LEARN TO SWIM

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 236, 24 December 1927, Page 15

LEARN TO SWIM

UMMER is at hand and with the warmer weather there will be a rush to beach, river, and bath. Swimming stands out pre-eminently as the most

health-giving recreation for young or old. In the Dominion to-day it is amazing how many children go through the primary schools without learning to swim. The experience of many secondary schools where attention is paid to the teaching of swimming is that fully half the pupils enrolling each year are unable to swim. Every boy or girl owes it to himself or herself to learn this useful and invigorating accomplishment, and it requires only a little perseverance for any healthy youngster to learn. To encourage and assist boys and girls to swim is the purpose of this article, and U the directions are followed carefully they will be helpful to any non-swim-ming adult or child who wishes to learn. Watching any of our crowded beaches on a warm day one is impressed with the large proportion of adults—and obviously water-loving people at that—who cannot swim. They try and try again, but have no idea of what they must do to attain the objective. Just a little direction is all they need.

The Breast Stroke There are many methods of swimming, but the best to commence with is the breast stroke. Some of the other methods can be learned by some beginners more easily, but if for instance the crawl is learned first the swimmer often experiences difficulty in learning the breast stroke, and is seriously handicapped in consequence in taking up life-saving work, one of the most useful branches of the art, and one which, in a country like this Dominion, with its plenitude of lakes and rivers, and thousands of miles of coast line may be of inestimable

service in preventing the loss of life. During the year there are many deaths from drowning recorded, and this wastage of humanity could be materially reduced if more attention were paid to swimming in the schools; and if the swimming clubs had a wider vision in regard to the objects of their existence. The cardinal reason for the existence of swimming clubs should be for the purpose of teaching people to swim. Better that a swimming club should produce 50 swimmers who can do 100 yards or so in even slow time, than that it should produce one member capable of winning a provincial or a Dominion championship. It is not intended to decry competitive swimming—-far from it. It serves a useful purpose, but the be-all and end-all of a swimming club should not be the holding of a carnival. Hours should be set apart for the instruction of the junior members, and there is a wide field here in which members with the requisite knowledge and experience could render a useful community service, by teaching swimming. It is a matter for regret that many swimming club members who are apt to view swimming from the competitive viewpoint are inclined to look upon the breast stroke with disfavour. Some regard it as obsolete. Nothing is more fallacious. On a long swim, whether undertaken for pleasure or forced upon one by chance, nothing is more restful than a change from the speed strokes to breast, and there is no gainsaying its usefulness. In a strong surf it stands out from all other methods in utility. With the back-stroke, it is the only one of service in assisting anyone in difficulty.

These two methods form the basis of many life-saving methods. The Earliest Steps It sounds rather parodoxical, but it is nevertheless possible to learn swimming out of the water. The old jibe the water-loving schoolboy hurled at his non-swimming chum, “You must not go into the water until you can swim,” is not so much of a joke as he thought. The preliminary steps of the breast-

stroke may be learned out of the water, and many schoolmasters devote nuch of their own time to coaching heir pupils. A principal of a girls’ 1 private school adopts this method, and it is extraordinary how quickly the pupils are able to swim. When they go to the baths they know exactly what they have to do, and it is a pleasure for the instructor to give

them the water work instruction. Squads that are given land drill attain a better style of swimming. The results that are obtainable in this way make the method well worth while. After preliminary instruction by the writer, pupils have managed to swim with the first lesson in the water, and many have been able to swim from 50 to 100 yards, slowly, of course—but they were swimming. One of the most nervous pupils the writer has taught out of many hundreds was able to swim 66 yards after three lessons. Within a month he was able to swim four styles and dive well. Very often the most nervous beginner proves a splendid swimmer once nervousness gives place to confidence. Swimming Should be on the Curriculum

It is unfortunate that swimming is not on the curriculum of the schools. For some time a substantial Government grant was made annually for the

purpose of encouraging swimming in schools. When retrenchment was essential after the war this was one of the votes which was pruned rom the estimates, but it is hoped by swimming supporters that the Minister of Education will have the vote reinstated before long. Good work has been carried out by many teachers without the monetary support, formerly given. The Various Movements The breast stroke comprises three movements of the arms and three of the legs, and these should be practised thoroughly by beginners before they go into the water. First, the arm movements should be learned as described; then the leg movements. Then the combination of arm and leg movements should be practised. To do this on land is not a very comfortable proceeding, but it is worth the discomfort and should be carried out in short spells. It is advisable to secure a wide box (or two plain kitchen chairs are useful if placed together) on the top of which should be placed a cushion. Place the legs together and straight, toes pointing back, arms extending in front, hands touching, fingers closed, and palms down. In starting to swim, turn the palms outwards, thumbs down, and, keeping the elbows stiff, with the arm extended as far as possible, draw them around until thev are

