WARM-UP ACTIVITIES

Warm-up activities are essential to help children with visual impairments develop confidence, independence, and orientation skills in the aquatic environment. These games are not only fun but also build auditory response, breath control, tactile awareness, and spatial orientation.

1. Sound Games

Purpose: To improve auditory response, spatial awareness, and reaction time in a fun, engaging way.

Setup:

• Swimmers stand or float in the shallow end of the pool.
• Coach uses various sound cues (claps, whistle, beeper, music, voice) to signal movements.

Basic Instructions (you can modify as needed):

• Clap Once – Swimmers take 3-5 strokes forward.
• Clap Twice – Swimmers practice a controlled push backward.
• Whistle – Turn Around (180° spin).
• Listen to music – Fast song = swim fast, Slow song = swim slowly.

• “Coach Says Stop” – Swimmers freeze in place.

Progression & Variation:

• Combine sounds for more complex sequences (e.g., “clap twice, whistle” = turn, then move forward).
• Use a beeping ball to incorporate tracking skills.

2. Sinking Games

Purpose: To develop underwater confidence, breath control, and tactile search ability using plastic circles or weighted objects, or similar.

Setup:

• Use plastic rings, soft dive sticks, or textured objects in shallow water.
• Drop them randomly in the pool.
• Give verbal directional cues (e.g., “left,” “right,” “forward”) to help guide swimmers.

How to Play:

1. The swimmer takes a deep breath.
2. Submerges and searches the pool floor by touch.
3. Finds and retrieves the object.
4. Surfaces and returns the object to the instructor.

3. Marco Polo (Adapted)

Purpose: To develop auditory tracking, spatial awareness and orientation, and confidence.

Setup:

• Children are spaced out in the pool.
• One swimmer is designated as “Marco” and holds a pool noodle and tries to catch the other children by listening to the sound they make with a sound ball.

How to Play:

• “Marco” calls out “Marco!”
• Other players respond by shaking a sound ball or shouting “Polo!”. If no sound balls are available, players can clap or splash gently.
• Using sound cues, Marco locates and tags another player.
• The tagged player becomes the next Marco, and the game continues.

Key Takeaways for Teachers:

• Use clear, consistent cues and repeat instructions if needed.
• Incorporate music, tactile tools, and sound devices to vary stimulation.
• Emphasize safety, fun, and encouragement to build trust and independence.