LEARN-TO-SWIM CAMPAIGN

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14063, 9 February 1939, Page 2

LEARN-TO-SWIM CAMPAIGN

INSTRUCTIONS FOR TEACHING. LESSON I.—CONFJ DENCE. Instructions for teaching or learning swimming. which, are exactly tiie same as those being officially used in the national “Learn to Swim 5 Campaign now in progress,' nav© been maue 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 th© strictly elementary exercises. This method of instruction in swimming was agreed upon by New Zealand’s most competent cjoaclies at a conference held m Wellington last December. It lias been approved as the standard means of instruction in the Dominion by tile technical authority. the Bureau of Instruction and Coaching of the New Zealand Amateur Sfimming Association. LESSON I.—CONFIDENCE Confidence is the first essential m 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 thie nose, shut the eyes, breathe in and shut the mouth, and. with all these ciosed 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 th© 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 wliat 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 cf great assistance to von. (d) Lay the cheek op 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 flor another breath and breathe in. Repeat the* exercise. (Note: Try to do this exercise clailv at home for at least ten minutes). A FURTHER EXERCISE (a) The pupil stands about, waist deep at the edge of the batb or pool grasping the rail or rope at water level, the arms at in 1.1 length. (b) Take a deep breath and count to five audibly. The object is to give the pupil a.n idea as to how long he will be expected to remain at the. next stage (<-•) (i) Grasping rail, (ii) take a deep breath (iii) go under, h-old tiie breath lor 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 bo continued).