National Standards and Programming Guidelines Adults and Teens November 2008 www.redcross.ca/swim 1.877.356.3226 Swim with the best! Program Guide November 2008 Page 1 of 11
RED CROSS SWIM FOR ADULTS AND TEENS Program Target Adults and adolescents interested in learning to swim or improving their swimming skills while expanding their healthy lifestyle choices and fitness options. Structure These three programs are designed for customization to meet individual needs; learn to swim in Basics, develop or improve strokes with Strokes and sample a variety of aquatic activities in Sports. These programs are customized to participants individual goals and rate of progress. Program Materials: Participant Materials: Journal Personal Best Fitness Time and Distance stickers Instructor Support Materials: Basics worksheets Strokes chart Sample lesson plans (ten lessons for Basics and two per level for Red Cross Swim Sports, temporarily available on A.P. Website until next print of the AWSI CD l) Evaluation and Progression Basics has performance criteria on the worksheet. In this level, swimmers progress to the next program (either Strokes or Red Cross Swim Sports modules) only when all items in the performance criteria have been successfully completed. Strokes is evaluated against the goals set by each swimmer. The Strokes chart is used to assist in setting goals. Sports is participation based. The lesson plans contain the skill information to be taught. The Journal is used to track progress/participation for swimmers in the Basics, Strokes and Sports. Program Guide November 2008 Page 2 of 11
Program Content The programs are based on swimming ability: Basics - introduces the fundamental skills required to build swimming proficiency Strokes - designed to further develop strokes chosen by swimmer, and increase swimming distances and proficiency. Sports - designed to encourage swimmers of various abilities to sample aquatic activities that may be available in their community. Swimmers in programs for Adults and Teens work directly with Instructors to set learning goals and priorities. Upon completion of Basics, and depending on the interest of the individual, the swimmer can choose to further develop strokes and fitness through the Strokes program. In this program, the swimmers identify which strokes to develop and the Water Safety Instructor is able to use drills and activities from the Kids program to assist the swimmers in accomplishing their goals. Swimmers who are looking for new aquatic experiences or to develop new skills can participate in the Sports modules. Modules can be divided up, team-taught and guest speakers (local experts in the community) can be brought in or specific areas emphasized, depending on the activity. The modules can be offered as independent two-lesson options or set up in multiple week sessions where two to nine modules can be run consecutively, depending on the availability of equipment at the facility. Program Guide November 2008 Page 3 of 11
Basics To develop comfort in the water through attainment of basic flotation, movement and breathing skills. Shallow water entries and exits Submerge head Exhale through mouth and/or nose Weight transfer, shallow water Deep water activities (assisted) Deep water float 5 sec Change direction deep water Surface support, deep water 20 sec Self-Safety- Safe Diving Sitting dive Introduction to PFD/lifejacket Intro to sculling, shallow water Throwing assist without a line Throwing assist with a line Reaching assist with an aid Rhythmic breathing 5 times Front float and recovery 3 sec Back float and recovery 3 sec Front glide with flutter kick 3 5m (in one lesson) Back glide with flutter kick 3 5m (in one lesson) Side glide with flutter kick 3m (assisted) Roll-over glide with flutter kick 6 seconds Front swim 3 5m (in one lesson) Strokes To develop one or more swimming stroke(s), working toward proficiency and increased endurance Stroke(s) chosen in consultation with the Instructor and developed according to the Red Cross Swim Kids progressions and performance criteria Strokes chart is used to assess incoming skill ability and to set goals for distance and stroke development Instructors consult with their class to set learning goals and priorities Program Guide November 2008 Page 4 of 11
Sports The Sports modules are designed as aquatic samplers and introduce the fundamental skills of a variety of sports. This program is participation based, so swimmers will focus on participating in the activities. The overall goal of the Sports modules is to: Maintain or increase stroke proficiency and endurance Introduce other forms of aquatic activities, for fun and fitness Introduce or enhance water safety knowledge and skills that are relevant to the swimmers Each sport module is designed to be offered in two lessons and the skills/activities can be altered so that swimmers with a variety of abilities can participate together. The WSI uses the sample lesson plans (module content is listed on lesson plans) to teach these modules and is not required to track completion of items on a worksheet. The skills taught in this program are familiar to Water Safety Instructors, and with a little preparation and by using the lesson plans, they can easily teach this program. Many of the skills can be found in the Developing Swimmer, Strokes, Skills & Water Safety and Fitness chapters of the Assistant Water Safety Instructor Manual. The lesson plans contain information on how to teach those skills not found in the manual. Sports Swim Workout To improve your strokes, increase your distance, and swim faster Workout components Using the pace clock Speed turns Dive starts Sports Triathlon Swim To introduce aquatic skills for participating in triathlon events Introduction to triathlon swimming training Training principles: F.I.T.T. Tips for swimming in open water (sighting, drafting) Program Guide November 2008 Page 5 of 11
Sports Lifesaving Sport To introduce basic skills for participating in lifesaving sport events 50m mannequin carry 100m mannequin tow with fins Sports Boating To introduce safe boating skills and knowledge Heat Escape Lessening Position Swimmer rescue Paddle strokes: Bow stroke Pry stroke Draw stroke Reverse stroke Sports Diving To introduce safe diving basics Standing front jump layout Diving positions: Straight Tuck Pike Sports Water Polo To introduce basic skills for participating in water polo events Dribbling the ball 15m Dry passes Wet passes Eggbeater 30 sec Sports Underwater Hockey To introduce basic skills for participating in underwater hockey games Swimming with fins, mask, and snorkel 15m Passing the puck Moving with the puck 15m Program Guide November 2008 Page 6 of 11
