Music & Creative Movement Games

Now here comes the really fun part. Here are some games to help synchronized swimmers of all ages and abilities get the creative juices flowing and get out of their bubble!

I am going to focus on these games being in water however most can be adapted to be on land as well!

Try putting everything and anything to music, if that dynamic warm up, swimming laps, or drills. It make it more fun for competitive athletes, and it helps younger athleteslearn how counting a phrasing works.

The Not Only Animal Game

Ages 5+, 1+ People

Land and water activity

No equipment

As coaches, especially at a recreation level, I think this is usually a go-to game when it comes to creative movement. Do we use it too much? Probably. But, if you are adapting it enough then that isn't a bad thing.

The animal game is essentially charades. The 'classic' version is that we ask the swimmers to think of an animal, and act it out while the others guess. Even right there I make a few adjustments to the game:

-I get the swimmers to practice first. The point is to get them to move creatively so give them time to try it out. I usually get them to do a lap, or to the 3rd line and back as their animal.

-I don't let them do dolphins. Everyone does dolphins.

From that basic version of the animal game you can make a few adjustments, either they do it on the surface or under water. Try both. They are still animals so you haven't changed much yet.

I personally like doing underwater animals next. How does a squid move? Jelly fish? Seahorse? Sooo much fun! Again I don't like using dolphins, and sometimes I take out types of 'fish' all together. They aren't really moving differently if they are a clown fish vs a goldfish.

So here are some variations on the animal game:

-BRANCH OUT FROM ANIMALS!!!! Try other things. Some of my faviorts are: Natural disastors, forms of transportation, emotions.

-Again, try the same theme but do it underwater

-Do it in groups. You can do pairs or bigger! How would you make a snake if you had to be connected with someone?

Private Dance Party

Ages 5+, 1+ People

Land or Water Activity

Music needed

This is a really simple activity. Have all the swimmers find their own space and play music. Change the music ever 30 seconds or so. They should change the way they are moving.

This isn't ment to be techical at all, it is expressive. Allow the athletes to move and feel the music. Encourage them to close their eyes and discourage them from watching eachother.

Counting Game

Ages 5-10, 2+ People

Land or Water Activity

Music needed

This game is for recreational athletes and works on counting to music.

Practice just counting to the music by clapping and counting out loud to 8.

Have the group do a move (I usually jump) on every count 1 in the music. Get them to try this while moving around the pool or moving in a pattern.

Make it more difficult by adding in something to do on count 5 (I usually pick a turn). Again try outting the count one and count 5 move together while moving around pool or in a pattern (or both)

You can add on as many different counts as you would like!

Make sure to pick music with a strong beat.

Shapes Game

Ages 5-12, 1+ People

Land or Water Activity

No Equipment

This is a great game for recreational athletes, and could be used for older athletes as well if modified.

Have athletes go out in pool and find their own space. Call out different number, letters and shapes for them to try to make while floating on their back. Some examples are: T, X, 6, Star, Circle, i, O, P

Variations:

-Try this upside-down. Athletes have to make shape with legs.

-Try this with a Partner or group.

The Not so Basic Experimental

Ages 6+, 1+ People

Land and Water activity

No equipement, Can use Props and Music

And again, another go-to Creative movement exercise. Usually what happens is we put a song on repeate and let small groups come up with a routine. Again, nothing is wrong with that! Here are some ways to spice it up.

Variations:

-Remember you can always change the group size. Is it a solo experimental, duet, trio?

-Add a prop, or for a group number, add more then one. Do they always have to be touching the prop? What different things can they do with it?

-Add focus. What are you looking for? A creative way into a figure? An arm section? If they have been working on their back layouts make sure that is a requirement to their experimental.

-Give them a picture. Have them base their routine around that

-Give them a word, have them base their routine around that.

Underwater Dance Party

Ages 5+, 2+ People

Water Activity

Music needed

An underwater dance party is pretty much just that!

Allow the swimmers to have fun and interact with eachother. They can come up to breath when ever needed but the point is to be dancing underwater.

Change the music every 30 seconds or so and hopefully they will change the way they are moving. Try to give little to no direction and let them experiment on their own.

Circle Dance Party

Ages 7+, 5+ People

Water Activity

Music needed

This activity is really about the athletes getting inside the circle and outside of their own bubble.

Have the swimmers get into a circle. One at a time, call an athlete into the middle of the circle. You can change the song everytime a new athlete goes in.

The athlete in the middle of the circle is doing everything on the surface and upright (no ballet legs or figures). They are working on using the music, presenting, and connecting with the audience that is surounding them.

Make sure that everyone gets a turn in the middle of the circle.

For larger and/or younger groups, you can put two people in the middle at once.

Body Boost Game

Ages 5+, 3+ People

Land or Water Activity

Music needed

For recreational athletes do this in the shallow end. For competitive athletes do this in the deepend.

Get the group into a circle. One person does a creative body boost. Then everyone tries that body boost. Then the next person does a creative body boost, and everyone tries it. Keep going until everyone has had a turn.

I would suggest doing this to music and doing a body boost on every count 1.

Movement Laps

Ages 5+, 1+ People

Land or Water Activity

No Equipment

This game works for all ages and abilities and is a great simple way to get athletes out of their shell.

Have the athletes work on their own and call out different ways for they to swim across the pool.

Some examples are:

-Swim like you are on fire

-Swim like you are swimming through a pool of Jello

-Swim keeping your elbow dry

-Swim like you are a giant

-Swim while spelling out the Alphabet with your body