No matter how practical, so far as the motions of the limbs are concerned, no swimming land-drill will become popular which requires the pupil to lie across benches or chairs, and at the same time move the arms and legs, as the pressure on the abdomen is then severe. The experiment needs only to be tried to demonstrate its exhausting effects.
There does not appear to be any great record of work accomplished by these drills, but it should be remembered that in England they have never been taken up by swimming teachers to any great extent. At Portsmouth, some years ago, Torkington's drill was advocated by the Swimming Club as a means of instruction, but it was not given a fair trial.
Swimmers themselves ridicule the idea, but they should not forget that they once had to pass through the ordeal of learning, and that this ordeal is very often far from pleasant if the pupil is only able to paddle about instead of swim ; for nothing makes a bather colder than standing about in the water. We do not believe the statements which have been made by the originators of these drills, or on their behalf, that, when once the drills have been thoroughly acquired, the learner will in every case be able to swim immediately he takes to the water ; but we are confident from our own experience of the life-saving drill, that when once acquired the movements will be performed mechanically when in the water, and that the land-teaching will enable a beginner to develop very quickly a good leg-stroke, and without much extra tuition adapt himself to the altered conditions.
It is difficult to bring the legs together at the same time that the arms are separated from each other, as well as to assume the position which facilitates floating with the head above the surface, and it is therefore advisable that, before entering the water, some instruction should be given as to the various movements of the limbs.
This can be done in schools much more easily by means of a drill than by a mere lecture, because the boys or girls will at once pick up the points, and be able to practise them during the winter, before the bathing begins. At many schools the pupils are not taught at all, but are sent to the bath in squads, and have to acquire their knowledge the best way they can.
It should always be borne in mind when practising the swimming strokes that every movement must be slowly and carefully executed, the circular sweep of the arms and legs properly defined, and all haste and flurry avoided. When in the water it is the invariable tendency of all beginners to bend the back, as if stooping, take little, short, jerky plunges with hands and feet, and to forget to straighten the limbs. Soon exhaustion comes on, the learner gasps for air, and his mouth at once fills with water. It is the province of every teacher to point out these difficulties, and the simplest method is by means of a drill, which with youngsters is far more effective than any amount of verbal explanation.
We have therefore framed, from the materials at our disposal and a test of the other land-drills which have been published, the following drill, which can be easily acquired, and which, if practised whilst each point is explained by the teacher, will give every pupil a general idea as to what he should do when in the water, as well as enable him early in his swimming career to avoid falling into a laboured style of progression.