JustAddWater
30 Years Experience
Reisterstown, MD
Female, 54
I'm a Red Cross certified WSI Swim Instructor, specializing in Stroke Mechanics and Technique work. (All ages and abilities.) I've instructed off-and-on for somewhere around 30 years. In addition to instructing, I coach triathletes for the swim portion of their triathlons. (Indoor and Open Water.) For me, "water is home". So in addition to instructing and coaching, I manage an aquatic center for a local gym chain, lifeguard, and also instruct Red Cross lifeguard classes. Life's good!
Wow... That question is a pretty open one. There are many different strokes, different areas to teach within each stroke -- beyond even the foundations of just getting to that point -- and many different theories on teaching. I've worked for different organizations and entirely different teaching structures & principles. Overall, I think the most important thing as an instructor is to keep an open mind, watch other instructors around you, absorb what's good, practice your craft, and outside of the work setting, do your homework. The Flutter Kick -- for example -- is one of those areas where a lot of coaches agree to disagree. Some believe, a swimmer should be taught to point their toes. I am one who believes that the feet should be loose and relaxed. The feet do go to work and still have an active role with the flutter kick by snapping through the ankle on the downward thrust, but..should remain relaxed. Hope that helps!
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There are a lot of things that can happen when someone takes in too much water. Everything from a cough, to vomiting, to drowning can possibly occur. I've often heard that a drowning can occur in as little as 1 tablespoon of water; and with that said, I can tell you that I've see plenty of swimmers take on water, and be just fine. But, I've also know a boy who was a fantastic swimmer, who went to practice one day and never came home. Whether they would fall unconscious or not has a lot to do with the variables involved.
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Great question. And the answer really is enfolded within the purpose of your Front Crawl (or Freestyle). If you're using the stroke for a distance swim, you're probably going to use less "legs" and more upper body (dependent upon the purpose of your swim). If you're doing shorter course work, you're most likely going to want to use more "legs". Regardless of speed, the best kick to arm ratio is a 6 Beat Switch Kick: 3 kicks to one arm, 6 kicks to one full stroke. There are a lot of variables involved with instruction that can change those dynamics as well, such as the buoyancy level of your swimmer.
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Hi, Sanders. Nope; it never gets boring. Not for me, anyway. Teaching and coaching is where my heart is. I love what I do. Absolutely love it. Very few things in life make me happier than seeing a client have a breakthrough moment. I literally get a little teary-eyed with their successes.
On the opposite side of the compass, I've seen a lot of younger instructors become bored, do the same crap, student after student, complain, say they can't wait to leave their instructing job and move on to a ((uh-hem)) "real" job. When they drop that bomb, I need to remind them that to some of us, instructing and coaching IS our "real" job.
To further what I mentioned earlier, swim instructors who are at the top of their game constantly hone their craft. We study -- everything from most up to the minute stroke mechanics, to...the Navy Swim Test. In a perfect world, the more experienced the swim instructor, the more varied they are -- or should be -- in their ability to adapt to their student / client. When it becomes formulaic or boring, it's time to move on to a different career, or "real" job. (Insert snarky chuckle here.)
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Hi, Nathan. Shaving can make a different and there are different shaves to benefit different strokes. The more streamlined and aerodynamic the body, the better. So, it makes sense right?
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I love this question! Why? Well... Let's be brutally honest. I am actually the opposite of what today's world would deem as an adult with the ideal swimmer's body. I'm short (5' 2"); average build; have short arms; have tiny hands, and tiny feet. Yeah...So...Destiny says I'll never be a Schmitty (Allison Schmitt). But it has never stopped me. And it shouldn't stop anyone who has a love for the water. You don't have to be 6 ft tall to be a successful swimmer. A love for the water usually shows itself at a young age, and no child should every be swayed away from the water if that's where their heart is. That said... Olympic swimmers these days are all very tall (well, by my standards, anyway!), long and lanky, long arms, long legs, good sized hands, and the big shoulders that come hand-in-hand with years of swimming. The body is very streamlined.Great question, RC! I hope you're a swimmer -- with a question like that, you probably are. Regardless of what body type you are, I hope you reach for the stars! Or...in a swimmer's case...Ribbons and beyond! Have a great day!
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If you're operating your own swim school or holding lessons at your home, yes, you definitely need your own insurance. (Wouldn't hurt to be bonded either.) In regard to the second question though, I would hope that you're covered by the pool or company that you work for; but, it's a tad bit of a gray area because of how things "can" happen and how much damage could potentially occur -- that's "if" you want to look at all of the ginormous "what if's".
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