Noodle Horse Race
Swimmers 'ride' a noodle and gallop or kick forwards – a fun way to get feet off the floor.
- Stages
- Stage 1
- Difficulty
- Beginner
- Skills
- Water Confidence, Forward Travel, Buoyancy, Front Kick
- Equipment
- Noodle, Floating Toys
- Age
- 3–9 years
- Group size
- 2–12 swimmers
- Time
- About 5 minutes
- In a lesson
- Introduction / Warm-up, Game / Consolidation
- Shared by
- SwimShare Resource
Safety notes
- Noodles are buoyancy aids, not life-savers – stay within standing depth.
What it develops
- Move forwards about 5 metres
How to run it
- Each swimmer puts a noodle between their legs like a horse, holding the front end.
- Start by walking and bouncing forwards along the pool.
- Progress to lifting the feet and kicking or cycling the legs to move forwards.
- Race to the other side or around a floating toy and back.
Teaching cues
- Lean slightly forwards.
- Keep your legs moving – little fast kicks.
- Chin on the water surface, not up high.
Make it easier
- Walk the horse with feet on the floor.
- Assistant pulls the front of the noodle.
Make it harder
- Travel backwards by kicking the other way.
- Let go of the noodle with one hand and pull the water.
Common faults
- Sitting up too straight so the swimmer tips backwards.
- Legs still, feet dragging.
Corrections
- 'Lean forwards like a jockey'.
- Count kicks out loud to keep the legs busy.
Assistant / L1 role
- Hold the end of the noodle for nervous riders and walk them forwards, letting go for short spells.