Coach Journey

assist swimming instrcutors to develop effective techniques to help students improve their swimming and water safety skills, knowledge and understanding

 

  • The general principles of teaching and assessment provides you with guidance and recommended procedures to work in group teaching situations.
 
  • The swimming and water safety continuum is designed to be used as an easy reference for lesson planning. It has been written in a skill-by-skill format and demonstrates the sequential way swimming can be taught.

Advanced Progression #1

Breathing and Blowing

Breathing and blowing regularly should be developed progressively and practiced every lesson from this point onwards, eg:

  • bobbing
  • breathing to the side

Develop horizontal body position on front

Use paddling areas (where available) for initial buoyancy skills. Flotation aids may be used to assist with development of confidence. Progress to deeper water and teach recovery skills.

Float or gentle glide on front

  • Hold gutter, legs at surface, face in. Let go and recover to stand
  • As above, partner/teacher supports ‘palm on palm’
  • Arms extended forward – floatation aid in each hand

NOTE: The use of flotation aids is not essential. Try to teach the float without a flotation aid first.

Recover

  • Head up
  • Knees up
  • Pull down with arms and hands
  • Stand

Advanced Progression #2

Develop horizontal body position on back

Use paddling areas (where available) for initial buoyancy skills. Floatation aids may be used to assist with development of confidence. Progress to deeper water and teach recovery skills.

Float or gentle glide on back

  • Partner/teacher to support from behind:
    • under shoulders
    • under head
    • under chin

A ‘star float’ position with arms well back is recommended initially

Recover

  • Head up
  • Knees up
  • Push down with arms and hands
  • Stand

Advanced Progression #3

Introduce sculling hand action. Attempt a variety of glides, eg glide on side, glide on back, roll onto front.

Advanced Progression #4

Extend distance maintaining a continuous ‘six beat’ kick.

Advanced Progression For Recovering An Object

Introduction to deep water

If confidence, ability and water depth permit, students may be introduced to swimming in deep water prior to skill no. 22

If deep water is unavailable, you should use the deepest suitable part of the venue available and note the depth on student’s certificate. Submerging, resting and changing body position should still be practiced.

NOTE: Ensure adequate supervision of class. Students should be visible at all times.

An extra instructor (with an aid) should be present.

Water depth should be progressively increased as swimmers gain confidence.

Initial immersion in deep water should be performed one at a time.

Advanced Progression For Swim 15 M Backstroke

Glide backward and kick with one arm extended back.

One arm back with little finger on water, repeat with other arm.

Extend distance and increase depth.

Advanced Progression : Bilateral Breathing

Bilateral breathing in freestyle, ie breathing to alternate sides, normally every 3 strokes:

  • Desirable (not essential) skill
  • Introduce when basic stroke and breathing are well learned


SUGGESTED STEPS 

Practice unilateral breathing on non preferred side 

TEACHING POINTS

Drills (eg. catch up to board) may be useful

SUGGESTED STEPS 

Practice timing for bilateral breathing

     Leaning forward (waist deep or on land)

    Walking (waist deep)

    Swimming

TEACHING POINTS

Relate timing of breath to the recovery of each arm:

  • stroke (recovery) – breathe
  • stroke – blow
  • stroke – blow
  • stroke – breathe. 

Safety Survival Sequence No. 9

NON-CONTACT RESCUES

Having assessed the emergencymanual, if a reach or throw rescue is not practical, people should have knowledge of the following techniques:

Wade rescue:

  • Given that a person is in difficulty 10 m from safety, demonstrate:
  • Safe entry into the water
  • Wade to and offer and aid to the person
  • Pull the person to safety•Instruct the person

Defense position and revers

  • Safe distance from the person in difficulty 

Accompanied rescue

Given that a person is in difficulty in deep water, demonstrate a rescue as follows:

  • Enter the water using a stride or other appropriate entry.
  • Reassure the person during the approach.
  • Keep a safe distance, adopt the defensive position and pass a flotation aid.
  • Accompany the person to safety, while keeping a safe distance from the person in difficulty. 

NOTE: It is vital that pupils are warned to keep a safe distance from swimmers in difficulty – contact rescues are not to be taught at Learn to Swim Levels.