1. Drills
  2. Swimming
  3. Streamline & Breakouts

Starfish Float with a Grown-Up

With a grown-up’s hands under their back, the child lies back and spreads arms and legs like a starfish, then stands up.

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

Set up

In shallow water, stand beside your child.

Ages
4 to 6
Time
3 min
Players
Just you
Space
Pool
Bring
Pool where your child can stand
Level · skill
Beginner · Streamline & Breakouts

The steps

How it works

  1. In shallow water, stand beside your child.
  2. Put your hands under their back as they lie back.
  3. They spread arms and legs like a starfish and look at the sky.
  4. Count to 5 together, then help them stand up.

Coaching point

Praise the try: “What a calm starfish!”

Safety: A grown-up stays in the water within arm’s reach the whole time, where your child can stand, with a lifeguard or another adult watching too. No breath-holding games, and never jump or dive in.

Make it fun

Play it, don't drill it

Game version

Let the child be the coach for a turn: show the grown-up how to do “Starfish Float with a Grown-Up”, then swap.

Story

You are a superhero in training, and “Starfish Float with a Grown-Up” is today’s mission.

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 swimming 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.

Start free training for your child Coach? Set up your team free

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.