Swimming and water safety Education is not just about being and around the water it also extends to the appropriate swimwear for participants and your teachers.
Having to address or re-tie swimwear that is not fitted correctly can take up precious time in a swimming lesson therefore is important that participants and teachers have the correct swimwear.
How should your teaching team present?
Remember your swimming teachers represent your brand. Teachers should appear neat and tidy. They should be wearing a rash shirt (preferably long sleeved if outside and hat, be sun smart). Shorts should be worn whether female or male. Modesty and professionalism is important, not only for them but also to make their students feel comfortable. As teachers can be teaching any age, culture and demographic appearance is everything and your team must present professionally to all of these potential groups.
How can you help communicate with new participants?
For swimmers of any age, swimwear should fit correctly. Loose board shorts and oversized rash vests and any other oversized swimwear shouldn’t be worn. It causes resistance and hinders movement in the water. Teachers must be able to see a swimmer’s technique in order to be able to help them progress.
Strings and ties on swimmers can cause issues within lessons as they don’t always stay tied up. No matter what piece of swimwear they are on try to avoid them. They can cause embarrassment and waste precious practice time in the water.
Toddlers and young babies will require swimming nappies and in some cases an extra neoprene pull up over will be requested by the swim school. It is also a good idea to have a well fitted rash shirt or swimming zip up on to help keep them warm.
Inform parents, grandparents or carers to wear a rash shirt or old t-shirt for baby or toddler to grab on to during a lesson. It allows the child to feel secure without pulling on swimmers and causing a moment of embarrassment.
Multicultural groups are a large portion of Australian society and participants of these groups may wear swimwear that is more covered than expected. If this is the case ensure your staff are respectful and aware of these cultural differences.
Participants with special needs may wish to wear certain things to their lessons, as long whatever they wish to wear doesn’t pose a safety risk, allow them to wear this item. Remember getting this swimmer into the water and teaching them swimming and water safety skills is the priority in this case.
English may not be the first language for some of your participants so it may be an idea to have some communication available to multicultural groups that attend your centre. Educate your team, be mindful of cultural differences, be respectful and inclusive.
Many participants are not aware of what the correct swimwear so if you can provide this information to your participants and families it will make the experience more enjoyable from the beginning.
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