LEARN TO SWIM

Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 February 1939, Page 10

LEARN TO SWIM

INSTRUCTIONS FOR TEACHERS . AND OTHERS LESSON FOUR—ARM MOVEMENT. CAREFUL PRACTICE NEEDED. Having learned to float and to do the leg action, the pupil proceeds to perform the arm movement. This requires careful practice, and it is best learned by stages. The advice of the National Committee of Swimming and Life-sav-ing is as follows: — In swimming, breathing takes place at a slight turn, of the head towards the lifting arm—either right or left, according to natural tendency. Breathe in through the mouth and immediately turn the head to the original position with the eyes just below water level. Exhale slowly, through both the nose and mouth, during the down-ward pull of that arm to the. end of the stroke. It is advised that the arm action should be learned as follows: — (I) Stand chest high in the water with the arms extended forward slightly wider than shoulder width, and lean forward until the chin is almost in the water. (II) With complete relaxation lift the right shoulder, so that the elbow is up above the level of the hand. (III) Do the arm drive by pressing the' arm downward and slightly inward, and, without letting the hand go lower than the elbow, carry the elbow to the side of the body. Now change from the press to a steady push to outside the thigh, keeping the hand square to the water. (IV) Relax completely, lift the shoulder and elbow until the thumb is level with the armpit. Then turn the hand outward from the wrist until the fingers are pointing ahead and carry straight forward, with the hand, turned slightly outward, just above the surface, till the hand makes the “catch slightly outside the shoulder line, for the downward press, with a square palm or the hand slightly scooped. Have the fingers closed. Repeat with the left arm. When you have grasped the idea, try to swim with these movements. Practise hard. The importance of practising this movement constantly on land is emphasised, so that the full effect is noticeable stage by stage. When the thumb is in the position level with the armpit. the forearm should hang loosely from the elbow. Be careful not to cramp -the arm and shoulder. Remember relaxation. The action of the arms out of the water is called the recovery. By doing the recovery hfere advised your arm , movement will be directly from the - water to the water, thus avoiding a' ; wide swinging recovery, which is un- , necessary and tiring.

The best, swimming is done by relaxed, easy movements. Especially is this so during the “drive.” Make the push strongly and steadily, and get all the forward glide you can from it.

Do not, on any account, when making the arm drive, let the hand go ahead of the elbow until you make the push backward. It cannot be remembered too much that the three most important things in swimming are breath control, relaxation and balance. (To be continued.)