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Cross-Training Ride or Swim

Build stamina with a different activity: a steady bike ride or swim. Gives the legs a break from pounding.

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

Set up

Choose a ride on a safe path with a helmet, or a supervised swim.

Core: 25. Easy and steady.

Ages
10 to 14
Time
30 min
Players
Just you
Space
Pool
Bring
Bike and helmet, or pool with a lifeguard
Level · skill
Developing · Conditioning

The steps

How it works

  1. Choose a ride on a safe path with a helmet, or a supervised swim.
  2. Go at a steady, chatty pace.
  3. Keep going for 20 to 30 minutes with breaks as needed.
  4. Note how you felt for next time.

Coaching point

Steady and enjoyable.

Safety: Wear a helmet on a bike. Swim only where a lifeguard or adult is watching and, under 14, a grown-up is within arm’s reach. Stop if you feel unwell.

Make it fun

Play it, don't drill it

Game version

Adventure ride: pick a route with a friend or a parent, give it a name and plan a fun stop along the way.

Challenge

Choose a time: Less (15 minutes), Core (25), More (35). Easy and steady.

Story

You are an explorer discovering a new trail.

My best

Beat your own count

Easy and steady. 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 wrestling 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

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