Hi,

I'm starting to teach my 6 yr. old daughter to swim, and I'd like to
find resources to help with that.  I'm looking for a list of skills,
along with a recommended order for teaching them (probably starting
from around the blowing bubbles stage).  Resources with some guidance
on how to teach the skills would help - I'm a competent swimmer but
not exceptional.

I remember a Red-Cross report swimming lessons report card from when I
was a kid that had a set of skills with arrows among them - you'd
color in the arrows as each skill was mastered.  Something like that
is what I have in mind - plus additional tips on how to teach each one
and, finally, safety guidance.

I haven't been able to find that report card on the net, and my
inquiries at the library found books for competitive swimming but not
basic instruction.  I have found many reasons to teach kids to swim --
I'm sold, but now what?

Many thanks!

Greetings Scottmcd,

I looked for online illustrated swimming lessons and drills and found
a few excellent resources.  From among these, you should be able to
easily formulate a swimming lesson plan for your child.

Swimming Lesson Plan
http://www.sedgefield.gov.uk/lsp/swim/lessons.htm

How to Teach a Child to Swim
http://www.ehow.com/how_5295_teach-child-swim.html

How to Swim certain strokes
http://www.ehow.com/how_5048_swim-freestyle-stroke.html
http://www.ehow.com/how_5055_swim-backstroke.html
http://www.ehow.com/how_5052_swim-breaststroke.html
http://www.ehow.com/how_5301_swim-butterfly-stroke.html
http://www.ehow.com/how_6239_swim-sidestroke.html

Illustrated Backstroke
http://www.jls.palo-alto.ca.us/staff/mferolino/public/elembackstroke.jpg

Illustrated Freestyle (Front Crawl)
http://www.jls.palo-alto.ca.us/staff/mferolino/public/frontcrawl.jpg

Illustrated Breaststroke
http://www.jls.palo-alto.ca.us/staff/mferolino/public/breaststroke.jpg

Illustrated Sidestroke
http://www.jls.palo-alto.ca.us/staff/mferolino/public/sidestroke.jpg

For these four strokes, here is additional info on skill cues from the main site:

Breathing
breathe out: below the surface 
breathe in: above the surface 

Sculling
sweep up & out, then sweep down & in 
change the angle of the hands 


Skill cues for elementary backstroke

a. kick (whip kick)
bend & separate knees about hip-width 
heels down 
rotate feet out 
whip legs together 

b. stroke
Chicken hands slide along the sides until the armpit 
Airplane point fingers out, then extend arms out 
Soldier press palms and arms toward feet 

c. breathing
Inhale when arms are at side 
Exhale when pressing arms toward feet 


Skill cues for freestyle (front crawl)

a. kick
flutter 
boiling action with water 
lateral
 
b. stroke
hand pitched out entering in front of shoulders 
elbow high 
S-shape pattern: up & out, down & in, down & back 

c. breathing
roll the body to breathe 


Skill cues for breastroke

a. kick (see elementary backstroke)

b. stroke
from glide position: 
outsweep with palms out 
insweep with elbows in toward the chest 
shoot hands forward and extend arms to glide 
Pattern is Breathe, Kick, Glide

Skill cues for sidestroke

a. kick
scissors kick: similar to kick when treading water 

b. stroke
top hand: bring toward the chest with palm out then thrust foward 
bottom hand: bring in front of shoulder with palm down then push backward 

**********************************************************************

OTHER LICKS THAT MAY ASSIST:

Planning of Dryland Training for 12 & Under Age Group Swimmers By Len
Sterlin, BA ASCA Level 4 coach at
http://www.swimmingcoach.org/articles/anws/20010806.asp

Teaching Strokes 101 By Jim Reiser, M.S., 
http://www.swimmingcoach.org/articles/2000/200008141.asp

Dr. James E. Counsilman's Crawl-Stoke, Arm-Pull Pattern (illustration)
http://members.tripod.com/~anatural/swimtech.html

Some stroke illustrations
http://www.aquanaut.com.au/products/sa.shr/category_information/4/29

Hints on Swimming (some illustrations of strokes)
http://www.inquiry.net/outdoor/summer/swimming/hints.htm

4 basic swim strokes illustrated
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/sports/olympics/sydney_00/bysport/swimming/strokes.html

More illustrations of basic strokes
http://www.aquasphereusa.com/fit_styles.html

General info on teaching six year-old to swim
http://www.parents.com/articles/ages_and_stages/5338.jsp?page=4



********************************************************************

Of all the books I saw, this one seemed to best address your needs:

Book on Teaching Children to Swim Comes to the Web - 'A Gentle
Approach to Teaching Children to Swim' by Berna Bennett

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. - September 8, 2004 /Send2Press Newswire/ -- The
book "A Gentle Approach to Teaching Children to Swim" by Berna Bennett
is now on the web, announced the author today, downloadable as a PDF
ebook for $8.95, at SwimLessonsKidsLove.com. When originally published
in 1997, the printed edition sold out.

This illustrated book offers complete step-by-step instructions for
both parents and swim instructors. Techniques range from introducing
babies to the water to teaching older children all major strokes and
diving.

The book is unique because it tells how to calm children's fears. It
is easy for children to feel threatened in a new, unfamiliar
environment by fears of safety or failure. The book's techniques help
children build positive, empowered attitudes about the water, swimming
and themselves.

More at http://www.send2press.com/PRnetwire/pr04_090806-bennett.shtml


Here's an interview with Bennett:
http://www.publishersnewswire.com/print/news_0094.shtml


And here's the site where you can purchase and download the book:
http://www.swimlessonskidslove.com/

******************************************************************


I hope these resources will be of assistance.  I searched for the
report card you mentioned but found none.  However, I did find a
swimming skills checklist - see bottom of page at
http://www.novaswim.org/swimnova.htm where you'll find checklists for
pre-beginners, beginners, advanced beginners and pre-team skills.

Thank you for the opportunity to answer this interesting question.  :)
 Should any links I've provided not function for you, please let me
know.

Best regards,
journalist-ga


SEARCH STRATEGY

GOOGLE
swimming strokes illustrated
swimming drills illustrated
"online swimming guide"
"online swimming" manual
"illustrated swimming" children
"teaching children to swim"
swimming skills checklist

GOOGLE IMAGES
swimming diagram
swimming lessons
swimming manual
breaststroke
sidestroke
backstroke
butterfly stroke
freestyle stroke
front crawl stroke

This is all helpful, but the book link at the end seems to be the
closest to what I was looking for.  Thanks again!

Scottmcd, thank you for your kind words, the high rating and your
added generosity!  I'm delighted you are pleased with my research for
you.

I thought the online book seemed the best deal (and best approach) for
your needs, but I wanted you to to have those online materials in case
you wanted to craft your own lesson plans.

Happy swim coaching!  :)

Best regards,
journalist-ga