'Teaching Swimming and Water Safety'

[DEC. 13, 2000]   Teaching Swimming And Water Safety:  Learn Aquatics The Australian Way." Contributors, John Harmer, et al, Human Kinetics, 2000, 169 pages.

One of the great experiences in parenting is teaching a child how to swim. The new book "Teaching Swimming and Water Safety," by the Australian Council for the Teaching of Swimming and Water Safety, is a wonderful guide to promote this shared experience.

The book’s instructional approach is based on the AUSTSWIM method of teaching swimming and water safety. According to the council chairman Kirk Marks, "The manual has been designed to assist course candidates to acquire the appropriate knowledge and skill to become competent teachers of swimming and water safety."

The book is divided into six chapters; these chapters cover virtually all aspects of swimming technique and safety.

In "Safety Essentials" the dangers associated with water activities are discussed, including hypothermia, survival procedures and avoiding objects in the water.

 

One of the most important chapters, "Becoming Familiar with the Water," offers information needed to introduce children and beginning swimmers to the water, including equipment, entering the water, movement in the water and submerging below the surface.

"Floating and Movement Skills" continues the previous chapter's theme and teaches the proper way to maintain buoyancy, propulsion through the water, and different activities and games. The section on propulsion is especially important; it is here that the basics of swimming are explained. Propulsion using the arms and hands, legs and feet, or directional swimming (forward, backwards and sideways) is clearly illustrated.

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Once propulsion is learned by the pupil, Chapter 4’s "Application of Principles of Movement in Water" takes the basic application of propelling oneself in the water and describes the proper methods for breathing, floating and reducing resistance. Advanced propulsion techniques include the backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly and sidestroke.

Once the pupil is confident in the water, Chapter 5 introduces one the most pleasurable water activities: diving. In "Introducing Diving to Beginners" diving is described as a method of water entry and an activity of fun. Aside from the proper execution, the chapter contains valuable tips on the rules of safe diving and the inherent dangers (such as the height of the entry, the depth of the water and submerged objects).

 

The concluding chapter, "Towards Efficient Stroke Development," is particularly useful for those swimmers who are ready for advanced training.

"Teaching Swimming and Water Safety" is a non-technical source of information on swimming. The book is a splendid teaching tool; its arrangement makes it simple for anyone to teach swimming to children and non-swimmers. Aside from its no-nonsense approach, the book’s most valuable asset is the illustrations. There are pictures and illustrations on virtually every page; these aids visually bring the instructional text to life. One minor drawback is the lack of an index; anyone looking for information on a particular technique or rule of safety will have to browse through the different chapters. That being said, "Teaching Swimming and Water Safety" is highly recommended for anyone who wants to learn how to swim or teach swimming to someone.

For more information, visit the Public Library at 725 Pekin St. or call 217-732-8878.

[Richard Sumrall, Lincoln Public Library District]

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