Float Then Go
Swimmers start from a still star float and get moving into a swim – learning to go from resting to travelling without standing.
- Stages
- Stage 3
- Difficulty
- Developing
- Skills
- Back Float, Water Safety, Coordination
- Equipment
- None, Noodle
- Age
- 5–99 years
- Group size
- 1–10 swimmers
- Time
- About 4 minutes
- In a lesson
- Skill Development 1, Skill Development 2
- Shared by
- SwimShare Resource
Safety notes
- Keep swimmers near the side for the first attempts.
What it develops
- Swim about 10 metres on the front
- Swim about 10 metres on the back
- Use simple water safety skills
How to run it
- Swimmers take a star float on the back.
- On 'Go!', they bring the arms and legs in and start kicking and swimming on the back.
- Next time, float on the front and go into front swimming.
- Finally: swim, stop and float, then swim again.
Teaching cues
- Float still first.
- Kick to get going.
- No standing.
Make it easier
- Noodle during the float.
- Only back float to back swim.
Make it harder
- Float on the back, roll and swim on the front.
- Swim, float, swim for a full width.
Common faults
- Standing up to start swimming.
- Sinking as the float ends.
Corrections
- 'Kick first, then arms.'
- Start the kick before the float breaks up.
Assistant / L1 role
- Stand beside the swimmer during the float and give the 'Go!' so they start moving before they sink.