Pool Noodle King/Queen

By Team GER, Inga & Ilka

Environment:
Pool (shallow)
Teaching style:
Directive (teacher centered)
Related aquatic skills:
Submersion
Duration (min.):
5'-15'
Group size:
Big group (>10)
Task design:
Game

Goal

I FEEL comfortable being in the pool together with my group, even if others are more competent than me.

Success criteria

Everyone likes to participate.

Environment/Space/Equipment.

At least one Pool Noodle (see pictures attached).
Shallow water is needed.
The pool’s size may be adjusted by a pool rope.

It’s more fun when there’s less space to escape.

Group management

It must be a group of at least ten (up to thirty). To keep the game going, up to two crowns per ten players are necessary.

Time/duration/schedule

It’s a perfect warm-up game for around ten minutes (instruction included).

Pre-requisite

Learners must be able to understand a follow the rules of the game.

Description

Basic instruction: One person is designated to be Pool Noodle King or Queen. He or she is crowned by a twisted Pool Noodle (see pictures attached). But: Being King or Queen comes with many duties and is very hard work. That’s why no one wants to wear the crown. In order to get rid of it, you can crown someone else by putting the Pool Noodle on the head. However, the rest of the group tries to escape. For escaping it is allowed to walk, run, bounce, swim and submerge or dive. You can only get crowned when your head is above the water. The King or Queen is not allowed to throw the Pool Noodle. If you crowned as King or Queen, it is not possible to return the Pool Noodle directly.

Optional instruction: Playing with more than one Pool Noodle Crown.

If you would like to take part in this international project to share experiences, please contact us: project-alfac@univ-lille.fr