By Legrand Antoine, Mekkaoui Léa, Quinmeuld Thomas & Potdevin François, ALFAC team, France
I KNOW when a swimmer is easily or not easily in the water according to his/her position and ability to breathe easily.
I FEEL my body position in different balances.
When the conductor is able to adapt his movements to the level of the swimmerWhen the swimmer is able to stay in each position for at least 5 seconds.
This exercise takes place
- In deep water, in a pool or in open water.
- With a ledge close to the swimmer so that the swimmer can easily see the leader.
- 2 metres from the edge for a group of 2 children (one leader - one swimmer in the water).
- For a group of 20 children, 10 people, 20 metres.
This exercise is done in pairs: a conductor and a swimmer.
The conductor mimes positions for the swimmer (one hand in the air, both arms in the air, one foot in the air, etc.), which the swimmer must hold for at least 5 seconds. The conductor must ensure that the swimmer does not have difficulty breathing. As soon as the swimmer's nose touches the water, the conductor must return the swimmer to a comfortable position. The swimmer must respect the positions mimed by the conductor at least 5 seconds.
You could imagine a system of points for each position, which would be reduced to zero when the nose touches the surface of the water. The duos could be changed every 2 minutes to develop the conductor's ability to adapt.
The total duration of the exercise is 2 minutes. This exercise can be repeated from 2 to 5 times. The sequence lasts 30 seconds. At the end, the swimmer and the conductor discuss the most difficult positions to hold (1 minute). Then the roles are changed to start again with a 30-second sequence. This exercise can last between 2 and 10 minutes and can be repeated at any time during the lesson.
Children must be able to tread water for at least 30 seconds to complete this exercise.
Gather your group at the side of the pool and arrange the pairs into homogeneous or heterogeneous groups.Explain that this is an exercise of cooperation: a conductor will stay at the side of the pool to mime the movements that the swimmer will have to make in the water.
Mime some possible positions (one hand up, one arm up, two arms up, one foot up, etc.). The aim for the swimmer is to repeat the position exactly for at least 5 seconds. The aim of the conductor is not to put the swimmer in a difficult position. The criterion is that the nose must never be below the surface of the water. If the conductor notices that it's getting difficult, he must offer his swimmer a comfortable position. On the other hand, if your swimmer is comfortable, you can make the positions last longer than 5 seconds or make them more difficult.
At the end of the 30 seconds, the swimmer returns to the edge of the water and discusses with his or her conductor:
which position was too difficult?
Which was too easy?
How can you rest easily?
Then the roles are changed to perform exactly the same sequence.
To succeed in this task, the conductor must pay close attention to the swimmer's difficulties.
Depending on the characteristics of the children
- A system of points for each position can be used, with penalties if the nose touches the water
- The composition of the duos can be changed to suit different levels of swimmers
- The most problematic positions can be worked on later in specific workshops.
