Deep Water Confidence Ladder
A step-by-step route into deep water: hold the wall, let go for a count, turn and swim back – each rung builds trust.
- Stages
- Stage 4, Stage 5
- Difficulty
- Beginner
- Skills
- Water Confidence, Treading Water
- Equipment
- Noodle
- Age
- 6–99 years
- Group size
- 1–6 swimmers
- Time
- About 5 minutes
- In a lesson
- Introduction / Warm-up, Skill Development 1, Skill Development 2
- 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
How to run it
- Rung 1: hold the wall in deep water, kicking gently.
- Rung 2: let go for a count of 3, then hold on.
- Rung 3: push away a metre, turn and swim back.
- Rung 4: swim along the wall a few metres and back.
Teaching cues
- Wall is always there.
- Breathe slowly.
- Turn and come home.
Make it easier
- Stay on rung 1 or 2 with a noodle.
- Helper in the water.
Make it harder
- Tread water for 10 seconds on rung 4.
- Jump in and swim back (Deep Water Jump and Tread).
Common faults
- Grabbing the wall tightly and not letting go.
- Swimming away from the wall in a panic.
Corrections
- Stay on a rung until it feels easy.
- Count out loud together.
Assistant / L1 role
- Be in the water beside the swimmer on their current rung and give quiet encouragement.