Basic Swimming for Physical Education 4

What is Swimming?

• Swimming is an activity of propelling oneself through water using the limbs.
• It's a fun leisure activity and a low-impact way of staying in shape.
• Swimming can potentially save one's life and others.

Importance of Swimming

• Swimming can be used for fun and recreation, relaxation, sports, and saving lives.
• It's an activity suitable for almost all ages and bodies of water.

Objectives

• Become aware of the importance of swimming activities such as water safety and sports.
• Develop physical fitness, skills, discipline, and self-confidence in swimming.
• Overcome the fear of water and use swimming skills to save lives if needed.

History of Swimming

• Swimming has a history dating back to Egyptian times (4000 B.C.).
• It was mentioned in the Iliad and Odyssey (1500 to 2000 years ago).
• Organized swimming started in the 1800s and 1900s.
• Today, swimming is the second most popular exercise activity in the United States, with approximately 360 million annual visits to recreational water venues.

Benefits of Swimming

• Low-impact: protects joints from stress and strain.
• Can be continued for a lifetime (even up to 100-104 years old).
• Builds cardio-respiratory fitness and heart strength.
• Builds muscle mass (23.8% increase in triceps muscle after an 8-week program).
• Burns calories.
• It's a family affair: can be shared with the entire family.

Swimming for Children

• Children are not developmentally ready for formal swimming lessons until after their fourth birthday.
• Parents should not feel secure that their child is safe in water or safe from drowning after participating in an aquatic program.
• Children should always have an adult within arm's length when in or around water.

Swimming for People with Disabilities

• Swimming is an activity for virtually anyone who has the will and desire to do so.
• It's suitable for people with disabilities such as Down syndrome, physical disabilities, amputations, and visual impairments.

Equipment and Pre-Swim Warm-Up

• Use proper swimwear, goggles, bathing caps, flotation devices, kickboards, hand paddles, and noodles.
• Do simple stretching and exercises before swimming.
• Pre-swim warm-up movements: sit at the side of the pool for a minute with legs in the water before entering the water.

Basic Skills in Swimming

• The 7 basic skills in swimming are:
  • Blowing bubbles
  • Forward somersault
  • Backward somersault
  • Reverse somersault
  • Inward somersault
  • Twisting armstand
  • Dive into the water fingers first

Teaching Basic Swimming to Children

• Check the background of the child (psychological trauma, phobia, past or present injuries, etc.).
• Approach, methods, and strategies should be appropriate for the child's age level.
• Give clear instructions, demonstrate first, and use practical skill progression.
• Be gender sensitive, have a positive attitude, and never force the child.
• Use the sandwich correction method: compliment, correct, compliment.
• Be patient and encouraging, and always provide positive feedback.