Shapes on land
Ready when: nothing needed.
What you are learning
The body shapes used in every figure: long arrow, star, tuck, pike and ballet leg. Each is held still and tight with the toes pointed. In the water the same shapes are held while sculling, so learning them on land first makes the pool easier.
Words on this card Sculling, Figures, Long arrow, Star, Tuck, Pike, Ballet leg
- 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.
- Figures
- Set positions and movements done one at a time in front of judges, such as the ballet leg.
- Long arrow
- The body stretched long: arms overhead, legs together, toes pointed.
- Star
- Arms and legs spread wide.
- Tuck
- Knees pulled up to the chest, body small.
- Pike
- Legs straight and together, body folded at the hips.
- Ballet leg
- Lying on the back with one straight leg lifted up toward the ceiling or the sky.
Show it first for the one teaching
- Lie on your back. Long arrow: arms overhead, legs together, toes pointed.
- Star: arms and legs wide. Tuck: knees hugged to the chest.
- Pike: legs straight and together, lifted up so the body folds at the hips.
- Ballet leg: one straight leg lifted toward the ceiling, the other long on the floor. Hold each one still for 5 seconds, eyes on one spot.
Your part while they practise
Call the shape; watch for still, tight and pointed toes.
Step by step
- Lie on your back on the mat.
- Hold each shape for 5 seconds: long arrow, star, tuck, pike, ballet leg.
- 3 rounds of all five.
- Then stand tall like a gymnast for 10 seconds.
How much: 3 rounds of the five shapes, then 10 seconds standing tall 8 min a session 3 days a week
Say one thing Pick one line from "What you will see" for today and say only that.
The game: Shape call
The caller names a shape and the child must be still in it before the count of three.
Who plays: the child against you as the caller; then swap.
How to play, turn by turn
- Turns
- The caller says a shape name
- The caller counts "1, 2, 3" aloud
- By "3" the shape must be still
- 10 calls in any order
- Fair play
- A younger child gets a count of five.
- Points
- 1 point for each shape still by "3"; 1 extra point if the toes are pointed.
- Fouls
- No points for that call
- The wrong shape
- Still moving at "3"
- Wobbling while the shape is held
- Winning
- More points after 10 calls each.
- 8 points for 1 star
- 13 points for 2 stars
- 18 points for 3 stars
Easier or harder
Three shapes only.
Change shape on each count of 8 to music.
What you will see, and what to say
- the body wobbles
Squeeze tight, eyes on one spot
Tighten the tummy and look at one fixed point. - the toes are floppy
Point your toes
Stretch the feet long like a ballet dancer.
Self-check
5 shapes held still for 5 seconds each, twice.
Stop and get a coach when
Back pain.
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 body tension and shape, the base for figures.
Basic is done when the child can do the sculling and eggbeater tasks the coach sets for Grade 1.
awiseathlete.com/sports/artistic-swimming/artistic-swimming-b4