Home › Artistic Swimming – Stage 8
Starfish to Pencil Float
Change slowly between a wide starfish float and a narrow pencil float on the back, feeling how body shape changes balance.
- Stages
- Artistic Swimming – Stage 8
- Difficulty
- Beginner
- Skills
- Buoyancy, Back Float, Body Control
- Equipment
- None, Float
- Age
- 8–99 years
- Group size
- 1–20 swimmers
- Time
- About 4 minutes
- In a lesson
- Introduction / Warm-up, Skill Development 1
- Shared by
- SwimShare Resource
Safety notes
- Practise where swimmers can stand; leave space so wide shapes don't touch others.
What it develops
- Float and balance in different positions
- Basic body positions
How to run it
- Float on the back in a starfish – arms and legs wide, ears in the water, tummy up.
- On a slow count of four, close arms and legs into a pencil shape with arms by the sides.
- Hold the pencil for four counts, then open back to a starfish for four counts.
- Repeat three times; swimmers notice where the legs want to sink and how sculling hands can help.
Teaching cues
- Ears in, tummy up.
- Move slowly on the counts.
- Long body, pointed toes.
Make it easier
- Hold a float under the head or have a partner support at the shoulders.
- Allow small sculling movements to stay balanced.
Make it harder
- Do it on the front, lifting the face to breathe between shapes.
- Hold the pencil with arms extended above the head.
Common faults
- Head lifts so the hips sink.
- Rushing the change of shape.
Corrections
- 'Look at the ceiling, not your toes.'
- 'Count slowly – one, two, three, four.'
Assistant / L1 role
- Count the four-beat changes aloud for the group and support at the shoulders any swimmer the teacher identifies, removing support gradually when directed.