Tread and Talk
Swimmers tread water while answering questions or playing a word game – they learn to stay relaxed long enough to talk.
- Stages
- Stage 4, Stage 5, Stage 6, Stage 7
- Difficulty
- Developing
- Skills
- Water Safety, Treading Water
- Equipment
- None, Noodle
- Age
- 6–99 years
- Group size
- 3–10 swimmers
- Time
- About 4 minutes
- In a lesson
- Introduction / Warm-up, Skill Development 1, Skill Development 2, Game / Consolidation, Recap / Safe Exit
- Shared by
- SwimShare Resource
Safety notes
- Deep water: swimmers stay within reach of the wall or a helper, with a noodle or float ready.
What it develops
- Tread water for a short time
- Know how to stay safe and help others safely
- Tread water efficiently
- Use floating and signalling for self-rescue
- Scull and tread water with control
- Apply self-rescue and water safety knowledge
- Tread water and scull efficiently for longer
- Water safety and rescue awareness
How to run it
- Swimmers tread water in a circle in deep water.
- Teacher asks each swimmer a question in turn (favourite animal, a pool rule).
- Everyone keeps treading while they listen and answer.
- Build from 30 seconds to longer periods.
Teaching cues
- Stay relaxed.
- Slow legs.
- Talk and breathe.
Make it easier
- Hold a noodle loosely.
- Shorter rounds.
Make it harder
- One hand out of the water while answering.
- Longer rounds with harder questions.
Common faults
- Holding breath while talking.
- Kicking faster when anxious.
Corrections
- Remind swimmers that slow is easier.
- Give a rest at the wall between rounds.
Assistant / L1 role
- Keep a noodle ready and watch for anyone tiring; offer it early.