Diving for the precious

Lesson 10 – 30 minutes

DIVING FINISHES

Discuss important safety tips:
- Always check the sand in a beach flags course for sharp objects.
- Have water close by in case you get sand in your eye.

Line up the participants on the sand and give each of them a flag.
Ask them to walk 2 metres ahead, put the flag into the ground, and then return to their starting position.
On your command the participants can take a step and dive for the flag.
Repeat this exercise until they are confident in diving for the flag.

Set up a start and finish line using marker cones and lines in the sand.
Line the participants up on the start line facing away from the flags line (if you have a large group, then create smaller lines behind each other).
Have a helper place a flag on the finish line for every participant lined up on the start line. The helper will need to stay there and help for the whole lesson.
Have participants get in the correct starting position.
On your commands ‘heads down’ and then ‘go’ participants get up, turn around as fast as they can, run towards the flags, and practice diving for the baton.
Repeat this until the participants get the hang of it.

Set up the flags so that there is one less flag for the number of starters and create a competition.
Ensure you keep those participants who have been eliminated entertained, e.g., get them to cheer for those left competing, help with placing flags, or give starting commands.
Make the start line parallel to the ocean and get the participants to run into the water and dive for a tennis ball that has been thrown in.

ASSUMED SKILLS
This lesson assumes participants have acquired previous skills from earlier awards: