Sausage Roll
Swimmers roll along the long axis of the body, front to back to front, staying long like a sausage.
- Stages
- Stage 2, Stage 3
- Difficulty
- Developing
- Skills
- Rotation, Streamlining
- Equipment
- None, Noodle
- Age
- 5–99 years
- Group size
- 1–8 swimmers
- Time
- About 5 minutes
- In a lesson
- Skill Development 1, Skill Development 2
- Shared by
- SwimShare Resource
Safety notes
- Swimmers can be disorientated after rolling – keep space around them.
What it develops
- Roll from front to back and back to front
- Rotate front to back and back to front while moving
How to run it
- Swimmer lies long on the front, arms by the sides or stretched overhead.
- Turn the head and one shoulder to roll onto the back, then continue onto the front.
- Stage 2: one roll with support. Stage 3: continuous rolls while gliding or kicking.
- Breathe when on the back.
Teaching cues
- Head turns first.
- Stay long – no bending.
- Breathe when you're on your back.
Make it easier
- Hug a noodle or float while rolling.
- Assistant rolls the swimmer slowly by the hips.
Make it harder
- Three rolls in a row with a kick.
- Roll during a streamlined glide.
Common faults
- Bending at the hips (a banana, not a sausage).
- Losing direction after rolling.
Corrections
- 'Squeeze your bottom and stay straight.'
- Pick a target on the wall to aim for.
Assistant / L1 role
- Support swimmers at the hips for the first rolls, then move to a light touch as they get the timing.