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Toes Over the Edge Stance

Set up a stable diving stance at the edge – toes curled over, feet hip-width, knees soft, arms in the grab above the head – and hold it before any entry.

Stages
Diving – Stage 8, Diving – Stage 9, Diving – Stage 10
Difficulty
Beginner
Skills
Body Control, Take-Off
Equipment
None
Age
8–99 years
Group size
1–14 swimmers
Time
About 3 minutes
In a lesson
Introduction / Warm-up, Skill Development 1
Shared by
SwimShare Resource

Safety notes

  • Practise at a dry, non-slip edge in the agreed deep-water area; no entry until the go signal.

What it develops

  • Early head-first entries where depth allows
  • Balanced stance and controlled take-off

How to run it

  1. Stand at the marked deep-water spot with toes curled over the edge and feet hip-width apart.
  2. Arms up in the flat hand grab, ears squeezed, chin slightly tucked.
  3. Hold still for a count of three: no wobbling, weight over the balls of the feet.
  4. Step back and repeat; then use the stance for jumps and (where allowed) dives.

Teaching cues

  • Toes curled over the edge.
  • Weight on the balls of your feet.
  • Still for three.

Make it easier

  • Arms by the sides while finding balance.

Make it harder

  • Rise onto the toes and hold for three, then lower.

Common faults

  • Feet too close together.
  • Leaning forward and overbalancing.

Corrections

  • 'Feet under your hips.'
  • 'Stand tall, then go.'

Assistant / L1 role

  • Stand beside the edge (back from it) and check each swimmer's foot position before the teacher gives the signal.

Helps with