Sharks and Lifeguards
Sharks try to tag swimmers crossing the pool; lifeguards can free tagged swimmers by swimming to them.
- Stages
- Stage 3
- Difficulty
- Developing
- Skills
- Water Confidence, Forward Travel, Back Float
- Equipment
- None, Float
- Age
- 6–12 years
- Group size
- 6–16 swimmers
- Time
- About 6 minutes
- In a lesson
- Game / Consolidation
- Shared by
- SwimShare Resource
Safety notes
- Standing depth; keep numbers small enough to watch.
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
- Two or three swimmers are sharks in the middle; one or two are lifeguards.
- The rest swim across the width on the front or back.
- Tagged swimmers float on their backs until a lifeguard taps them free.
- Rotate roles each round.
Teaching cues
- Swim with your face in.
- Float while you wait.
- Lifeguards swim, don't walk.
Make it easier
- Crossers may use floats.
- Sharks walk.
Make it harder
- Crossers must use a named stroke.
- Tagged swimmers tread water or scull instead of floating.
Common faults
- Everyone walking on the floor.
- Rough tagging.
Corrections
- Walkers become sharks.
- Tag with a light touch on the shoulder only.
Assistant / L1 role
- Play as a lifeguard and head for swimmers who have been floating longest.