Swimming Notes

Introduction to Swimming

• Swimming involves propelling the body through water using arm and leg motions.

• It's a versatile activity for physical development, therapy, and lifesaving.

Historical Development

• 17th Century: Imperial edict in Japan made swimming compulsory.

• 19th Century: Swimming events held in Japan prior to the Western world.

• 1896: Competitive swimming included in the modern Olympic Games.

• 1912: Women's events added to the Olympics.

• World Aquatics (FINA) is the governing body for swimming.

• 1907: First swimming pool in the Philippines built at Fort McKinley YMCA.

• 1910: Formal beginning of swimming in the Philippines.

• 1951: Philippines at First Asian Games, New Delhi.

Prominent Names

• International: Michael Phelps (most decorated Olympian).

• Local: Teofilo Yldefonso (father of modern breaststroke).

Facilities and Equipment

• Olympic Size Pool Specifications:

  • Length: $50$ m

  • Width: $25.0$ m

  • Depth: $2.0$ m (minimum), $3.0$ m (recommended)

  • Number of lanes: $10$

  • Lane width: $2.5$ m

Swim Wear Specifications

• Men's Swimwear: Must not extend above the navel or below the knee.

• Women's Swimwear: Must not cover the neck, extend past the shoulder, or below the knee.

Swimming Hazards

• Conditions that can be dangerous in and around water, including weather conditions and drowning.

Water Safety Measures

• Drowning Prevention Tips:

  • Rest when tired.

  • Avoid alcohol/drugs while swimming.

  • Learn water rescue and CPR.

  • Never dive into unfamiliar or shallow water.

  • Learn to swim, float, and tread water.

• Water Safety Entries:

  • Wading entry

  • Swivel entry

  • Step off entry

  • Dive entry

• Emergency Protocol (Aqua-Code):

  1. Call for help

  2. Reach

  3. Throw

  4. Learn to swim

Life Below Water

• Every year, $8$ million tons of plastic are dumped into our oceans.

• Top Items Collected:

  1. Cigarette Butts

  2. Plastic Beverage Bottles

  3. Food Wrappers

  4. Plastic Bottle Caps

  5. Straws, Stirrers

• Decomposition rates of common marine debris items vary significantly (e.g., plastic bottle: $450$ years, aluminum can: $200$ years).

Basic Skills in Swimming

• 5 Basic Skills:

  • Breath Control

  • Kicking

  • Water Acclimation

  • Floating

  • Strokes

• Breathing Technique:

  1. Inhale through your mouth

  2. Store the air in your chest

  3. Close your mouth

  4. Hold your breath

  5. Assess breath control

• Floating: Displacing more water than your body weighs.
  *3 Types of Floating Skill: Tuck Float, Prone Float, Supine Float

• Gliding: Moving through water without using arms, legs, head, or torso.

• Streamline Position: Reduces drag in the water.

• Water Resistance: Smaller drag in streamlined position; larger drag in unstreamlined position.
  *Using The Wall for swimming.

• Kicking:

  • Flutter Kick

  • Whip Kick

  • Dolphin Kick

• Strokes:

  • Alternating Arm Catch Up

  • Outsweep-Insweep Pull

  • Overhead Arm Pull

Swimming Styles