This block introduces players to safe, confident movement in the water while building comfort with equipment, breathing, diving, and first puck contact.
Linked Individual Fundamental:
Moving in the Water
– Surface movement, depth progression, diving, and body position form the foundation of this block.
Equipment + Safety
- Fit gear correctly.
- Introduce mask clearing early.
- Grant explicit permission to surface anytime.
- Set expectation: stay calm, reset often.
Linked Drill:
Mask Flood and Clear
Surface Comfort & Breathing
- Develop calm snorkel breathing.
- Build confidence clearing the snorkel.
- Establish slow breathing rhythm.
Linked Drill:
Snorkel Comfort Swim
Diving + Recovery
- Introduce short, controlled descents.
- Touch bottom and return immediately.
- Reinforce early surfacing and reset.
Linked Drill:
Sink-Down Drill
Bottom Movement
- Introduce short movement along the bottom.
- Maintain balance and control.
- Keep distances short and repeat often.
Linked Drill:
Bottom Movement
First Puck Contact
- Introduce controlled puck interaction.
- Use short, soft pushes.
- Maintain body position while handling.
Linked Drill:
Short Push Drill
¶ Exit Standard
By the end of this block players should demonstrate the following during simple movement and puck activities:
Players must feel calm and safe before progressing. Breathing control and relaxed movement are the foundation of all learning in this block.
- Stay calm and breathe steadily
- Surface early and often
- Reset fully between efforts
- Progress gradually to depth
Rule: Calm breathing, smooth movement, controlled recovery.
¶ Diving and Recovery
Dives are short, controlled, and repeatable. The focus is confidence, not depth or duration.
- Short dives only
- Surface before discomfort
- Recover calmly at the surface
- Avoid rushing
Puck interaction is introduced only after players are comfortable at depth.
- Use soft, controlled pushes
- Keep the puck close
- Maintain balance while handling
- Control before speed
- Breathe and relax
- Surface anytime
- Reset and repeat
- Short dives
- Move smoothly
- Keep it close
- Soft touches
- Player remains calm throughout session
- Breathing is steady and controlled
- Dives are short and repeatable
- Movement is smooth and balanced
- Snorkel is cleared without panic
- Puck is moved with simple control
- Player looks anxious or rushed
Cue: Breathe and relax.
- Player removes snorkel
Cue: Keep it in, clear it.
- Player stays down too long
Cue: Surface early.
- Player rushes movement
Cue: Slow down, reset.
- Puck pushed too far
Cue: Keep it close.
- Keep session calm, safe, and structured
- Do not progress until players are comfortable
- Prioritise breathing over skill
- Surface players early and often
- Reinforce simple, repeatable actions