By Legrand Antoine, Mekkaoui Léa, Quinmeuld Thomas & Potdevin François, ALFAC team, France
I CAN swim underwater
I FEEL my breathless limit to ensure my security
Be able to come back to the starting point after a round trip underwtare.
Be able to identify one’s breath-hold limit underwater
In the deep end, pupils have a swimming lane measuring 25 meters . A supervisor (pupil) is assigned to safety duties.
Pupils can start at the same time, two per lane, or even four if both ends of the pool are available. The teacher gives the starting signal and keeps a close watch on this underwater activity.
The exercise requires at least 3 attempts, with a minimum of 3 minutes' rest between each attempt.
To complete this exercise, pupils must be able to swim 7.5 meters underwater in a straight line.
The instructor explains the rules of the exercise, which consists of going as far as possible underwater, reaching the point of no return, and returning on a single breath. He emphasizes that if the student does not return to the starting point and comes out of the water before touching the wall, they have failed. The challenge is to find the limit.
Key teaching points to support student learning:
Take a deep breath at the start
Use breaststroke underwater, with large arms movement
Anticipate respiratory fatigue and do not wait until you are struggling to turn back.
Use progressive trials to identify your limit
