Duckling Line
Swimmers follow the 'mother duck' across the pool on their backs, practising steady back travel in a line.
- Stages
- Stage 2
- Difficulty
- Beginner
- Skills
- Backward Travel, Back Float, Back Kick
- Equipment
- Float, Noodle
- Age
- 4–8 years
- Group size
- 3–10 swimmers
- Time
- About 4 minutes
- In a lesson
- Introduction / Warm-up, Skill Development 1, Skill Development 2
- Shared by
- SwimShare Resource
Safety notes
- Keep the line spaced so heads don't hit feet in front.
What it develops
- Travel about 10 metres on the back
- Kick on the front and back
How to run it
- Teacher (mother duck) walks backwards slowly across the pool.
- Ducklings follow on their backs in a line, kicking with a float hugged on the chest.
- Every few metres mother duck quacks – ducklings stop and float, then carry on.
- Swap the leader to a confident swimmer.
Teaching cues
- Tummy up.
- Ears in.
- Little splashy feet.
Make it easier
- Noodle under the arms.
- Walk backwards instead of kicking.
Make it harder
- No float – arms by the sides.
- Keep going without stopping on the quack.
Common faults
- Lifting the head to see where they're going.
- Knees bending up out of the water.
Corrections
- Tell ducklings you'll keep them on course – they can look up at the ceiling.
- 'Long legs, toes tickle the surface.'
Assistant / L1 role
- Be the last duck in the line so you can see every swimmer, and support any duckling who sits up or stops.