Essential - Equipment
Packing your swim bag:
Towels & swimming costumes are always top of the list when the kit bag gets packed however what some families overlook is swim goggles.
Goggles:
Why are goggles important when swimming?
Goggles are a vital part of learning to swim. It allows swimmers to relax in the water and understand their surroundings. Wearing goggles allows swimmers to comfortably submerge their face into the water, allowing the legs to rise and the body to rest into a horizontal position. If you are working with your swimmer in the pool encourage the use of goggles wherever possible you will quickly see the benefits for yourself.
Your swimmer may say that "they do not need goggles" to swim, "they can see without them". It may be a struggle in the initial stages to get your swimmer onboard but stick with it, as soon as your swimmer is comfortably wearing goggles you will see amazing results very quickly.
If you have an older more advanced swimmer that has not used goggles in the past, again try to encourage there use. This will allow them to focus their vision comfortably when swimming allowing for a stable head position and a more effective swimming stroke.
Essential Swim Online Equipment
Stages 1 - 3 (Red, Orange , Green)
Swim Noodles:
Swim noodles are a really useful tool especially for younger swimmers. The swim noodle offers a stable base that your swimmer can work from and develop confidence in the pool.
The biggest benefit of the swim noodle especially with younger swimmers is the sense of freedom in the water. Once your swimmer is confident in the water on a swim noodle you can quickly begin to introduce and encourage submersion of the face and eyes. This element is key in your swimmers development and critical in progressing your swimmer on independent swimming without support.
The swim noodle is also a useful tool for older swimmers. It offers a solid, stable and secure base for your swimmer to work from. This is especially useful when working on more complex movements such as the breaststroke leg kick. The noodle offers a level of support allowing your swimmer to focus 100% of their attention and effort on the correct movements.
Essential Swim Online Equipment
Stages 2 - 5 (Orange , Green, Blue, Purple)
Kick boards:
Kick boards are a really useful tool as they allow the swimmer to isolate specific parts of the body. Kick boards also provide a level of support especially for the younger swimmers.
Finding the right kick board is essential, a good guide to finding the right kick board is to place it against your swimmers body. The kick board should be roughly the same size as your swimmers torso and chest. As your swimmer grows and develops the size of the kick board should also increase. If a swimmer is using a kick board that is too big they will find it hard to manoeuvre in the water and often hard to grip.
Swimmers that are working in the Stroke Development stages of the Swim Online programme should consider a kick board with hand grips. This will come in useful for some of the more complex and tricky drills that they will be covering within that programme.
When using the kick board on the front it should be positioned in an stretched position with arms fully extended. Avoid swimmers from "surfing" on the kick board or placing it on their chest. This will provide your swimmer with more support however it will cause the body position to rise and create resistance slowing your swimmer.
We recommend the JPLennord coloured kick boards, these can be purchased in different size options 1, 2 & 3. The first two sizes are ideal for those swimmers participating in the Red and Orange stages of the Swim online programme. The size 3 JPL floats are suitable for swimmers in the green and blue stages.
Just For Fun!!!
Water Toys:
Water Toys are ideal to help engage younger swimmers, especially those working through the Red and Orange Swim Online stages.
Successfully using toys within lesson delivery:
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Use as a distance marker or target for your swimmer. This will give them an incentive and purpose to complete the task.
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Rewarding new skills or using as a comfort to encourage swimmers to try new activities e.g. when working on submersion, the toy can accompany yourself and swimmer under the water.
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Water toys can be positioned randomly around the pool for your swimmer to collect. This is a good way to introduce independent movement on the swim noodle.
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If using a squirt toy / bucket / cup these can be used to help encourage water to be poured over your swimmers head and face.
Dive Sticks:
Submersion is one of the core aquatic skills that all swimmers will develop though the Swim Online programme. This should not be confused with "games" or "toys", although dive sticks are a fun activity for most swimmers. They incorporate skills such as breath control and spacial awareness when beneath the water.
There are a whole range of activities, games and challenges involving dive sticks throughout the swim online programme. Dive sticks are not an essential piece of equipment, any submersible object can be used in their place to practise the submersion skills.
Swimming Aids:
Swim Online has been developed so that you can work in close contact with you swimmer. The objective is to get your swimmer, safe, confident and proficient in the pool. Swimming aids have their place however remember the Swim Online programme will show you how best to work with your swimmer without the use of swimming aids.
Armbands:
Armabnds will give your swimmer the freedom to move independently around the pool. Armbands help with water orientation, movement and building independence. The major draw back of armbands is that they restrict arm movement and also encourage your swimmer into a vertical position. Armbands are great for fun sessions or when on holiday when the focus is not centred around learning to swim. When using armbands swimmers should always be accompanied by a responsible adult.
Swim Vest:
Swim vests give your swimmer the freedom to move independently around the pool and allow the arms the freedom move freely. Like armbands swim vests help with water orientation, movement and building independence. Swim vests also encourage a poor swimming position encouraging your swimmer into an upright position. Swim vest are great for fun sessions or when on holiday when the focus is not centred around learning to swim. When using swim vest swimmers should always be accompanied by a responsible adult.
Swim Fins:
Not only do swim fin's look great but they are also a great tool to help encourage swimmers into a more horizontal position. Swim fins are recommended for confident non swimmers who are comfortable submerging the face and eyes. Due to the way swim fins are positioned they encourage swimmers into a more natural horizontal swimming position. This can be difficult for younger swimmers or a swimmer who has yet to develop the strength to reposition themselves in the water.
It is not recommended that swim fins are used during any Swim Online session, and the guidance within the Swim Online programme will guide you through the best ways to work with your swimmer. When using the swim fins or similar swimming aids swimmers should always be accompanied by a responsible adult.