✕ Close Setup
Before you start
  • Check the space and the kit.
  • Get your child's attention first.
  • Show it from two sides.
  • Say one thing only.
  • End on one that works.

Put the phone down where you can see it. Tap Next with your thumb, or use the arrow keys.

Setup · 1 minute

Is the space marked?

  • The field lines
  • The goal line
  • The halfway line
  • A "hand-pass" distance of about 2 m

A size 2 ball; a cap.

Warm up · 3 minutes

Three minutes to get warm.

Easy jogging on the spot, then arms and legs. How to warm up well is explained at workonfitness.com.

3:00
Show it · 1 minute
  1. Swim front crawl with the head out of the water, eyes forward, short strokes.
  2. Put the ball just in front of the head and swim so the arms push it along between them.
  3. Stop, put a hand under the ball and lift it out of the water.

Show it once from the front and once from the side, slowly. Then let your child try.

The skill · 15 minutes
  1. Head-up front crawl, eyes forward.
  2. Lead the ball 10 m in front of the head with short strokes.
  3. Pick the ball up from the water with one hand, right and left.
  4. A first eggbeater sitting on the edge, then lying on the front holding a noodle.
  5. Sculling with a figure-of-eight hand movement.

How much: 6 lengths of the shallow end

Eyes up, keep the ball in front

15:00
The game · 5 minutes

Criss-cross

The rules

Swim across the shallow end leading the ball; each time you meet someone, stop and lift the ball high.

  1. Everyone starts on one side
  2. On "go", swim across leading the ball
  3. When you pass someone, stop, lift the ball and call their name
  4. 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
Win
Beat your best from 4 crossings.
Score
0
  1. 3
  2. 6
  3. 9

5:00
Finish · 2 minutes

Swim 10 m with the ball and the head up 3 times; lift the ball from the water 10 times with each hand.

0/10

End on one that works. If it was hard today, finish with the easier version.

Finished

Well played.

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