Game version
Eyes-up swim-and-pass: swim a short distance with the ball in front and pass it to a partner. Swap, with a coach watching.
Look-Up Every Third Stroke
Swim freestyle and lift your eyes every third stroke so you learn to watch the play.
By Coach Evan Waechtler Youth coach (U11, Cache Valley, Utah) and founder of SSTracker Updated October 30, 2026
Set up
Swim easy freestyle.
Core: Medium. Beat only your own smooth control.
- Ages
- 7 and up
- Time
- 8 min
- Space
- Pool
- Bring
- Pool
- Level · skill
- Beginner · Swimming
The steps
How it works
- Swim easy freestyle.
- Every third stroke, lift your eyes forward like a crocodile.
- Tell your coach how many fingers they held up at the end.
- Do 6 lengths.
Coaching point
Peek, then swim.
Safety: Swim only 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
Challenge
Pick a level: Less (short), Core (medium), More (a little longer). Beat only your own smooth control.
Story
You are a ship carrying treasure across the harbor.
My best
Beat your own count
Beat only your own smooth control. 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 water polo 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.
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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.