THE SWIMMING LESSON Having stated these preliminaries, the lesson may now be proceeded with; and the pupil must always bear in mind that to be successful there are three essentials, viz. :— Confidence in the buoyancy of the body when the proper motions are made.
Presence of mind to think on, and perform the necessary movements.
Determination to learn.
Do not jump or dive from a height into the water, until accustomed to the slight shock experi enced by learners. Walk quickly into the water until immersed to the middle of the body, turn the face to the shallow part, and duck the whole body and head by bending the knees, the one foot being behind the other. Have a friend to support the body, by means of a strap passed round the chest under the armpits, and meeting in the hollow between the shoulders. This can be done best by the teacher leaning over the stern of a small punt. In this position he can see every portion of the pupil's limbs, and can direct the movements very easily without entering the water at all. Get the body into position, by throwing the head well forward, lift the feet off the ground, and stretch the legs as far apart as possible. This position of the nether limbs gives them floating power, and keeps them close to the surface of the water.
To make the lesson simple, there are three motions of legs and arms, which are numbered, and must be accurately performed as follows : With the arms—Bring the hands, with the palms close together, in front of the chest and directly under the chin, the fingers pointing straight in front.
At "one," stretch the arms out to their full extent in front, the palms still close together, and the hands about two inches under the surface of the water. (See Fig. r, Plate I.) At "two," separate the hands, and turn the wrists slightly until the hands are lying flat on the water; now brace the wrists, and, without bending the elbows, bring the arms slowly round, describing with each a quarter circle, until hands, arms, and shoulders are in a straight line across. (See Fig. 2,
Plate I.) At " three, " let the palms face towards the feet, and bring the hands in a straight line to the position whence they started. While this movement is being performed, the fingers should be pointing partly to the bottom of the pond, and, in a slanting direction, toward the front of one's own body. ( See Fig. 3, Plate I.) Practise these movements until they are per formed accurately. Now keep the hands in the third position and practise the kick, before begin ning which, bring the feet close up to the body, toes and knees of each foot and leg turned outward.
With the legs—At " one, " kick the legs out to their full extent, as wide apart as possible. Be sure, when practising this part of the kick, to have the toes turned to the side outwards, and keep the ankles perfectly stiff. (See Fig. 4, Plate II.) At " two, " brace the knees, toes turned down ward, and, without jerking, bring the legs neatly together, joint for joint. (See Fig. 5, Plate IL) At "three," bring the feet close up to the body, the heels touching and the knees again turned to the side, the toes to be pointed sideways imme diately the feet are close to the body. ( See Fig. 6, Plate II.) Practise these movements slowly, and distinctly separate, until each one is performed perfectly. Then begin the movements of arirks and legs simul taneously as follows:— At " one," put the arms out in front, and kick the legs wide apart. ( See Figs. z and it.) At "two," bring the arms round, describing the quarter circle, at the same time pulling the legs together until they touch. (See Figs. 2 and 5.) At " three," return the hands to the original position, and bring the heels close up to the body, knees and toes turned out. ( See Figs. 3 and 6.) Work with legs and arms in unison, slowly at first, and counting each movement. In a short time the motions will be performed quite mechanic ally, and, once they are learned, they are not easily forgotten.