HANNA KIM ALMONTE 7 – ROSE MAPEH 7 HISTORY OF SWIMMING Swimming is an ancient activity that has taken place since both water and humans were on the earth. Prehistoric drawings from the southwestern part of Egypt show original documentation of people swimming. The images seem to show the dog paddle or breaststroke, but these may have been more ritualistic than anything. Of course, anciently, swimming was done because it was necessary for survival. Whether people needed to cross a river to safety on the other side or simply know how to tread water to prevent drowning, swimming has certainly come a long way since its ancient days. Here is the history of swimming in a competitive sense as it is known today. SKILLS IN SWIMMING Water Comfort The most basic and essential swimming skill is simply becoming comfortable in the water. Although humans are born with innate water skills, many people develop a fear of the water. When unintentional submersion occurs, panicking gets in the way of logical thinking and increases the likelihood of drowning. To become more comfortable in the water, spend time in a shallow pool or wading in the ocean. Never enter the water alone, especially if you are not a strong swimmer. Breath Control Breathing is often difficult for novice swimmers. With water all around, having some water enter the nose and mouth is a common occurrence. Some novice swimmers panic at the feeling of water in their noses, while others have trouble holding their breath while submerged. Learning to control your breathing is a key component in learning to swim. Breath control begins with simple exercises such as drawing a breath, submerging, blowing bubbles and then resurfacing for another breath. As your swimming skills improve, you will learn specific breathing techniques for different strokes. Work with a swimming coach or a friend or relative who is a strong swimmer. Floating Floating, or keeping your body in a horizontal position in the water, is a basic water skill. If you accidentally fall in the water, you may be able to float until you are rescued, even if you are not strong enough to swim to safety. Humans are naturally buoyant, and floating is not difficult. Like any other skill, however, floating does require a bit of technique. Get lessons from a coach or a competent friend or relative. Kicking Kicking provides propulsion through the water. Once you are comfortable with floating, kicking is the logical next step. Kicking is also used in treading water, which is the process of remaining in one place while keeping your head above the water line. Many coaches use kickboards, or flat flotation devices made of foam or plastic, to support the swimmer’s body. A kickboard allows you to focus solely on your kicking technique without worrying about staying afloat. Strokes Strokes are the arm movements used to pull the body through the water. The front crawl, sidestroke, breast stroke, backstroke and butterfly are the five most common swimming strokes. Each stoke uses different body positioning, breathing techniques and arm movements. Training with a qualified swimming coach is the best way to learn the various strokes. EQUIPMENT IN SWIMMING Swimsuit You'll need a swimsuit unless you plan on skinny-dipping! Like many other things, technology has entered the swimsuit arena as well. Fabrics are designed for minimal resistance through the water, they tend to last a long time, and they resist fading even when used repeatedly in chlorinated pools. Of course, not all of us would be comfortable in the skimpy racing suits that you see Olympians wear, but the good news is that you can find more modest suits at sporting goods and department stores as well as through a number of online vendors (see the resources section). Comfort is the most important quality in selecting a swimsuit. You're less likely to swim if you're uncomfortable in your suit. Goggles Goggles protect your eyes from chlorine (and anything else that may be in the water), and they help you keep your eyes open while you swim so that you can see where you're going. You can even get prescription swim goggles if you wear glasses (check with your optician for availability). To find the right pair of goggles, do the following: Put the goggles over your eyes without slinging the strap over your head. Press the goggles into your eye sockets and let go. The goggles should stay in place. Experiment until you find the pair that fits your eyes best. Bathing caps Bathing caps can serve several purposes. Some pool managers will require individuals with long hair to wear caps to keep hair from getting into the pool, and some people just like to protect their hair from the chlorine in the water. You may also decide to wear a bathing cap to cut down on resistance in the water. This really works, and so if you're looking to increase your time a bit, a bathing cap might help. Many caps are made of latex, although you can find silicone, neoprene (keeps you warm), and Lycra as well. Choose the one that fits your head and is most comfortable. Flotation devices and other equipment There are a number of flotation devices and other equipment available to help you learn how to swim, improve your swimming times if you start to get competitive, and add resistance to your water workouts to build muscular strength and tone. Flotation devices help keep you afloat so that you can slow down and work on your swim stroke without sinking or causing too much fatigue, and they help with confidence for individuals who don't know how to swim. Read on to learn more about floatation devices. Kickboards Kickboards are devices made of foam or other materials that float, and they come in a variety of shapes and sizes. The main purpose is for you to hold on and stay afloat while your legs do all the work. It's good exercise for coordinating your kicking, and it gives your arms a rest. One technique that I suggest to swimmers who want to keep swimming continuously without a break is to leave a kickboard at the end of the pool, and when they get tired, grab the kickboard and do a lap or two with it until they get their arm strength back, and then drop the kickboard off at the end of the pool and swim again until they need the kickboard again. Many pools have kickboards available to try out. Fins Fins fit on your feet and add propulsion to your kicks (think of a duck's webfoot). They are great training for your legs and will help you swim faster. They come in long fins for beginners who want to work on their stroke and build up leg strength and ankle flexibility and short fins to help you go faster without overworking your legs. Fins should fit snugly but not so tight that they cut into your foot or cut off circulation. Wear socks with your fins if that feels more comfortable. Gloves Gloves, like hand paddles, also add resistance for your arms, although they are smaller than paddles and so the resistance is lighter. These might be a better choice than paddles if you're just starting out with resistance exercises in the water.
