What this swimming skill is
At a swim meet, swimmers get into position, hold completely still and go on a beep or a horn. This skill is about that moment: a steady starting position and a quick, controlled reaction. If your child swims in meets, we teach the version their meets use.
It comes after your child can dive in safely where the water is deep enough. Any start with a dive happens only in lessons, where your instructor has confirmed the water is deep enough. Where it is not, your child practises the reaction with a push off from in the water. Next comes finishing strong at the wall.
Why it matters
Calmer race days.
A starting routine your child has practised many times gives them something familiar to focus on in a noisy pool.
Listening, not guessing.
Your child learns to wait for the signal, which avoids the upset of going too early.
Fast, but always safe.
Your child learns that a quick reaction never comes before a safe, controlled entry.
Who it is for
This is mostly for children and teens who are joining a swim team or starting to take part in meets. Younger children work on holding still and listening for the signal. Teens work on a steady starting position and good timing. Before any dive start, your child needs a safe, controlled head-first entry.
Practising race starts
The goal
Your child takes their starting position, holds perfectly still and goes the moment the signal sounds. They stay in control of the entry, whether it is a dive or a push from the wall.
Why it matters
A steady, practised start helps your child feel calm and ready at meets. It also keeps the entry safe, however fast the reaction.
What happens in lessons
Holding still.
Your child practises taking their mark and holding completely still, often as a game.
Listening for the signal.
Your instructor uses a clap or a call and changes the pause, so your child learns to listen, not guess.
Starting from the water.
Your child reacts to the signal with a push off from the wall, which works in any pool.
Adding the dive, only where safe.
Only where your instructor has confirmed the water is deep enough does your child add the reaction to a controlled dive.
How you can help between lessons
- On dry land, away from the pool, say take your mark, pause, then clap. Your child holds still, then reacts to the clap by stretching up tall.
Common questions
- Can my child practise starts at home?
- Not dive starts. Never practise dive starts in a home pool. At home, your child can practise holding still and reacting to a signal on dry land.
- What if my child goes too early?
- Going before the signal is one of the most common upsets at meets. Holding still and listening is exactly what this skill practises. If your child swims in meets, we teach the version their meets use.
- My child gets nervous at meets. Will this help?
- It often does. A starting routine they know well gives them something to focus on, even in a noisy pool.
- What about backstroke starts?
- Backstroke races start in the water, holding the wall. Your instructor teaches that start separately if your child needs it.
