Distance Ladder
Swimmers climb a ladder of distances without buoyancy aids – 3, 5, 7 and 10 metres – building stamina and independence.
- Stages
- Stage 3, Stage 4
- Difficulty
- Developing
- Skills
- Water Confidence, Forward Travel, Backward Travel, Endurance & Pace
- Equipment
- Float
- Age
- 5–99 years
- Group size
- 1–12 swimmers
- Time
- About 6 minutes
- In a lesson
- Skill Development 1, Skill Development 2
- Shared by
- SwimShare Resource
Safety notes
- Rungs should be along the side of the pool so swimmers can reach the wall.
What it develops
- Swim about 10 metres on the front
- Swim about 10 metres on the back
- Build continuous swimming distance
How to run it
- Mark distances with floats or poolside markers.
- Swimmers attempt the first rung (3 m) on the front without aids.
- When they complete a rung twice, they move up.
- Repeat on the back.
Teaching cues
- Steady, not fast.
- Breathe and keep going.
- Rest on your back if you need to.
Make it easier
- Start the ladder at 2 m.
- Allow a noodle on the top rung only.
Make it harder
- Add a rung at 15 m.
- Use a set stroke for each rung.
Common faults
- Sprinting and running out of breath.
- Standing to breathe.
Corrections
- 'Slow swimmers go further.'
- Teach rolling onto the back to rest.
Assistant / L1 role
- Record each swimmer's rung on a chart and walk alongside swimmers attempting a new rung.