Artistic swimming: cannot stay on the spot

Drifts head-first or feet-first when trying to hold a stationary position.

Activities that help

• Basic Sculling Control – Small, continuous figure-of-eight hand movements that hold the body still on the back, then move it head-first – the foundation skill for swimming, water polo and artistic swimming.
• 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.
• Spinning Scull – Rotate on the spot in a back layout by sculling with one hand pushing towards the head and the other towards the feet – like a slow clock hand.
• Support Scull on the Spot – Hold a back layout completely still beside a floating marker using a support scull – the skill behind every stationary artistic position.
• Tub Turn – Sitting in a 'tub' (knees tucked, shins on the surface), swimmers scull to spin round – great for control and confidence.