Forward Roll in the Water
A tucked forward somersault in the water – the safe way to feel forward rotation long before any rotation in the air.
- Stages
- Diving – Stage 8, Diving – Stage 9
- Difficulty
- Beginner
- Skills
- Submersion, Body Control, Diving Rotation
- Equipment
- None, Noodle
- Age
- 8–99 years
- Group size
- 1–16 swimmers
- Time
- About 4 minutes
- In a lesson
- Introduction / Warm-up, Skill Development 1, Skill Development 2
- Shared by
- SwimShare Resource
Safety notes
- Deep enough that heads can't touch the floor; space around each swimmer; no breath-holding challenges.
What it develops
- Early rotation awareness
How to run it
- In water about chest depth or deeper, push gently forward into a glide.
- Tuck the chin and knees and pull the hands back and up to roll forwards.
- Breathe out gently through the nose as you roll.
- Finish standing or in a glide; repeat and try to finish facing the same way you started.
Teaching cues
- Chin to chest.
- Tight ball.
- Hum out through your nose.
Make it easier
- Roll over a noodle held across the water by the teacher.
Make it harder
- Roll and go straight into a streamlined push-off.
Common faults
- Rolling sideways.
- Opening too early.
- Water up the nose.
Corrections
- 'Look at your tummy.'
- 'Stay small until you're round.'
- 'Gentle bubbles out.'
Assistant / L1 role
- Hold a noodle across the water for the easier version, as directed by the teacher, and keep spacing between swimmers.