Float to Survive
Swimmers learn to rest in a back star float for 30 seconds or more, with small hand movements to stay balanced.
- Stages
- Stage 3, Stage 4, Stage 5, Stage 6
- Difficulty
- Developing
- Skills
- Back Float, Water Safety, Sculling
- Equipment
- None, Noodle
- Age
- 5–99 years
- Group size
- 1–12 swimmers
- Time
- About 4 minutes
- In a lesson
- Skill Development 1, Skill Development 2, Recap / Safe Exit
- Shared by
- SwimShare Resource
Safety notes
- Monitor swimmers closely – some get cold or anxious when still.
What it develops
- Use simple water safety skills
- Know how to stay safe and help others safely
- Use floating and signalling for self-rescue
- Float and rest to save energy
How to run it
- Talk about why floating is important if you fall in unexpectedly.
- Swimmers lie back into a wide star float, ears in.
- Use small hand sculls to stay balanced if needed.
- Build from 10 to 30 seconds, then roll over and swim to the side.
Teaching cues
- Lean back, ears in.
- Arms and legs wide.
- Breathe slowly.
Make it easier
- Noodle under the knees.
- Shorter float with assistant nearby.
Make it harder
- Float in slightly choppy water (partners make small waves).
- Float in a T-shirt.
Common faults
- Head lifting to look at the teacher.
- Frantic hand movements.
Corrections
- Tell them you'll count – they just need to look up.
- 'Slow hands, like stroking a cat.'
Assistant / L1 role
- Keep time and move between floaters, quietly reminding any who lift their heads to put their ears back in.