Gliding

Gliding is the most crucial part of swim teaching and this is why it is important to teach it as correctly as possible.  On the part of the learner some uncertainty might be experienced, esepcially when trying to stand on feet after gliding. Several afctors may influence the glide and one of these is the optimal position of the body. It is importantr to stretch legs and arms and put their face in the water.

Exercises to teach front glide include the following tasks:

• Pair work: learners face each other and hold hands. One of them would lie on the water and the other one would pull him/her.
• The same exercise is repeated but the learners occasionally let their hands go.
• Learners grab a board and stand with their backs to the wall. They inhale, tilt their heads and then push off. They glide 3-4 metres and then stand again on their feet.
• Learners first practice gliding only by doing a few metres on their own. They stand facing the wall at a distance of 2.5-3 m from the wall and glide towards the wall on their own.
• The last step is to let them glide on their own. The learners stand with their back to the wall. They put both arms straight out, lift one of their legs and rest it on the wall.  After inhaling they put their faces in the water and push off. After 3-4 metres of gliding they stand on their feet.

Back glide:

• Initially learners need the teacher’s help. They start from a crouching position.  They are in water up to their necks and raise their arms. They push off. It is important to push backwards instead of jumping up.  The next step is that the instructor takes the learner’s hand and pulls him/her on the water surface.  
• The same task is performed by pairs of children.
• The same task is performed by pairs of children but occasionally they let their hands go.
• The learners face the wall with swim floats in their hands. They raise their floats and lie with their backs on the water. They glide 2-3 metres, then they stand on their feet. The instructor or a peer standing there may correct the glider’s movements and position.
• Gliding is performed by the learners without help.

At this stage there are two important issues to be considered. After the glide the children should pull their knees under their bodies and lift their heads. These movements will make it possible for them to stand easily on their feet.