Jump, Float, Signal
A full water safety sequence: jump in, float on the back to calm down, signal for help, then swim to the side.
- Stages
- Stage 3
- Difficulty
- Developing
- Skills
- Back Float, Water Safety, Jump Entry
- Equipment
- None, Noodle
- Age
- 6–99 years
- Group size
- 1–8 swimmers
- Time
- About 5 minutes
- In a lesson
- Skill Development 1, Skill Development 2, Recap / Safe Exit
- Shared by
- SwimShare Resource
Safety notes
- Depth appropriate to each swimmer.
- Make clear the help signal is only for real emergencies outside of practice.
What it develops
- Jump in safely and return to the side
- Use simple water safety skills
How to run it
- Swimmer jumps in and surfaces.
- They lie back into a star float and take three calm breaths.
- They raise one arm, wave and shout 'Help!'.
- Then roll over and swim back to the side and exit.
Teaching cues
- Float first, fight later.
- Three calm breaths.
- Wave one arm, shout loud.
Make it easier
- Slide in instead of jumping.
- Float holding a noodle.
Make it harder
- Scull while signalling to stay afloat.
- Swim 5 metres before reaching the side.
Common faults
- Skipping the float and splashing to the side.
- Waving both arms and sinking.
Corrections
- Explain why floating comes first: it stops panic and saves energy.
- 'One arm helps you float, one arm waves.'
Assistant / L1 role
- Stay a short distance from each swimmer during the float and signal stage, ready to help but letting them complete the sequence.