Water confidence games
Ready when: nothing, this is the first card.
What you are learning
Feeling safe and calm in water: getting in safely, blowing bubbles, putting the face in and lifting it in a slow pattern, floating on the front and back with support, and standing up again on your own. Calm breathing out under the water is the first swimming skill.
Words on this card Lifeguard, Bubbles, Front float, Turn, HELP
- Lifeguard
- The trained person watching the pool.
- Bubbles
- Blowing out slowly under the water, and breathing in a steady pattern.
- Front float
- Lying on the water face down or face up; a starfish has arms and legs spread wide.
- Turn
- Turning at the wall, and the way a race begins.
- HELP
- In the water with a life jacket, knees hugged to the chest alone, or a group holding together, to keep warm.
Set up
A few floating toys; a hoop.
Weather: a lifeguard or adult in reach
Show it first for the one teaching
- Get in by the steps, or sit on the edge, turn onto your tummy and lower in (a swivel).
- Put your mouth in and blow bubbles slowly; then hum with the nose under.
- Lie on your front with the parent's hands under you, then bring the knees in and push the feet down to stand.
Your part while they practise
Stay within arm's reach; stand in the water.
Step by step
- Get in by the steps or a swivel from sitting.
- Blow bubbles with the mouth, then hum with the nose.
- Lower the face in and lift it, in a slow, regular pattern.
- Float on the front with support, then on the back.
- Stand up again from each float.
- Collect floating toys.
How much: 5 bubble breaths and 4 floats 10 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: Starfish
On your call the child floats as a starfish with your hand under them, then stands up on the next call.
Who plays: the child and a parent in the water.
How to play, turn by turn
- Turns
- Call "starfish": the child spreads arms and legs and floats, your hand under the back or tummy
- Count slowly to 3
- Call "stand": the child brings the knees in and stands
- 6 starfish, front and back
- Fair play
- Stop at once if the child is upset; make it play.
- Points
- 1 point for each float held for 3; 1 point for each stand-up with no help.
- Fouls
- No points for that turn
- Holding the breath until red in the face (breathe out with bubbles instead)
- Grabbing the parent's neck
- Floating away out of arm's reach
- Winning
- Beat your best from 6 starfish.
- 4 points for 1 star
- 8 points for 2 stars
- 12 points for 3 stars
Easier or harder
Chin in the water.
Ten slow bubble breaths in a row.
What you will see, and what to say
- the child holds the breath and stiffens
Blow out slowly
Bubbles all the time. - the head lifts
Chin down, eyes down
Look at the floor.
Self-check
5 bubble breaths in a row and standing up from a front float twice.
Stop and get a coach when
The child cries or is afraid; stop and make it play.
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 breath control, comfort.
awiseathlete.com/sports/swimming/swimming-b1