at right angles to the body. Prob ably the best exponent of the breast stroke in the Dominion is Mr. C. Atkinson, for several years breast-stroke champion, and in executing this move nient he brings his arm round with a slightly downward movement. This has the effect of keeping the body more horizontal in the water, and is advisable, though many good swim mers bring the arms round with a straight sweep. Assuming that the palms of the hands are three inches below the water when at position, as in Figure 1, when the quarter circle has been described and the arms are at right angles to the body they should be a foot below the waterline. When the arms are at right angles, bend the elbows backward and gradually turning the palms down, bring the hands together at the chest, as shown in Figure 3; then shoot them forward to position. The legs are not moved until the hands are being brought together at the chest; then they are drawn up, knees out, heels together. When the hands start forward the legs are kicked out as wide as possible. While in this position the legs should in relation to the body form the forks of a capital Y. See Figure 4. Now comes the third leg movement, which every swimming instructor and coach has the hardest job to get the beginner to do properly. This is to bring the legs together with a snap, and without bending the knees. Let the pupil imagine a pair of school compasses lying open on the desk. Snap them together smartly. That is the movement that the legs should take from Position 4. This snapping the legs together sends the body through the water with a gliding movement, the arms being fully extended at the time. To cramp or slur over this snapping of the legs

robs the swimmer of the glide which carries him through the water a considerable distance. There should be a momentary pause as soon as the legs are snapped together and ihe body is in position shown in Figure 1. Move the Arms Slowly It is essential that the arms should be moved slowly. The average child commences to describe quarter-circles as fast as he can when he enters the water. His breath rapidly gives out, and he jumps to his feet to save himself from that uncomfortable sensation to a beginner that comes with a mouth and nostrils full of water. In breathing, the beginner should inhale through the mouth and exhale through the nostrils. Inhale while the arms are coming round, and exhale while they are going forward. A particularly successful swimming instructor used to tell his pupils to blow their hands away from them. This is the correct action. Breathing in swimming should be short and not “? rd - . Begin to inhale as soon as the hands start downwards, and A th T the lungs are filled by the time they reach the chest Commence to exhale as the arms start

forward, and continue until they are on the full reach. While the arms are coming back the applied power lifts the head clear of the water. Beginners are apt to throw their heads too far back. This ras the effect of taking the feet down too low in the water, and is decidedly uncomfortable to the neck. The good breaststroke swimmer has his mouth under water. Perfect the Leg Action It is necessary to emphasise the necessity of perfecting the leg action. It is in this direction that the beginner experiences a difficulty. The movement of the arms is natural, but that of the legs is unnatural. The secret is to kick out the legs wide. The propelling power, that power that drives the body forward, to put the direction in simple schoolboy language, is caused by the legs being suddenly brought from a position in which they are wide apart into one in which they are close together, like the blades of a pair of scissors or school compasses. In bringing the legs together suddenly, a wedge of water is forced backwards, and the resistance sends the body forward in an opposite direction. When this is considered, the importance of the leg movement is apparent. Where the beginner commences in a swimming bath, some time may be profitably spent on perfecting the kick before essaying to swim, even if some land-drill has been done. Grasp firmly, with one hand, the iron pipe or wire rope that is usually provided round the wall of the bath, and place the palm of the other hand against the wall of the bath, with fingers pointing downward, and the elbow straight. This will throw the body up horizontally, and the three leg movements can be practised.

Devices to be Avoided Swimming instructors, both honorary and professional, are often asked whether they advise the use of mech-

anical devices to assist the swimmer to keep afloat. It is much better to do without them altogether, waterwings especially. Swimming is largely a matter of balance, and water-wings and aids of that kind are apt to destroy balance. The body floats naturally, and artificial buoying-up destroys the right idea of how to hold one’s self. The head is the only portion of the body that is heavier than a similar bulk of water, and assisting a beginner to a realisation of this fact is most helpful in establishing the confidence that figures so largely in the ingredients that make a swimmer. Learning is a matter of confidence and perseverance. When teaching a child to swim, it is often a good plan to teach him to float first. This illustrates clearly to him the buoyancy of the body. Lying on the back the pupil inhales all the air possible. The head is thrown

back, so that the chin is the highest point of the face; this brings the legs nearer the surface. The arms may be thrown out level with the shoulder and held loosely some inches below the surface, or they may be held close into the sides, palms downwards. Floating is a matter of balance. If the pupil has any difficulty in keeping afloat, a slight paddling motion from side to side close to the body will assist very materi-

