Wall Kick Countdown
Holding the wall, swimmers kick with face in for a set count, linking a steady kick with blowing bubbles.
- Stages
- Stage 2
- Difficulty
- Beginner
- Skills
- Aquatic Breathing, Front Kick
- Equipment
- None
- Age
- 4–99 years
- Group size
- 1–12 swimmers
- Time
- About 3 minutes
- In a lesson
- Introduction / Warm-up, Skill Development 1, Skill Development 2
- Shared by
- SwimShare Resource
Safety notes
- Check the wall edge has a secure handhold.
What it develops
- Blow bubbles with mouth and nose under
- Kick on the front and back
How to run it
- Swimmers hold the wall with both hands, arms straight, body lying out behind.
- Face in, blow bubbles and kick while the teacher counts down from 5.
- Lift the head to breathe at 'zero', then go again.
- Build to 10.
Teaching cues
- Arms straight.
- Kick from your hips.
- Bubbles out, face in.
Make it easier
- Face out, chin on the water.
- Assistant supports the hips.
Make it harder
- Longer count.
- Turn the head to the side to breathe instead of lifting.
Common faults
- Bent arms pulling the body to the wall.
- Big bent-knee kicks.
Corrections
- 'Push the wall away.'
- 'Small fast kicks, like splashing a little puddle.'
Assistant / L1 role
- Move along the line placing a hand under hips that sink, and quietly give 'straight legs' cues.