By Albertini Cyril, AEEPS-EPIC, Ministery of Education , FRANCE
I CAN adapt in a rough water
The student is able to swim, preferably using the crawl stroke, adapting to three points (listed here in order of priority):
- Breathing: inhaling is done in opposition to the arrival of the waves (to avoid swallowing water).
- body tone: the student is able to maintain axial tone, which allows them to stay aligned and move efficiently (avoiding being thrown off course by water turbulence)
- motor movements: the student adopts a more relaxed arm stroke, which prevents them from hitting the wave crests with their hands and causing additional fatigue. .
An ideal place for this exercise is a swimming lane (preferably 25 metres) in a pool. The depth is not important.
The following equipment is required: at least one kickboard per student to generate the waves (two per student if possible: one to sit on for stability in the water and one to generate the waves).
The learner swims alone.
The other students in the group generate the waves. The rest of the class takes on this role.
The teacher asks the other students to stand in a straight line along the entire length of the course, one metre apart. The skill level of the other students in relation to the learner is irrelevant. Everyone can participate, regardless of their level.
The teacher walks alongside the learner as they swim, ready to intervene if they notice any signs of significant fatigue or panic after swallowing water.
This activity is best carried out in the middle or at the end of the lesson.
It takes approximately the same amount of time to complete the course as it does to complete the activity (about 40 seconds for a 25-metre course).
Swim 25 meters
The scenario “swimming in rough seas” can be chosen at random and/or come as a surprise once the swimmer has started their course. The surprise effect can be a source of motivation for the student who is swimming and will have to take on this type of challenge. For the other students in the class, it is very important that they engage in a fun activity (making as many waves as possible).
If the group is small and not all students can cover the entire distance, the teacher can ask them to spread out every meter along only one part of the swimmer's route. However, if the students spread out more than 3 meters apart, their actions will not be able to combine properly to generate a real chop.
Students who generate the waves must hold their boards vertically and move them forward/backward very energetically to generate a real wave. Sitting on a board allows them to be more stable and effective.
