21 Apr 2013

THUMA Botswana Swimming Club in collaboration with Mai’s Aquatic Centre have organised a week long 'Learn to Swim' training course facilitated by Swim South Africa (SSA) for some local instructors.

The course, which was held at Thornhill School, was an entry level for toddlers’ swimming, coaching and bridging course.

Mai’s Aquatic Centre managing director, Bridget Wright said the course provides candidates with essential competences to teach swimming and water safety to children of at least four years old.

During  training, candidates were provided with pre-course manual, main course and course programme. 

Both the pre-course and main course manuals covered how people learn, swimming teacher and the law, principles of movement in water, introduction to swimming, water safety and back and breast stroke techniques.

At the end of the course, all candidates were expected to sit for a theory examination and undergo a practical examination, which they were required to pass, before they could be awarded the SSA Learn to Swim instructor certificates, which would be valid for a period of four years.

The Learn to Swim instructors’ training course facilitator from SSA, Bronnyn Cumming, said it was important for swim instructors to continuously undergo courses to keep up with the times as techniques change.

She noted that swim instructors have to be abreast with what’s happening in the field of swimming.

Cumming also said swim instructors should always represent their qualifications in a professional manner by abiding by all swimming rules, enhancing their safety knowledge, providing equal opportunities and respect to all leaners.

She further said swim instructors should strive to find out how they could encompass people with disabilities on their swim coaching.

In order to be an effective swim coach, she said, it was important to learn how people learn how to swim irrespective of their age, background culture as well as physical and mental wellbeing. ENDS