Sculling Boat Race
A head-first race on the back using hands only – builds sculling propulsion and a flat back position.
- Stages
- Stage 3, Stage 4, Stage 5
- Difficulty
- Developing
- Skills
- Backward Travel, Sculling
- Equipment
- None, Noodle
- Age
- 6–99 years
- Group size
- 2–10 swimmers
- Time
- About 4 minutes
- In a lesson
- Game / Consolidation
- Shared by
- SwimShare Resource
Safety notes
- Swimmers travel head-first and can't see – keep lanes clear and someone at the finish.
What it develops
- Swim about 10 metres on the back
- Use simple water safety skills
- Scull to support and to travel
- Scull with control in different positions
How to run it
- Swimmers lie on the back with their head pointing towards the finish line.
- Arms by the sides, hands sculling with palms pushing towards the feet.
- Race across the width – legs must stay still.
- Rematch with a noodle held between the knees to stop kicking.
Teaching cues
- Hands push to your toes.
- Legs are asleep.
- Tummy up.
Make it easier
- Noodle under the arms.
- Half-width race.
Make it harder
- Scull feet-first by changing the hand angle.
- Longer race.
Common faults
- Kicking to cheat.
- Sitting up to look where they're going.
Corrections
- Noodle between the knees keeps legs still.
- The assistant calls out when they're near the finish.
Assistant / L1 role
- Stand at the finish line and call each swimmer's name as they approach so they don't hit the wall.