Jellyfish Float
A tucked mushroom float that lets swimmers feel the water lifting them up.
- Stages
- Stage 1
- Difficulty
- Developing
- Skills
- Submersion, Buoyancy, Front Float
- Equipment
- None
- Age
- 5–99 years
- Group size
- 1–8 swimmers
- Time
- About 4 minutes
- In a lesson
- Skill Development 1, Skill Development 2
- Shared by
- SwimShare Resource
Safety notes
- Only for swimmers already happy with their face in the water.
- Watch closely – swimmers are briefly unable to see.
What it develops
- Blow bubbles with mouth and nose in the water
- Float on the front with support
- Return to standing from a float
How to run it
- Swimmers stand in chest-deep water, take a breath and put their face in.
- They bend their knees, hug them to the chest and let their back float to the surface like a jellyfish.
- Hold for 3 seconds, blowing bubbles slowly.
- Let go of the knees, put the feet down and stand up.
Teaching cues
- Big breath in first – air helps you float.
- Hug your knees, chin on your chest.
- Relax and let the water lift you.
Make it easier
- Hold the wall with one hand and lift only one knee.
- Assistant supports under the back.
Make it harder
- Open out from jellyfish to starfish, then back to jellyfish.
Common faults
- Letting all the air out straight away and sinking.
- Head coming up before feet are down.
Corrections
- Hold the breath for a count of 3 before blowing slowly.
- 'Feet down first, then head up.'
Assistant / L1 role
- Stay within arm's reach and gently tap the swimmer's back when it's time to stand.