Sea stacks

You’ll need

Access to water suitable for swimming
Pool floats
A device to use as a timer

Prepare the floats

Everyone should split into small teams.
On one side of the water, a minimum of 10 metres from the other side, place some floats.
Set a timer for five minutes.

Make your stacks

The first person from every team should swim from one side of the water to the other, on their front. When they reach the floats, they should take one and place it in the water to begin a stack. They should then swim back to their team.
The next member of each team should swim to the other side, pick up a float and add it to their teammate’s first one, being careful to balance it in a stack. If the stack falls, the team must start again.
Everyone should keep going until the time is up. The team with the tallest stack wins.

Reflection

This game was about being physically active and gaining confidence when swimming. How did you find swimming while holding an object? Was it easier or harder than usual? Did you have to practice any skills like treading water when you were building the stack?

This game was also about working in a team. Did you work well as a team? How could you have work together more to make the building easier? How did you manage any differences in swimming ability in your group?

Safety

All activities must be safely managed. You must complete a thorough risk assessment and take appropriate steps to reduce risk. Use the safety checklist to help you plan and risk assess your activity. Always get approval for the activity, and have suitable supervision and an InTouch process.

Water games and activities: Be careful when doing activities with, in, or near water. Check surfaces and reduce the risk of slipping where possible. Make sure you have appropriate supervision for this activity.

You must always:

Complete a risk assessment
Have the right ratios of number of adults to provide suitable supervision
Set up an InTouch process
Know what to do in an emergency
Share information with parents and carers with an activity information form
Get approval from your commissioner

Be safe in water:

Everyone should be able to swim 50 m wearing the clothing or equipment for the activity. Non-swimmers will need additional support.

Water can be dangerous - be aware of the risks.

The category of water depends on how safe the water is. Use our waterways directory to check.

Be sure to manage the group when near water, keeping everyone safe.