Reverse Parking
Swimmers walk backwards to 'park' in a space, building safe backward travel.
- Stages
- Stage 1
- Difficulty
- Beginner
- Skills
- Water Confidence, Backward Travel
- Equipment
- Floating Toys, Hoops
- Age
- 3–9 years
- Group size
- 2–12 swimmers
- Time
- About 4 minutes
- In a lesson
- Introduction / Warm-up, Game / Consolidation
- Shared by
- SwimShare Resource
Safety notes
- Keep the parking area in standing depth and clear of the wall edge.
What it develops
- Move backwards about 5 metres
How to run it
- Scatter floating hoops or toys as 'parking spaces'.
- Swimmers walk backwards, looking over one shoulder, to reach a space.
- Use arms to push water forwards to help move backwards.
- When parked, they 'beep' and choose a new space.
Teaching cues
- Look over your shoulder.
- Push the water away from you in front.
- Small steps, stay balanced.
Make it easier
- Travel backwards along the wall holding it with one hand.
Make it harder
- Lie back on a noodle and kick into the space.
- Park without looking, using the teacher's directions.
Common faults
- Not looking and bumping into others.
- Leaning too far back and losing footing.
Corrections
- Give a 'check your mirror' cue to look over the shoulder.
- Keep shoulders over hips.
Assistant / L1 role
- Act as the 'parking attendant', guiding swimmers who lose balance.