1. Drills
  2. Swimming
  3. Endurance

Descending 100s

Make each swim faster than the one before while tired.

By Coach Evan Waechtler Youth coach (U11, Cache Valley, Utah) and founder of SSTracker Updated October 30, 2026

Set up

Swim 100 at an easy pace.

Core: As written. Aim for smooth form and compare only with your own last time.

Ages
14 and up
Time
20 min
Players
Just you
Space
Pool
Bring
Pool, pace clock
Level · skill
Advanced · Endurance

The steps

How it works

  1. Swim 100 at an easy pace.
  2. Rest 20 seconds, then swim the next one 2 seconds faster.
  3. Do 5 in a row getting faster.
  4. Rest 2 minutes and repeat the set.

Coaching point

Start honest so you can finish fast.

Safety: Only swim with a lifeguard or coach watching and, under 14, a grown-up within arm’s reach.

Make it fun

Play it, don't drill it

Game version

Pool-deck follow-the-leader: one person leads a dryland movement and the group copies. Swap the leader each time.

Challenge

Pick a level: Less (slower or smaller), Core (as written), More (one extra twist). Aim for smooth form and compare only with your own last time.

Story

You are an explorer crossing the pool deck like a jungle.

My best

Beat your own count

Aim for smooth form and compare only with your own last time. Only your own number counts: today against last time.

Practice makes progress

Print it now, or save it free

Free for families and teams

Save this drill to your child or team, free

Sign up and the free swimming week for this age opens in your child's planner, kept to healthy limits. A coach can send this drill to the whole team as homework, and parents see every session logged.

14 days free for a family, no card · Running a team is always free

Does your child's coach know about this?

An email from you to the coach, with the words ready. Nothing is tracked and nobody is rewarded.