In addition to the preparatory exercises, some core exercises are required.
This exercise should be performed in a pelvis that is at least chest deep for the child. The child gains momentum with its upper body and jumps forward from the ground with its body rolled up. The arms can be used to help with this. If a forward roll is successful, you should try two consecutive forward or one backward roll in the next step. Two components are particularly important for the core exercise. The momentum and the curled body. Both are trained while somersaulting in water. This preparatory exercise also requires much less courage than the actual core exercise.
Start with the normal somersault on your knees on land. Then practice on a mat placed in water, first on your knees and then on your feet. Use the mat as a soft starting platform at the edge of the pool and practice rolling forward directly into the water, first on your knees and then on your feet. Finally, remove the mat. During a head jump, the feet must reach across the body, similar to a forward roller with less rotation and extended arms. Mastering the forward roll is therefore crucial for headjumping.
Many children feel uncomfortable as soon as their feet are above the rest of the body when rolling. For this reason, they want to stop the exercise halfway and open the roll, which usually results in them either falling back to their initial state or falling straight onto the water with their stomach like a board. In order to prevent such misadventures, the exercise is slowly built up from a somersault.
