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Basic Sculling Control

Small, continuous figure-of-eight hand movements that hold the body still on the back, then move it head-first – the foundation skill for swimming, water polo and artistic swimming.

Stages
Swimming – Stage 8, Water Polo – Stage 8, Artistic Swimming – Stage 8
Difficulty
Developing
Skills
Back Float, Sculling, Body Position, Body Control
Equipment
None, Float, Pull Buoy
Age
8–99 years
Group size
1–16 swimmers
Time
About 5 minutes
In a lesson
Introduction / Warm-up, Skill Development 1, Skill Development 2
Shared by
SwimShare Resource

Safety notes

  • Practise first where swimmers can stand; move to deeper water only with confident swimmers.
  • Space swimmers so they don't drift into each other.

What it develops

  • Relaxed sculling and treading
  • Tread water and start an eggbeater-style kick
  • Standard and support sculls

How to run it

  1. Float on the back with arms by the sides, hands near the hips just under the surface.
  2. Move the hands out and in with the palms turning – out with the thumbs slightly down, in with the little fingers slightly down – keeping the movement small.
  3. Hold the position on the spot for ten seconds without kicking.
  4. Tilt the wrists so the palms push slightly towards the feet and travel head-first for a width.
  5. Finish by sculling on the spot again, keeping the hips high.

Teaching cues

  • Small and continuous.
  • Hands stay near your hips.
  • Feel the pressure on your palms.
  • Hips up, toes at the surface.

Make it easier

  • Place a pull buoy or small float between the ankles.
  • Allow a gentle flutter kick at first.

Make it harder

  • Scull feet-first by tilting the palms the other way.
  • Hold the position with one leg lifted (bent knee) for a few seconds.

Common faults

  • Big, slow paddling movements.
  • Pushing water down so the hips sink.
  • Arms drift away from the body.

Corrections

  • 'Spread butter on bread – small and smooth.'
  • 'Push water towards your feet, not the floor.'
  • 'Elbows stay close to your sides.'

Assistant / L1 role

  • Place a float between the ankles of any swimmer the teacher selects for the easier version, and stand at the far wall to stop swimmers drifting into it head-first.

Helps with