Jack-in-the-Box
Rhythmic bobbing: swimmers crouch down, blow bubbles, then spring up – builds breathing rhythm and submersion.
- Stages
- Stage 1
- Difficulty
- Developing
- Skills
- Aquatic Breathing, Submersion
- Equipment
- None
- Age
- 4–99 years
- Group size
- 1–12 swimmers
- Time
- About 3 minutes
- In a lesson
- Introduction / Warm-up, Skill Development 1, Skill Development 2
- Shared by
- SwimShare Resource
Safety notes
- Keep this in standing depth; stop if a swimmer becomes dizzy.
What it develops
- Be comfortable with water over the head
- Blow bubbles with mouth and nose in the water
How to run it
- Swimmers stand holding the wall or a partner's hands.
- On 'down', they bend knees and put mouth (or face) in, blowing bubbles.
- On 'up', they spring up and take a breath.
- Repeat for 5 bobs, keeping a steady rhythm.
Teaching cues
- Blow out on the way down, breathe in at the top.
- Bend the knees, don't bend at the waist.
- Keep a steady rhythm – down, up, down, up.
Make it easier
- Bob only to chin depth.
- Hold the wall with both hands.
Make it harder
- Full head under each time.
- 10 bobs without stopping.
Common faults
- Holding breath under the water and gasping at the top.
- Bending forwards at the waist.
Corrections
- Hum on the way down.
- 'Sit in a chair' to go down.
Assistant / L1 role
- Hold hands with a swimmer and bob together, face to face.