Tummy Treasure
A small floating toy rests on the tummy during a back glide – it only stays on if the body stays flat.
- Stages
- Stage 2
- Difficulty
- Developing
- Skills
- Back Float, Streamlining, Push and Glide
- Equipment
- Noodle, Floating Toys
- Age
- 5–10 years
- Group size
- 1–8 swimmers
- Time
- About 4 minutes
- In a lesson
- Skill Development 1, Skill Development 2
- Shared by
- SwimShare Resource
Safety notes
- Clear glide path – swimmers can't see where they're going.
What it develops
- Push and glide on the back
How to run it
- Swimmer holds the wall, feet on the wall, ready to push on their back.
- The helper places a light floating toy on the swimmer's tummy.
- Swimmer pushes gently and glides on the back.
- Success = the treasure is still on the tummy when the glide stops.
Teaching cues
- Tummy up to the sky.
- Ears in.
- Gentle push.
Make it easier
- Noodle under the arms.
- Glide from standing instead of the wall.
Make it harder
- Add gentle back kicking and keep the treasure on.
- Arms stretched above the head.
Common faults
- Hips sink so the toy rolls off.
- Head lifts to watch the toy.
Corrections
- 'Show me your belly button.'
- Tell them you'll watch the treasure for them.
Assistant / L1 role
- Place the treasure and give the push signal, then walk alongside to report whether it stayed on.