Backwards Down the Steps
Teaches swimmers to use the pool steps facing the rail – the safest way in for nervous beginners.
- Stages
- Stage 1
- Difficulty
- Beginner
- Skills
- Water Confidence, Safe Entry, Safe Exit
- Equipment
- Floating Toys
- Age
- 3–99 years
- Group size
- 1–10 swimmers
- Time
- About 3 minutes
- In a lesson
- Introduction / Warm-up, Recap / Safe Exit
- Shared by
- SwimShare Resource
Safety notes
- Steps can be slippery; walk, never run, on poolside.
- Check the bottom step depth is suitable for the smallest swimmer.
What it develops
- Enter the water safely
- Exit the water safely
How to run it
- Line swimmers up at the top of the steps.
- One at a time they turn to face the steps, hold both rails and climb down backwards like a ladder.
- At the bottom they keep one hand on the rail until they have found their balance.
- They then walk to a marked spot (e.g. a floating toy) to make space for the next swimmer.
Teaching cues
- Face the steps, hold both rails.
- One step at a time, feet flat.
- Move away from the bottom so others can get in.
Make it easier
- Assistant stands at the bottom and gives a hand for the last step.
- Allow swimmers to sit on each step on the way down.
Make it harder
- Ask swimmers to use the steps at the deeper end with an assistant waiting.
- Add a challenge: walk to the toy, pick it up, and bring it back.
Common faults
- Walking down forwards and slipping.
- Crowding on the steps.
Corrections
- Put a sticker or toy on the rail as a 'hold here' marker.
- Only one swimmer on the steps at a time – use a 'your turn' signal.
Assistant / L1 role
- Wait at the bottom of the steps and offer a steadying hand, then guide each swimmer to the waiting spot.