Pencil Jump
A straight feet-first jump out from the edge – arms by the sides, legs together, toes pointed – the basic diving entry shape.
- Stages
- Diving – Stage 8
- Difficulty
- Beginner
- Skills
- Jump Entry, Body Control, Diving Entry
- Equipment
- Floating Toys
- Age
- 8–99 years
- Group size
- 1–14 swimmers
- Time
- About 5 minutes
- In a lesson
- Introduction / Warm-up, Skill Development 1, Skill Development 2
- Shared by
- SwimShare Resource
Safety notes
- Feet-first only, into water deep enough for jumping under your pool's rules; area checked clear; one at a time.
What it develops
- Controlled feet-first jumps into deep water
- Hold a tight, streamlined body shape
How to run it
- Stand with toes curled over the edge in the marked deep-water area.
- After the clear water check, step or jump out (not up and back) so the body travels away from the wall.
- Hold a pencil shape: arms by the sides, legs together, toes pointed, head level.
- Enter feet-first, let the water slow you, then look up and kick to the surface and swim away.
Teaching cues
- Jump out, away from the wall.
- Straight like a pencil.
- Toes pointed, legs squeezed.
Make it easier
- Step in rather than jump.
- Sit on the edge and push off feet-first.
Make it harder
- Arms above the head in a pencil (hands together).
- Hold the shape until the head is under.
Common faults
- Jumping too close to the wall.
- Arms flapping.
- Legs apart or knees bent.
Corrections
- 'Jump to the cone in the water.'
- 'Glue your arms to your sides.'
- 'Squeeze your knees.'
Assistant / L1 role
- Place and hold a floating target a safe distance from the wall to show where to jump to, and confirm the area is clear before each go.