Fishing Net
Two helpers hold a noodle 'net' across the water; the fish must duck fully under it to escape.
- Stages
- Stage 2
- Difficulty
- Beginner
- Skills
- Water Confidence, Aquatic Breathing, Submersion
- Equipment
- Noodle
- Age
- 4–9 years
- Group size
- 3–12 swimmers
- Time
- About 4 minutes
- In a lesson
- Introduction / Warm-up, Game / Consolidation
- Shared by
- SwimShare Resource
Safety notes
- Lift the net immediately if a swimmer comes up under it.
What it develops
- Go fully under and pick up an object
- Blow bubbles with mouth and nose under
How to run it
- Teacher and assistant hold a noodle across the water at chin height.
- Swimmers (fish) swim or walk towards the net and duck under it.
- Lower the net each round until it rests on the surface.
- Any fish who stays under long enough to escape scores a point for the shoal.
Teaching cues
- Blow out as you go under.
- Go all the way under.
- Come up on the other side, then wipe your face.
Make it easier
- Keep the net high.
- Go under holding the helper's hand.
Make it harder
- Push and glide under the net.
- Two nets in a row.
Common faults
- Lifting the net with a hand.
- Holding the nose and rushing.
Corrections
- 'The net is sticky – don't touch it.'
- Practise humming bubbles out of the nose first.
Assistant / L1 role
- Hold one end of the net and lower it only as far as each swimmer is ready for, raising it for nervous fish.