ally. When learning swimming or floating natural caution will keep a boy or girl from going into water that is too deep. The beginner should keep to the end of the bath where it is not more than waist-deep. Various people differ widely in floating. Fleshy persons usually float more easily than thin ones, because

of the comparatively large amount of water displaced for each pound of weight. Women usually float more easily than men, on account of the lighter bone construction. It is an advantage that fleshy people have over the wiry sorts that they float more easily, but the wiry pupil usually possesses the application and perseverance in a more marked degree as a learner. Special attention should be paid to breathing. The breath should be inhaled rapidly through the mouth and exhaled through the nose. The retention of a considerable amount of air in the lungs increases the size of the chest, thus giving a greater buoyancy to the body. As in all forms of swimming, care should be taken to keep as much of the body in the water as possible. Many persons can float with the legs near the surface, while others will find that the legs have a tendency to sink, thus causing the person to assume a more upright position in the water. This can be counteracted by throwing the arms up over the head.

From floating, assuming that the breast-stroke has been mastered, it is natural to turn to swimming on the back. This is the most useful stroke when life-saving work is being taken up, and when bathing at the seaside in smooth, open water, or a tidal river, it is a delightful method that makes a very good change from other strokes. The back-stroke in salt water is done with a minimum of effort. To execute the back-stroke, turn the body on the back, with chin and nose above the water, hold the arms to the side, with elbows and wrists straight. This constitutes position for the stroke. (1) Extend the arms laterally to the level of the shoulders, keeping elbows with wrists straight; (2) turn the palms diagonally downward, so that they pass under the water like a paddle; (3) return to position. During the arm movements mentioned the feet will work in harmony with the hands

in exactly the same manner as the breast-stroke. Under-water Swimming A knowledge of under-water swimming is most useful, and this again is essential to life-saving. The breaststroke is necessary under the water. A beginner often learns to swim under water first, and for those who find that, after practising the land drill

mentioned previously, they are not able to keep afloat, it is a good thing to swim under water. Short spells of under-water swimming with a breast-stroke will soon mean that the swimmer will be able to propel himself on the top of the water. What is very hard for the beginner to learn to do is to keep his eyes open under water. It is essential that this should be learned. The only way to achieve it is by the exercise of will-power. At the first attempt the water will cause the eyes of the swimmer to smart, but if he will deliberately continue to keep them open this disagreeable feeling will soon pass away. The learner should begin gradually, prac-

tising a few strokes at a time, and firmly counteracting the very natural tendency to close the eyes. Other Styles Necessary It must not be inferred from the foregoing that the writer is wedded to the breast stroke. A knowledge of the breast stroke alone is not going to make a really good swimmer. It is a good thing once the breast and back stroke have been learnt that the side stroke should be attempted. This is an easy, graceful method that is also of considerable value if any rescue work has to be done. That good maxim of the Boy Scouts, “be prepared,” should be adopted by the swimming novice. One may swim on the left or the right side and it is good to be able to do both at will, or as occasion requires. The best way to learn this stroke is to hold the railing of the bath or the bath steps with the hands in such a manner as to incline the body on one side. The scissors kick is then executed. Keep the upper leg extended. Draw the under leg away from upper. When in this position the legs if resting on the ground in a walking posture would be as though a good long step was being taken. Then with a smart snap draw the under leg to the upper one, which has been held rigid. The under arm is extended in a straight line and brought down to the pit of the stomach. The upper arm commences the stroke as the under one finishes; in this case the upper is extended in a line with the nose and about six inches away from it, then with an outward and backward sweep is brought out at right angles to the body. It Is then drawn to the side ready for the next stroke. It is a very good plan to also learn this stroke holding the npper arm erect. In towing an apparently lifeless person this is a good method to adopt and the upper arm can be given to holding the object towed. M E LYONS.

1. Learn to open your eyes under water, and distinguish objects. 2. Learn to surface plunge—that is, from the surface of the water, where the depth is over your head, dive to the oottom, pick up a heavy object, and, by a spring from the bottom, come to the top and swim a reasonable distance, towing the object, with little effort. 3. Learn the scissors kick on side perfectly. 4. Learn to frog-kick on back correctly. 5. Learn to scull 100 feet—that is to swim head first on back, by arm action only, so that when your legs become cramped you won’t drown, but be able to swim to shore using your arms only. That is easy. 6. Learn to swim on one side, while holding one arm out of the water. Use the scissors kick with this. 7. Learn to swim on back, using frog-kick, holding both arms high out of the water. This is easier than towing a person. 8. Learn to exhale under water. This is always taught in the crawl stroke. 9. Learn the methods of releasing yourself from the clutches of a drowning person. 10. Learn to swim from 60 to 75 feet under the water, taking care to do short distances at first. 11. Learn the Schafer method of resuscitation.