1. Drills
  2. Diving
  3. Approach & Start

Statue Start Game

A family game: walk around, and when someone calls "statue", freeze in a perfect standing start.

By Coach Evan Waechtler Youth coach (U11, Cache Valley, Utah) and founder of SSTracker Updated October 30, 2026

Set up

Walk around the room slowly.

Core: Your usual approach rhythm. Beat your own steadiest rhythm.

Ages
7 and up
Time
6 min
Players
Just you
Space
Small room
Bring
Line on the floor, family member
Level · skill
Beginner · Approach & Start

The steps

How it works

  1. Walk around the room slowly.
  2. When your grown-up calls "statue", step to the line and freeze tall, heels together, arms down.
  3. They check your chin, arms and heels.
  4. Play 10 rounds, then swap who calls.

Coaching point

Freeze tall and still.

Safety: Use a mat or soft floor with space all around you. Stop if anything hurts.

Make it fun

Play it, don't drill it

Game version

Approach rhythm: a partner claps the steps while you walk through your approach on the deck, then swap. Your coach watches.

Challenge

Pick a level: Less (walk), Core (your usual approach rhythm), More (add the hurdle with your coach watching). Beat your own steadiest rhythm.

Story

You are a drumbeat walking to the end of the board.

My best

Beat your own count

Beat your own steadiest rhythm. Only your own number counts: today against last time.

Practice makes progress

Print it now, or save it free

Free for families and teams

Save this drill to your child or team, free

Sign up and the free diving week for this age opens in your child's planner, kept to healthy limits. A coach can send this drill to the whole team as homework, and parents see every session logged.

14 days free for a family, no card · Running a team is always free

Does your child's coach know about this?

An email from you to the coach, with the words ready. Nothing is tracked and nobody is rewarded.