Home › Stage 6

Over the Noodle Dive

A noodle floats a short distance out; swimmers dive over it – encourages pushing out to a shallow, safe entry angle.

Stages
Stage 6, Stage 7
Difficulty
Advanced
Skills
Streamlining, Starts
Equipment
Noodle
Age
8–99 years
Group size
1–10 swimmers
Time
About 5 minutes
In a lesson
Skill Development 1, Skill Development 2
Shared by
SwimShare Resource

Safety notes

  • Only in water deep enough for diving under your pool's operating procedures, with a clear area in front.
  • One swimmer at a time; arms always extended over the head on entry. Never dive into shallow water.
  • Use a soft noodle only; never a hoop or hard object.

What it develops

  • Streamlined starts from the side
  • Starts suited to each stroke

How to run it

  1. Place a noodle on the surface about a body-length from the edge.
  2. Swimmers crouch or stand and dive over the noodle.
  3. Enter streamlined and glide beneath the surface.
  4. Move the noodle slightly further as they improve.

Teaching cues

  • Push out.
  • Over the noodle.
  • Streamline in.

Make it easier

  • From kneeling.
  • Noodle closer.

Make it harder

  • Standing dive over the noodle.
  • Hold the glide to the next marker.

Common faults

  • Diving steeply down after the noodle.
  • Landing flat.

Corrections

  • 'Over, then in – like jumping a puddle.'
  • Look at the far side of the noodle.

Assistant / L1 role

  • Hold and reposition the noodle, and keep the landing area clear.

Helps with