Swimming · Water confidence · Streamline & body position

Star floats on front and back

Arms and legs spread wide so the water does the work, face up and face down, with a safe way back to standing learnt first.

Practise standing up firstS1S2S3H1CO
Start / 6
Time
10 min
Players
1–8
Age
U4+
Area
Shallow end
Equipment
noodleskickboards

Setup

  1. Waist- to chest-deep water for the learners, a qualified teacher on deck and a helper in the water for young children or nervous adults.
  2. One noodle and two kickboards per learner.
  3. Teach the way back to standing before any float, so nobody is stuck lying in the water.

How it runs

  1. Standing up first: from a lean, tuck the knees to the chest, press both hands down and forward, put the feet down and stand. Practise it holding the wall.
  2. Back star float with a noodle under the arms: ears in, looking at the ceiling, tummy up, arms and legs wide. Stay for five calm breaths.
  3. Stand up from the back: chin to chest, knees in, hands sweep forward, feet down.
  4. Front star float holding a kickboard in each hand: face in, blow out slowly, arms and legs wide for a count of three, then lift the head and stand.
  5. As confidence grows, take away one float at a time while the helper stays within reach.

Coaching points

  • On the back: ears under, look straight up and push the tummy towards the ceiling.
  • On the front: blow out gently with the face in, then lift and stand.
  • Wide and relaxed; tense bodies sink.
  • Legs that drift down are normal, especially for adults; small sculling movements of the hands help.

Common mistakes

  • Lifting the head on the back so the hips drop into a sitting shape.
  • Holding the breath on the front and coming up gasping.
  • Grabbing at the water to stand instead of tucking the knees first.

Say it: “Big star, tummy up, tuck to stand.”

Make it harder

  • Star float on the back without floats for a count of ten, breathing normally.
  • Roll from a front star to a back star and float again.

Make it easier

  • Helper's hands under the head and the small of the back.
  • A second noodle under the knees on the back float.

Reviewed by the Sportdify coaching team.