Sports Synchronized Swimming To introduce basic skills for participating in synchronized swimming activities Stationary and head-first scull Back tuck somersault Oyster Sailboat Eggbeater Mini-routine (sequence) Sports Surfing & Boogie Boarding To introduce basic skills and knowledge for participating in surfing activities Paddling techniques on boards Turning your board and body position Paddling and kicking (catching a wave) ENROLLING NEW SWIMMERS INTO THE PROGRAMS Placement in programs depends on many variables including age, skill proficiency, previous experience and readiness. The following chart is a guide only. Program Level Registration Guide Participant Requirements No previous swimming experience required Can swim front crawl at least 15 metres continuously, arms recovering above water; and back swim 5 metres continuously Is interested in participating in the sports modules. Is comfortable moving/swimming in shallow water. If participant can not swim, is comfortable using flotation support such as PFD Level Basics Strokes Sports Program Guide November 2008 Page 7 of 11
PROGRAMMING AND CLASS SIZE GUIDE Basics and Strokes are designed to be programmed in the format that is familiar to you from the Kids and Preschool programs. Basics: This program has performance criteria for evaluation and is designed to teach teens and adults the basic skills needed for swimming. The skills are from the Kids levels 1-3 with a few basic rescue skills from Red Cross Swim Kids 6 and 7. Once your swimmers have completed this level, they are ready for Strokes. Strokes is a stroke improvement distance-increasing level. This versatile level can be part of your teen and adult programming options and it can also be inserted into your Kids program to assist swimmers in completing the final work on a specific stroke. The Strokes chart is used in place of the worksheet for performance criteria and progress can be tracked in the Journal. The Personal Best Fitness Time and Distance stickers can be used with this level. The Sports modules are designed to introduce the fundamental skills of the sport. These modules are similar to the @ School program in that you have several options on how you create your schedule for offering the program. If you do not have all the equipment that you need to run a certain module, you can choose not to include this in your list of offerings, or you may choose to partner with a community sports organization to create the opportunity for participation. The modules can be run one at a time (only program two sessions of water polo for swimmers to register in) or you can combine any number of the modules together so that they run concurrently (two water polo sessions, then two synchronized swimming sessions followed by two recreational swim sessions). There is flexibility with how the modules are programmed and when. It is possible to run modules during your teen night swims or just samples of modules to encourage them to register into your next session. Sports modules are also great for collecting data about your customers interests. If there is a great deal of interest in one module, you can create a program based on this interest. Each module has two lessons; if you find there is an interest in your community for more, we encourage you to look around the community to find a coach who can offer more skill development, or if you are interested, pursue this yourself by working towards coaching certification for this sport. Versatile: Offer as a drop in, once a week, or as a camp. If you have Red Cross First Aid instructors in your community, you can tag on a Red Cross Emergency First Aid or Red Cross Babysitting course. Can be used for high school physical education class. Can be offered according to ability: either same or mixed abilities. Program Guide November 2008 Page 8 of 11
How to work with swimmers of various abilities: A basic swimming ability is required for swimmers to register in these programs. Swimmers need to be able to jump into deep water, recover to the surface, support themselves at the surface and be able to return to the edge safely. If you swimmer does not have this ability, then the swimmer should consider using an assist to keep him/her safe. With the exception of the diving skills, it is possible to adapt the skills to shallow water so that you can have swimmers with a variety of abilities participate in the modules. Some may feel more comfortable if they participate while wearing a PFD, others may choose to keep a buoyant aid with them. To help all swimmers feel comfortable, you may choose to do some activities with everyone using a buoyant aid (such as a water noodle). Level Swimmer Requirements Equipment Requirements Lesson Length (min.) Instructor/ Swimmer Ratio Number of Lessons Basics None kickboards 45-60 1:10-12 8-10 Strokes Sports Swim Workout Sports Triathlon Swim Ability to swim 15m Front crawl and 5m back swim Willing to go in deep water Ability to swim 2 strokes for 100m Confident in deep water Ability to swim 2 strokes for 100m Confident in deep water kickboards 45-60 1:10-12 8-10 pull buoys, kickboards, pace clock, goggles, kickboards Sports Lifesaving Sport Comfortable moving/swimming in shallow and deep water with or without flotation support such as PFD Water mannequins, rescue tube, throwing lifeline, fins, submersible obstacles Program Guide November 2008 Page 9 of 11
Level Swimmer Requirements Equipment Requirements Lesson Length (min.) Instructor/ Swimmer Ratio Number of Lessons Sports Boating Comfortable moving/swimming in shallow and deep water with or without flotation support such as PFD PFD/lifejackets, small craft (canoe, etc), paddles Sports Diving Ability to swim 1 stroke for 25m Confident in deep water 1m springboard, one deck towel to stand on for each diver Sports Water Polo Comfortable moving/swimming in shallow and deep water with or without flotation support such as PFD water polo balls (or substitutes), buoyant objects for water obstacles; water polo nets or kickboards Sports Underwater Hockey Ability to swim 1 stroke for 50m Confident swimming underwater fins, mask, snorkel, diving rings, diving sticks Sports Synchronized Swimming Comfortable moving/swimming in shallow and deep water with or without flotation support such as PFD device to play music on deck Sports Surfing & Boogie Boarding Comfortable moving/swimming in shallow and deep water with or without flotation support such as PFD. Kickboards, surf boards (if you have them, boogie boards); flippers; non-buoyant objects two paddleboards Ratio: The number of swimmers may be increased by 4 when the Water Safety Instructor is assisted by an Assistant Water Safety Instructor Program Guide November 2008 Page 10 of 11
Equipment requirements: the equipment identified ensures that all skills in the Red Cross Swim Sports modules can be completed. If your facility does not have the required equipment and you have a reasonable replacement that ensures the skill can be completed safely, substitutions Program Guide November 2008 Page 11 of 11