The most effective methods of instruction for developing ideal Canadian synchronized swimmers have not been studied in the past. Bunker and Thorpe's (1982) Teaching Games for Understanding Model has been traditionally used with open skill activities or games. However, in this research it was used as a model of indirect instruction for coaching the closed skill sport of synchronized swimming. The purpose of this project was to explore and describe the experience of synchronized swimmers who were exposed to indirect instruction in an effort to develop more effective methods of instruction for these athletes. In this study, indirect instruction involved the provision of guidelines for athletes and the structuring of practices around the judging criteria used to score performances in synchronized swimming. Data collection and triangulation for this qualitative case study involved the use of athlete journals, a coach journal, coach observation notes, and interviews with athletes over a 4-month period. Three athletes (aged 14, 15, and 21 years old) from a nine-member synchronized swimming team were tracked during the pre-competitive phase of their year. The research revealed that indirect instruction is an important instructional strategy that should be employed in the closed skill sport of synchronized swimming. The several different themes that emerged from the data analysis (i.e., team cohesion, team diversity, team unity, team support, and team leadership) were differentially influenced by the indirect instruction. Team cohesion influenced the effectiveness of the indirect instruction to the greatest extent in this research. The athletes were able to see their actions in context and evaluate their own performances at the conclusion of this study suggesting that indirect instruction can be used in a closed skill sport such as synchronized swimming. The results have been used as a guideline by the coach in this research project for restructuring future practice sessions for more emphasis on indirect instruction.Keyword(s): aquatics, athletics/sports, coaching