Knee Tray
Swimmers kick on their back holding a float over their knees – if the knees bump the 'tray', they're bending too much.
- Stages
- Stage 2
- Difficulty
- Developing
- Skills
- Backward Travel, Back Kick
- Equipment
- Float, Noodle
- Age
- 5–99 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
- Check the route behind the swimmer is clear.
What it develops
- Travel about 10 metres on the back
- Kick on the front and back
How to run it
- Swimmer lies on the back, holding a float with both hands resting over the thighs, just above the knees.
- Kick gently to travel head-first.
- The goal: kick without the knees touching the float.
- Try across the width.
Teaching cues
- Long legs.
- Toes just splash the top.
- Knees stay under the tray.
Make it easier
- Noodle under the arms as well.
- Shorter distance.
Make it harder
- No noodle, and a longer distance.
- Hold the float on the tummy with one hand, other arm by the side.
Common faults
- Cycling kick – knees keep hitting the float.
- Hips sinking and sitting.
Corrections
- 'Kick from your hips, like long spaghetti legs.'
- 'Tummy up.'
Assistant / L1 role
- Walk alongside and watch the knees, giving a quiet 'bump!' when they touch so the swimmer can adjust.