Swimming Sacrificed On Altar Of Competition

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30895, 30 October 1965, Page 11

Swimming Sacrificed On Altar Of Competition

ATR S. WILLIAMS, the new president of the Canterbury Swimming Centre, believes the broad aspects of swimming are being sacrificed on the altar of competition. He is taking over the office with a firm resolution that the teaching of youngsters to swim knowledgably shall be given a place of prominence in the activities of the centre. Teaching children the rudiments of life saving and water wisdom should be an integral part of the vork of

all swimming dubs, he says. But, according to the annual report of the Canterbury branch of the Royal Life Saving Society, only two of Canterbury’s 19 swimming clubs are doing any work in this regard. “The important thing to show the public is not that we have a kid who can swim 110 yards in 58sec but that we can produce children—and adults—With the ability to save their own lives and those of others in rivers, lakes and the sea.” he says. "It is our job to show our young people particularly how water can be enjoyed without danger, and with considerable physical benefit” Mr Williams is mindful of the number of people taught to swim each year but he has often wondered how many progress to a state of competence and safety. “How many children, taught to swim at primary school, are much better by the time they are 15 or 16 years old?” he asks. “And how much of this is attributable to lack of coaching, lack of encouragement, and

failure to join a swimming club?” Since coming to Christchurch from Timaru five years ago, Mr Williams has thrown himself wholeheartedly into the administration of swimming. He is in his fifth season on the centre’s management committee; he has been chairman of the water polo board for the last three years and chairman of the coaching committee for four years. He also joined the New Zealand council , in 1961 as Waikato’s delegate. He is an executive member of the council and has been chairman of its coaching committee for the last two years. Mr Williams was manager of the South Canterbury team at the national championships in 1960 and managed the Canterbury team in 1962. Earlier this year he took the New Zealand team to the Australian championships in Tasmania. Before coming to Christchurch, Mr Williams was president of the Waimate club for nine years and senior vice-president of the South Canterbury centre in 1960.