Small board, big fun

Lesson 5 – 40 minutes

Learning outcomes

• Attempt or perform catching a wave on a bodyboard

Preparation

• Bodyboards
• Water Safety Personnel (1:5)

IMPORTANT

• If you are not confident coaching the skills in this lesson, bring in a surf sports athlete or coach to help
  deliver the lesson.

Discuss

• Teach the participants the following golden rules of bodyboarding

Coaching Points

POSITIONING

• You need to be lying in the centre of the board.
• Hold on to the bodyboard with both hands either over the front of the board or on the side near the front.
  

Demonstrate

• Draw an outline of a body board on the sand or place a body board on the sand and use it to demonstrate the correct body positioning on the board.
• Discuss what will happen if you are too far forward or back on a board (too far forward, you will nosedive; too far back and you will find it hard to catch waves)

Activity 1

• Organise the participants into a semi-circle and ask them to draw an outline of a bodyboard or lay on their bodyboard on the sand.
• Ask participants to position themselves on their board on the sand correctly.
• Walk around the semi-circle and check to see all participants are in the correct position, making adjustments as necessary

Coaching Points

CATCHING A WAVE

• Stand up holding the board on the sides near the top in two hands
• Look behind you for an oncoming wave
• Just before the wave hits you launch yourself forward and kick hard
• Keep the front of the board out of the water to prevent nose-diving. (Can also be attempted in a paddling start which needs a big initial kick to catch wave)
  

Demonstrate

• Using a bodyboard, talk the participants through catching a wave

Activity 2

• Make your way down to knee-depth water with participants and water safety personnel
• Ask the participants to get onto their board in the correct position
• Have some fun with the participants and see if they can perform the following skills:
  • Duck dive
  • 360
  • Wipe Out
  • Sitting on your board

Activity 3

• Line up participants with their body boards facing the beach
• Ensure they are all holding their bodyboards correctly
• When you see a wave is about to reach the participants, get them to bend over and push off with the wave
• Repeat this until they get the idea and can do it themselves.

*AGE MANAGER TIPS

If you do not have enough boards get the participants to partner up – ensure you keep the non-participating group entertained.

Ask parent helpers or additional water safety officers to assist the participants with the activities.

Be wary of plunging waves that could knock the participants around and possibly cause spinal injuries