability through a 100m timed swim test
- • Understand and apply lane swimming etiquette and safety procedures
Lesson 2
Big Question:
How do elite swimmers structure their training to maximise performance and fitness gains?
Key Objectives:
- • Understand how to structure a comprehensive swimming training session with warm-up, main set, and cool-down components
- • Apply lane etiquette and safety procedures when swimming in a structured environment
Lesson 3
Big Question:
How can we use equipment and work:rest ratios to become stronger, more efficient swimmers?
Key Objectives:
- • Understand and apply work:rest ratios in interval training
- • Use swimming equipment (kickboards and pull buoys) correctly and safely to enhance fitness
Lesson 4
Big Question:
How can understanding your heart rate help you train smarter and improve your swimming performance?
Key Objectives:
- • Learn how to accurately measure heart rate at rest and after exercise
- • Understand and apply concepts of intensity, effort, pacing and rest to swimming training
Lesson 5
Big Question:
How can mastering the perfect diving entry position give you a competitive advantage in swimming?
Key Objectives:
- • Demonstrate safe diving technique from poolside using correct body position
- • Execute streamline position underwater to maximise glide efficiency
Lesson 6
Big Question:
How can mastering your underwater phase give you a competitive advantage in racing?
Key Objectives:
- • Revise and refine diving technique with focus on body position and water entry
- • Develop underwater kick and breakout technique to maximise race performance
Lesson 7
Big Question:
How can mastering the technical rules of turns give you a competitive advantage in swimming?
Key Objectives:
- • Learn and apply the rules of breaststroke and butterfly turns with two-handed touch requirements
- • Develop efficient turning technique that maintains momentum and streamline position
Lesson 8
Big Question:
How can mastering the tumble turn transform your freestyle swimming performance?
Key Objectives:
- • Understand and apply the rules governing freestyle turns in competitive swimming
- • Develop proficient somersault turning technique with correct body positioning