Supported Jump-In
A step-by-step progression to a first jump-in, with a helper in the water, for swimmers ready to go beyond a seated entry.
- Stages
- Stage 1
- Difficulty
- Advanced
- Skills
- Water Confidence, Safe Entry, Submersion
- Equipment
- Hoops
- Age
- 4–12 years
- Group size
- 1–8 swimmers
- Time
- About 5 minutes
- In a lesson
- Introduction / Warm-up, Skill Development 1, Skill Development 2
- Shared by
- SwimShare Resource
Safety notes
- Only in water of known, suitable depth with no one in the landing area.
- Never force a reluctant swimmer to jump – return to the seated stage.
- Check your pool's operating procedures for jump entries.
What it develops
- Enter the water safely
How to run it
- Swimmers stand at the edge with toes curled over. Check the depth is suitable.
- Stage 1: sit on the edge and push off gently into the teacher's or assistant's hands.
- Stage 2: crouch on the edge and hop in holding the helper's hands.
- Stage 3: stand and jump in holding one hand, landing on both feet.
- Swimmers turn straight back to the wall and hold on after every jump.
Teaching cues
- Toes over the edge, look forwards, not down.
- Jump out, not up – land on two feet.
- Straight back to the wall afterwards.
Make it easier
- Stay at the seated push-off for as long as needed.
- Let the swimmer hold both of the helper's hands.
Make it harder
- Jump in unaided to a float held by the teacher.
- Jump and blow bubbles as soon as they land.
Common faults
- Leaning back and slipping off the edge.
- Jumping upward and landing off balance.
Corrections
- Remind swimmers to look at the helper's face, not their feet.
- Mark a landing spot with a floating hoop.
Assistant / L1 role
- The assistant stands in the water, receives the swimmer's hands and moves back as confidence grows so the jump gets a little longer each time.