Children.
It is important for new swimmers to learn to relax on their back and
control breath while floating face down.
This can take up a lot of lesson time so use it only when necessary.
The sooner you can get into gliding the better.
All children sat on the steps next to you, one at a time bring them over
your knees, cradling the head. Keeping them on the steps avoids
splashing and waves caused by wandering kids.
Count to ten, sing a song or rhyme, and try to keep the entire group
involved. I like the animal fair.
This is useful way to bring calm to a lesson and also to get a sound
body position for a 5m legs only attempt.
For the front float, “Hang loose like a jellyfish on your tummy.”
Adults
Essential. Use at the start of every lesson in the small pool, can be
used in the BP if it’s not too cold.
The sooner you can get into gliding, the better.
Assist the nervous ones by cradling the head but demonstrate and
practice getting up first.
Floating on the back – its head butt the water
and bring knees up, wait until feet are down before standing.
From the front, “knees up first, leave your face in until they can see feet on the floor.”
Educate the men (and some thin ladies) that their legs will never float.
Men do not generally carry extra fat on their legs, more around the waist. They have large feet, big bones and muscle is heavier than water. It is rare for a man to float horizontally. In deep water they will float vertically.
Ladies often have the opposite problem, they float too well, making them feel as if they are going to topple forwards.
In both cases continued reassurance that this is all natural – we cannot change the way we are.