Artistic swimming: difficulty holding body position

Can get into a position but wobbles, bends or sinks out of it within a few seconds.

Activities that help

• Back Layout Hold – The basic artistic swimming position: body straight on the surface, face, chest, thighs and toes at the surface, held with a support scull.
• Balance Point Float – Swimmers experiment with arm position in a back float to find their own balance point – where the legs stay up without kicking.
• Body Tension Check – Hold a rigid straight body on the back while a partner gently moves you by the feet – if you stay in one piece, your body tension is ready for positions, entries and rotations.
• Front Layout Glide – Hold a straight front layout with the back of the head, shoulders, bottom and heels at the surface, sculling gently under the chest.
• Presentation Posture – Practise how to look and hold yourself at the surface – tall, chin level, shoulders back, face expressive – while eggbeating or sculling.
• Rise to the Surface with Presentation – Surface from a short submersion into an upright eggbeater with chin up, a smile and a clear arm shape – showing confidence to an audience.
• Shape Freeze in the Water – A game: swimmers move freely, then freeze into the shape the teacher calls – layout, tuck, star, pencil – and are scored on control and stillness.
• Side Layout Hold – Float on the side in a straight line with the top arm along the body and the bottom arm sculling – builds balance in a new position.
• Starfish to Pencil Float – Change slowly between a wide starfish float and a narrow pencil float on the back, feeling how body shape changes balance.