SWIMMING

KEYWORDS:
Strokes
Style
Submerge
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
• Trace the history of swimming
• Discuss briefly the nature of swimming
• List four techniques in swimming
• State three swimming strokes
 HISTORY OF SWIMMING
• Swimming likely originated as a survival skill. Early humans would have had to swim for food, escape
predators, and navigate water bodies such as rivers and lakes. There are records of swimming being
practiced in ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome. The Greeks viewed swimming as both a recreational
activity and an essential part of military training.
• In 1837, the National Swimming Society was formed in London, which played a significant role in
promoting the sport. Swimming techniques began to evolve, and the breaststroke was the dominant
style during this period. In 1844, a swimming competition was held in London.
• Swimming became an Olympic sport in 1896, and the range of events expanded over the years to
include various distances and strokes.
• Nigeria embraced organized swimming in 1936. The Nigerian Swimming federation was formed in
1958 with its first chairman as Mr. G.O. Amos.
• Throughout history, swimming has evolved from a basic survival skill to a highly organized and
competitive sport enjoyed by millions of people around the globe.
 NATURE OF SWIMMING
• Swimming is a form of locomotion in water accomplished by coordinated movements of the body and
limbs. It involves propelling oneself through the water using specific techniques, such as arm strokes,
leg kicks, and rhythmic breathing
• Swimming has been a natural habit or leisure activity of many people living in the riverine or marine
areas of the world. Humans engage in swimming for economic, defensive, recreational, cultural and
survival purposes.
• The benefits of swimming encompasses Lifelong Skill, Cultural Significance, Therapeutic Benefits,
Competitive Sport, Recreation and Leisure, Skill Development, Aquatic Environment & Physical
Activity.
• As a recreational activity, swimming offers individuals the opportunity to enjoy the water, relax, and
cool off on hot days. It's a popular leisure activity for people of all ages, whether they're swimming in
pools, lakes, rivers, or oceans. Many people also engage in swimming as part of their fitness routine,
as it provides a full-body workout that improves cardiovascular health, builds muscle strength, and
increases endurance.
 SWIMMING TECHNIQUES/STROKES
• 1. Freestyle
• Also known as the front crawl, freestyle is the fastest and most efficient
competitive swimming stroke. Often referred to as a long-axis stroke, the
technique for swimming freestyle is maintaining a fully horizontal, face-down
position. The head remains in a neutral position except for each time the
swimmer takes a breath.
• 2. Backstroke
• The backstroke is the only stroke not performed facing downward. This stroke
is another long-axis stroke that uses many of the same principles and body
positioning as the front crawl or freestyle but performed on one’s back.
 SWIMMING TECHNIQUES/STROKES
• 3. Breaststroke
• The basic principle behind swimming the breaststroke is summed up in the
mantra: pull, breathe, kick and glide. One of the most important aspects of
understanding breaststroke, performed in a face-down position, is the glide,
which takes place at the beginning and end of each stroke cycle. The arm pull
features four phases: glide, outsweep, insweep and recovery, while the leg
motion is similar to a frog’s kick.
• 4. Butterfly
• It’s a complex stroke that requires coordination, strength and practice. In a
face-down position, the swimmer starts with their head in a neutral position, their
arms shoulder-width apart and their palms facing down. The swimmer pulls both
arms down, out and over the surface of the water simultaneously while
performing a dolphin kick with both legs together.
 SWIMMING EQUIPMENT

Swimsuits: swimsuits are made from Kickboards: Kickboards are buoyant

materials that provide comfort, foam or plastic boards used to isolate
Fins: Swimming fins are worn on
flexibility, and minimal drag in the and strengthen the leg muscles during
water. kicking drills. the feet to increase propulsion
and speed in the water.
Goggles: Goggles protect the eyes Pull Buoys: Pull buoys are flotation
from irritation and allow swimmers to devices placed between the thighs to Snorkels: Snorkels allow
see clearly underwater. isolate the upper body during
swimmers to breathe while
swimming.
Swim Caps: Swim caps help streamline keeping their face submerged
the head and reduce drag in the water. Hand Paddles: Hand paddles are
underwater. They are commonly
They also protect the hair from plastic or rubber devices worn on the
chlorine and help keep it out of the hands to increase resistance and used for training drills and
face during swimming propulsion during swimming strokes. underwater swimming
 SAFETY PROCEDURES IN SWIMMING

• Walk, don’t run.

• Look before you leap or dive.
• Be careful getting in and out of the pool.
• Never swim alone.
• Wear life jackets or personal floatation devices.
• Wash or shower before entering the pool
• Wear proper swimming wear.
• Do not bring food or drinks into the pool.
• Look for signs around the swimming pool and read them.
 SWIMMING CONTINUED..
OBJECTIVES:
• Analyze the dimension of a standard
swimming pool
• Describe the four basic swimming
strokes
• List three officials that officiate a
swimming event.
• Enumerate the various swimming
Competitions organized in national and
international levels.
 DIMENSION OF A STANDARD SWIMMING
POOL
• An Olympic-sized pool measures 50 meters (164
feet) in length and 25 meters (84 feet) in width. It
typically features 8 to 10 lanes, each with a width
of 2.5 meters (8.2 feet), ensuring ample space
for competitive swimmers
• According to FINA rules World Championships
require 8 lanes and Olympic Games require 10
lanes. The lanes are a minimum of 2.5m wide,
with two spaces of at least 2.5m wide outside of
the first and last lanes.
 OFFICIALS IN SWIMMING
The following are the list of officiating officials in a swimming sport;
• Referee: The Referee is for overseeing and administering the event. He will
verify decisions made by fellow judges and will make a final ruling if an
appeal has been made.
• Starter: The starter is responsible for starting the race and is in charge of the
swimmers once the Referee has given him instructions to begin the race.
• Timers: There are 8 timers one for each swimmer. They record the time for
the swimmer who is swimming in the lane they are in charge of.
• Chief Timer: He verifies the electronically recorded times, after he has
checked with the timers.
• Finish Judge: He decides and reports on what positions the swimmers
finished in.
• Stroke Judges: There are 4 stroke judges and they watch the swimmers to
verify that the swimmers are performing the stroke in a legal manner.
• Turn Judges: They verify that the swimmer has made a legal turn.
 SWIMMING COMPETITIONS

INTERNATIONAL COMPETITIONS
NATIONAL COMPETITIONS
• Africa Zone Junior & Senior Swimming Championships
• Nigeria Aquatic Federation • African Junior & Senior Swimming Championship

• All Schools National • FINA World Aquatics Championships

Swimming Competition • FINA World Swimming Championships (25m)

(ASNSC) • African Youth Games

• African Games
• Nigeria Swimming
• Commonwealth Games
Association
• Olympic Games
World Aquatics
formerly known as
FINA
French: Fédération
internationale de
natation Amateur;
English: International
Swimming Federation
 ASSIGNMENT

State five benefits of swimming