Clap and Stand
Swimmers glide on the front and must recover to standing the moment they hear a clap – quick, safe recovery from a glide.
- Stages
- Stage 2
- Difficulty
- Beginner
- Skills
- Front Float, Push and Glide, Water Safety
- Equipment
- None, Float
- Age
- 4–99 years
- Group size
- 1–10 swimmers
- Time
- About 4 minutes
- In a lesson
- Skill Development 1, Skill Development 2
- Shared by
- SwimShare Resource
Safety notes
- Make sure swimmers can hear the clap – use a visual signal from the side if needed.
What it develops
- Float on front and back and return to standing
- Push and glide on the front
How to run it
- Swimmers push and glide on the front.
- At a random moment the teacher claps (loud enough to hear with ears in).
- Swimmers tuck knees, press down with hands, lift the head and stand.
- Repeat, varying when you clap.
Teaching cues
- Knees in.
- Press the water down.
- Stand tall.
Make it easier
- Glide holding a float, then recover.
- Clap late so the glide has slowed.
Make it harder
- Clap early, while still moving fast.
- Try the same on the back.
Common faults
- Lifting the head before bringing the knees in.
- Arms waving instead of pressing.
Corrections
- 'Knees first, head second.'
- Practise the press standing still first.
Assistant / L1 role
- Stand close to swimmers who panic when recovering, ready to steady them by the hands.