Teacher Distances
General Class Setup Based on Ability Level: Safety is of paramount importance in all lessons. Ensuring the children are safe, especially when the instructor is not nearby, is crucial. Maintaining a safe distance from the group is necessary, and it's adjusted according to the ability level of the swimmers.
1. Non Swimmer:
Safety & Positioning: Instructors should be within 1-2 steps of each swimmer. Children not swimming should be seated on the poolside with a noodle around their waist for safety.
2. Beginner 1:
Safety & Positioning: Instruction should start from the 5m marker, moving forward to support less confident swimmers. Non-participating swimmers should be seated on the poolside with a safety noodle around their waist.
3. Beginner 2:
Safety & Positioning: Instructors should position themselves at the 5m marker and be ready to support when necessary. More confident swimmers might have increased distance. Those not following instructions might be asked to stand for safety.
4. Improver:
Safety & Positioning: Instructors should remain in the pool for swimmers out of their depth. Poolside delivery is acceptable, but demonstrations in the water are still required.
5. Stroke Development:
Safety & Positioning: The default delivery method is from the poolside, but instructors are expected to enter the water for demonstrations.
In each class level, it is important to consider the ability of the swimmers and adjust safety measures and positioning accordingly, to ensure a safe and conducive learning environment.
Delivery Area Based On Class Ability
Top Tip: Setting Distance & Using Markers
A good way to manage your class is to call the swimmer towards you (by name). Allow them to swim out to you either on their noodle, float or as part of an independent swim. This give the swimmer a visual cue that you are the "finish / end point" for the swimmer. It also allows you to adjust the distance to individually suit each swimmer.
Position yourself in the pool appropriate to the age group you are working with.
Call your swimmer towards you, allowing them to swim towards you.
When they reach you, help the swimmer to the side of the pool and ask them to walk back to their spot on the poolside.
As they are walking back, you may want to walk alongside your swimmer, keeping them in view and also the rest of the class in view.
This is a good way to work with 'Beginner 1' swimmers who are trying to build distances as you can adjust your position in the pool depending on the specific swimmer, allowing them to increase distances without losing a visual on the rest of the class.
Setting the poolside with markers.
The use of markers on poolside is a great way for teachers to set the expecations for swimmers and give visual cues to indicate intended distances.
If you would like to request some cones or markers from the office you can do this by dropping us an email, alternitivly use the equipment at your dusposal whither it is a noodle tied in a knot or a few floats stacked.
TOP TIP:
If you are using floats for markers then you can encourage progresison by turning it to a game.
Mark the closest float with a single float - Level 1
Then add a few meters further on stack two floats on top of each other - Level 2
Then a few more steps stack another 3 set of three floats - Level 3
This is a great way to encourage especially young swimmer to move further through the water aiming for the "next level"
Please always consider your distance and positioning in relation to the age and ability level of the group.