LEARN TO SWIM

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 February 1939, Page 10

LEARN TO SWIM

INSTRUCTIONS FOR TEACHERS AND OTHERS

METHODS OF INSTRUCTION.

CONFIDENCE FIRST ESSENTIAL. Instruction for teaching or learning swimming, which are exactly the same as those being officially used in the national “Learn to Swim” Campaign now in progress, have been made available by the National Committee of Swimming and Life-saving. It is intended to publish the lessons in instalments, so that anyone wishing to swim may learn thoroughly by stages, beginning with the strictly elementary exercises.

This method of instruction in swimming was agreed upon by New Zealand’s most competent coaches at a conference held in Wellington last December. It has been approved as the standard means of instruction in the Dominion by the technical authority, the Bureau of Instruction and Coaching of the New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association. LESSON 1. Confidence is the first essential in swimming. Many methods, such as romping and fun generally, may be used to gain the pupil’s confidence and eliminate water shyness when he is first learning to swim. To establish order and sequence in instruction, progress through several stages has proved successful. (Note: This can be practised at home, using a basin of water or a bath. Constant practice is necessary. Breath control is the key to success in swimming.)

(a) Hold the nose, shut the eyes, breathe in and shut the mouth, and, with all these closed in this manner, submerge the head and stay below for the count of five.

(b) Still holding the nose, as in the-; first exercise, and with the mouth and’ eyes shut, open the eyes when completely below the water and count five. (c) Hold the side of the bath, the rope or the rail or the beach with both hands, submerge the face, open the eyes, count five, return to the surface. Now what follows is most important. When the face is lifted, breathe the water out of the nose, open the mouth and take another breath. Don’t fail to do this, as it will be of great assistance to you. (d) Lay the cheek on the water, take in a breath through the mouth, place the face in the water, breathe out through’ the nose and mouth, then turn the face fdr another breath and breathe in. Repeat the exercise. (Note: Try to do this exercise daily at home for at least ten minutes). A FURTHER EXERCISE. (a) The pupil stands about waist deep at the edge of the bath or pool, grasping the rail or rope at water level, the arms at full length. , (b) Take a deep breath, and count to five audibly. The object is to give the pupil an idea as to how long he will be expected to remain at the next stage. (c) (i) Grasping rail, (ii) take a deep breath and (iii) go under, hold the breath foi' a moment and open the eyes as the breath is let out through the nose and mouth in the form of a sigh. The object of this exercise is to open the eyes under the water.

(To be continued.)