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Swimming · Basic · b4

Water-safety knowledge

At home 5 min 1 and a grown-up One room

Ready when: nothing needed.

Start a session

What you are learning

What to do if someone is in trouble in water: call, reach, throw, and never go in yourself. Also the cold-water rule (float on your back and breathe for 60 seconds) and the HELP position, which keeps you warm in a life jacket. This is learnt on dry land.

Words on this card Shallow end, Lifeguard, Call, reach, throw, Rescue aid, HELP
Shallow end
The parts of the pool where a child can stand, and where they cannot.
Lifeguard
The trained person watching the pool.
Call, reach, throw
The rescue order: shout for help, reach with a pole or noodle, throw something that floats.
Rescue aid
Something that floats or a pole used to help someone from the side.
HELP
In the water with a life jacket, knees hugged to the chest alone, or a group holding together, to keep warm.

Set up

A rope or a rolled towel as a "rescue" throw line; a light ball.

Weather: any weather

The base setup for swimming

Show it first for the one teaching

  1. Say the four steps with a hand sign for each: call (hands to mouth), reach (arm out), throw (throw), do not go (shake the head).
  2. Throw the towel to a target 3 m away: swing it back three times, aim, let go.
  3. Sit on the floor, hug the bent legs to the chest: the HELP position.

Your part while they practise

Ask, then listen.

Step by step

  1. Say aloud "call, reach, throw, do not go".
  2. Throw the ball or towel at a target 3 m away.
  3. Name where help and the rescue aids are at your pool.
  4. Say the cold-water rule: lie on your back, float, breathe and relax for 60 seconds.
  5. Show the HELP position sitting on the floor.

How much: 5 throws 5 min a session once a week

Say one thing Pick one line from "What you will see" for today and say only that.

The game: What do I do?

You describe a scene at the pool or the beach; the child says what to do.

Who plays: the child against you; swap so the child makes up scenes.

How to play, turn by turn
Turns
  1. Describe a scene: "Your friend is splashing in the deep end and can't reach the side."
  2. The child answers with the steps
  3. Then throws the towel to the target
  4. 5 scenes
Fair play
The grown-up must answer the child's scenes too.
Points
1 point for each right step in order; 1 point for each throw within 1 m of the target.
Fouls
No points for that scene
  • "jump in and swim to them"
  • Skipping "call"
  • Throwing with someone standing behind
Winning
Beat your best from 5 scenes.
Stars
  1. 8 points for 1 star
  2. 14 points for 2 stars
  3. 20 points for 3 stars

Easier or harder

Easier

One rule.

Harder

Three scenes in a row.

What you will see, and what to say

  • the child wants to jump in to help Reach or throw, do not go inStay on land.
  • the child does not know who to call Shout and find the lifeguardLoud and clear.
  • the throw goes wild Swing three times, aim, let goLook at the target.

Self-check

1

The child says the four steps in order and throws within 1 m of the target twice.

Fitness for this

Warm up first: how to warm up, at workonfitness.com. For strength and stretching, its exercise library shows each exercise step by step, with an easier version.

This card trains safety knowledge.

Basic is done when the child meets the self-checks on b1 to b4.

awiseathlete.com/sports/swimming/swimming-b4