Swimming: practical

Preparation and Planning

This lesson is based entirely in the pool (or poolside). As such, appropriate swimming clothing and accessories should be worn including nose pegs and goggles if necessary.
Students should be briefed on all health and safety requirements for a pool environment and instructed accordingly regarding appropriate behaviour around water. Areas for particular focus relating to pool health and safety should include:

- Pool hygiene, routine for verrucas, swimming caps, cuts etc and reporting of any ailments etc.
- Layout of swimming pool, including deep end, shallow end, permitted swim areas etc.
- What to do if a swimmer gets into trouble and how to alert the lifeguard / teacher / other students.
- Rules for use of the diving board / platform - including no backward dives etc.

A verbal assessment should also be made as to the perceived standard of swimmers. Ideally this should be established by requesting that students complete a length of the pool in order to substantiate swimming standard.

Safety in and around the pool:
Understanding water safety and water conditions is an essential part of participating in any swimming activity. Although swimming pools are largely safe environments, the dangers they present by students not following health and safety rules should be communicated. There are still about 15 deaths in the UK each year caused by drowning in swimming pools.

The Government has recognised that it is essential that children learn about the principles and skills of water safety and survival, which is why swimming is a compulsory component of the PE curriculum in primary schools. By the age of 11 all children must be able to safely swim a minimum of 25 metres.

Ensure the pool you are using has the following:
- Outlet points that are securely fixed to the pool floor and which have openings no greater than 8mm (to prevent trapped fingers or hair).
- Sufficient lifesaving devices (rescue poles, buoyancy aids).
- A poolside alarm on which to call for assistance.
- Systems in place so that any staff know what to do in an emergency.
- Suitable warning signage (no diving, running etc).
- Suitable pool depth markings.
- A locked pool plant room to keep children away from hazardous chemicals.

About the MOD Topic

The Royal Marines are a part of the Royal Navy. The Royal Marines Commando Training Centre is at Lympstone, near Exeter (Devon).

Royal Marines need to be fit, strong and determined. Would-be Marines first attend a Potential Royal Marines Course (PRMC). The course lasts three days, during which time candidates are tested on a three mile run, their ability in the gym, their aptitude on an assualt couse and in the classroom.

Physical training is an important part of Commando training and it takes all forms.
Work in the gym helps potential recruits build strength and stamina. Recruits will also be trained to become a strong swimmer - whatever the recruit's ability when he joins.

Sport also plays a large part in training, from team sports like rugby and football to activities such as sailing, canoeing, climbing and abseiling. As recruits' physical and mental strength grows, they will be put through ever more demanding tests until, towards the end of training, they will be completing long marches and runs wearing more than 30lb of kit and carrying a weapon and rucksack full of rations and survival equipment.

Strength and determination is also tested on assault courses, where recruits have to overcome challenges like the aerial slide, a high-level ropes course, submerged tunnels and a 30ft wall.

Royal Marines courses:
Experience has underlined the need for students attending all Royal Marines courses to be extremely fit, both medically and physically before commencing training, but particularly those on the All Arms Commando Course (AACC), Royal Marines Young Officers' Course (RMYO) and Physical Training Course (PTC).

It is mandatory that all students attending the Royal Marines Young Officers' Course, All Arms Commando Course or Physical Training Course have achieved the following physical standards before commencing Royal Marines training:

a. Be able to pass the Royal Marines Basic Fitness Test (RMBFT) within the time laid down for the 29 year old and under bracket. Upper body exercises must also be completed.
b. Swim 60 metres in clothing and tread water for 3 minutes.
c. Possess and have an aptitude for, and have practised on, a standard military assault course in boots and loose order.
d. Be able to perform the fireman's carry and half regain using the correct technique.
e. Be able to climb 30 feet of rope, in boots and denims, using good technique.(AACC candidates only.)

Further Opportunities for Learning

More able students could join a club to learn new skills to enhance their performance such as breathing techniques, tumble turns etc.

Students could ask at their local pool for details of the junior swimming club to develop their skills.

Students can research skills, techniques and the latest news regarding swimming in the UK. Visit http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/academy/default.stm and scroll down to the swimming link on the home page. The link through to 'Get involved' contains a 'Basics' section which features 'Guides and Masterclasses'. At time of writing, there are links for video footage masterclasses for Backstroke by Sarah Price and another for Breaststroke by James Gibson.

Research using the website for the Governing Body of Swimming: The ASA: www.britishswimming.org

Student worksheet answers

Download the teachers notes PDF to access the answers for this lesson.