Paper sculling on land
Ready when: nothing, this is the first card.
What you are learning
Sculling: small, quick movements of the hands that press gently on the water to hold a swimmer up. Artistic swimmers scull almost all the time, often upside down. A sheet of paper held against the palm by the moving air teaches the same soft, busy hand on land.
Words on this card Sculling
- Sculling
- Small, quick movements of the hands, like drawing an 8 lying on its side, that press on the water to hold a swimmer up or move them along.
Set up
A sheet of paper each; an empty floor.
Weather: any weather
Show it first for the one teaching
- Put a sheet of paper flat on your open palm, palm facing forward at chest height.
- Take the thumb away and keep the hand moving in small, quick 8s lying on their side.
- The moving hand presses on the air and the paper stays on. Show it, then let it fall on purpose by stopping the hand.
Your part while they practise
Watch the hands: small, quick and soft, never a big circle.
Step by step
- Paper flat on the palm, palm facing forward.
- Let go with the thumb and start the small sideways 8s.
- 30 seconds fast. Rest. 3 rounds.
- Then 3 rounds slow, still keeping the paper on.
How much: 3 rounds of 30 seconds fast, then 3 rounds slow 4 min a session 3 days a week On your own: against a wall or the front of the body
Say one thing Pick one line from "What you will see" for today and say only that.
The game: Paper walk
Keep the paper up while walking across the room, and count the steps.
Who plays: the child against their own best, or two players side by side.
How to play, turn by turn
- Turns
- Start at one wall with the paper on the palm and the hand sculling
- Walk slowly across the room and back, counting each step aloud
- When the paper falls, stop: your score is the steps so far
- 3 tries; your best try counts
- Fair play
- A younger child may use both hands, a sheet on each palm, and score the hand that lasts longer.
- Points
- 1 point for each step with the paper still on.
- Fouls
- The try ends
- The paper falls
- The thumb or fingers grip the paper
- The hand stops moving
- Winning
- The most steps in one try. On your own, beat your record.
- 10 steps for 1 star
- 20 steps for 2 stars
- 30 steps for 3 stars
Easier or harder
Use both hands flat to the body first.
Slower and with eyes closed.
What you will see, and what to say
- the paper falls
Press softly and keep moving
The hand never stops; it presses gently, not hard. - the hands move in a big circle
Small movements
The 8s are no wider than the hand.
Self-check
20 seconds with the paper held up while the hands move.
Fitness for this
Warm up first: how to warm up, at workonfitness.com. For strength and stretching, its exercise library shows each exercise step by step, with an easier version.
This card trains sculling hand movement, patience.
awiseathlete.com/sports/artistic-swimming/artistic-swimming-b1