Water confidence and swimming with the ball
Ready when: swimming cards in swimming.md started.
What you are learning
Moving with the ball in water: front crawl with the head up and eyes forward (so you can see the game), leading the ball in front of the head, lifting it from the water with one hand, and first tries at the eggbeater and sculling.
Words on this card Cap, Leading the ball, Eggbeater, Sculling
- Cap
- The numbered cap each player wears, with plastic guards over the ears.
- Leading the ball
- Swimming with the ball just in front of the head, pushed along by the arms.
- Eggbeater
- Treading water with the legs circling in turn, like a whisk, to stay high.
- Sculling
- Moving the hands in a figure-of-eight to hold the body up.
Show it first for the one teaching
- Swim front crawl with the head out of the water, eyes forward, short strokes.
- Put the ball just in front of the head and swim so the arms push it along between them.
- Stop, put a hand under the ball and lift it out of the water.
Your part while they practise
Stay within reach; stay out of the way.
Step by step
- Head-up front crawl, eyes forward.
- Lead the ball 10 m in front of the head with short strokes.
- Pick the ball up from the water with one hand, right and left.
- A first eggbeater sitting on the edge, then lying on the front holding a noodle.
- Sculling with a figure-of-eight hand movement.
How much: 6 lengths of the shallow end 15 min a session 2 days a week
Say one thing Pick one line from "What you will see" for today and say only that.
The game: Criss-cross
Swim across the shallow end leading the ball; each time you meet someone, stop and lift the ball high.
Who plays: 2 to 6 children, each with a ball; you watch.
How to play, turn by turn
- Turns
- Everyone starts on one side
- On "go", swim across leading the ball
- When you pass someone, stop, lift the ball and call their name
- 4 crossings
- Fair play
- A grown-up swims slower than the slowest child.
- Points
- 1 point for each crossing with the head up and the ball in front; 1 point for each clean lift.
- Fouls
- No point for that crossing
- The head goes down
- Carrying the ball in the hand instead of leading it
- Bumping into another swimmer
- Winning
- Beat your best from 4 crossings.
- 3 points for 1 star
- 6 points for 2 stars
- 9 points for 3 stars
Easier or harder
A shorter distance.
Add a defender.
What you will see, and what to say
- the head goes down
Eyes up, keep the ball in front
See the game. - the ball slips
Hand under, then lift
Scoop it.
Self-check
Swim 10 m with the ball and the head up 3 times; lift the ball from the water 10 times with each hand.
Stop and get a coach when
The child is afraid in the water.
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 head-up swimming, ball protection.
awiseathlete.com/sports/water-polo/water-polo-b2