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Why we would interrupt a skill progression to play a game, and why it works for swim lessons and better retention.

 

General swimming lesson information.

 

Typical swim lesson plans:

• Enter
• Underwater
• Front glides
• Free swim
• Breathing
• Free swim
• Back glides
• Back arms
• Back swim
• Jumps
• Games
• Done.

 

 

Swimming Ideas lesson plans:

• Entry
• Underwater
• Front glides
• Game
• Arm circles
• Freestyle swim
• Back glides
• Game
• Back arms
• Back swim
• Jumps
• Front glides with arms

 

We insert games, and jumps to recapture dulling attention.

 

Most everything you do in the water should be moving your swimmers to better ability in the water. Sometimes the best way to do that is with a game or a song.

 

We are essentially teaching “body control” in very specific restricted movements. But that comes with it some requirement to know what the “feel for the water” is.

 

Basic premise:

 

Repetitive learning.

Set up similar systems for participant expectations.

When it gets boring, play a game, sing  a song, do alternate activity.

Return to system.