The Use of Active Games and Relay Races in the Physical Training of Swimmers of Mass-Level Ranks

Purpose. The aim of the study was to determine the effectiveness of using active games and relay races in the water during the training of swimmers holding mass-level sports ranks. Materials and methods: The study was conducted at the "Aqualife" swimming pool in Kharkiv, which provided the necessary conditions for the pedagogical experiment, testing, and monitoring of changes in the adolescents' physical fitness indicators. The work was carried out within the actual training process, enabling the integration of research objectives with practical swimming sessions. The study lasted six months, spanning the period from October 2025 to April 2026. It involved 20 adolescents aged 12–14 who engaged in regular swimming training and held mass-level sports classifications. To conduct the pedagogical experiment, the participants were divided into two groups – an experimental group and a control group – with 10 individuals in each. Factors such as age, gender, level of swimming proficiency, and general physical condition were taken into account when forming the groups. This ensured relative group homogeneity and allowed for a valid comparison of the changes in metrics following the completion of the pedagogical experiment. The following research methods were employed during data collection: theoretical analysis and synthesis of literature sources; pedagogical observations; pedagogical experiment; pedagogical testing; mathematical-statistical methods. Results. The findings convincingly demonstrate that the application of the experimental methodology contributed to a more pronounced and statistically significant improvement in the swimmers' physical fitness, particularly regarding speed, endurance, and competitive performance. Compared to the control group, the experimental group showed significantly better positive progress, confirming the effectiveness of the proposed training methods and the advisability of using them in the training of swimmers at mass-participation sports levels.Conclusions. Based on a theoretical analysis of scientific literature and a pedagogical experiment, the following generalized conclusions have been drawn: an analysis of specialized literature indicates that the limited use of games and the game-based method in the training of skilled swimmers stems, on the one hand, from an underestimation of their training potential and, on the other, from a lack of activity and initiative on the part of coaches; active water games should be employed not only as a means of developing physical qualities but also as an effective form of active recreation. It is game-based, emotionally engaging sessions that are most effective at reducing fatigue levels following intense training, whether in the water or on land; the study demonstrated the positive impact of a methodology incorporating active games and relay races in the water. A comparative analysis of quantitative changes in physical fitness indicators revealed positive trends in both the control and experimental groups. At the same time, the most pronounced improvement in physical fitness and athletic performance was observed among swimmers in the experimental group, confirming the effectiveness of incorporating game-based activities into the training process for young swimmers. Thus, active games are an important and scientifically grounded component of swimmers' physical training. Their systematic and methodologically sound use contributes to improving physical fitness, optimizing functional status, and fostering sustained motivation for swimming, which ultimately has a positive impact on athletic performance.