An Cosantóir April 2015 www.dfmagazine.ie
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by SGT RENA KENNEDY, DF PRESS OFFICE PhoToS SGT PAUL BRADY, CIS GP, DFTC
B
oth the basic Swimming and Assistant Swim Teachers courses commenced in the Defence Forces Physical Educa-
tion School (DFPES), Military College, DFTC, on 9th February 2015 and ran concurrently for two weeks. The courses
are hosted by DFPES with tutors coming from the school staff (Sgt Stephen o'Toole, Sgt Mick brogan & Cpl Mary
Wrafter) and also from Irish Water Safety (Anna byrne and retired Coy Sgt Dan o'Connell).
For the students on the basic course the majority of time is spent in the water being taught the various leg and arm
actions for the four main swim strokes (front crawl, back crawl, breast stroke and butterfly). Instruction is also given on
life saving and survival strokes, such as treading water, sidestroke and life-saving stroke. Each swim stroke is taught with a
contrasting activity, such as head/feet-first surface dives, pencil dives and sculling. Lessons vary in length but the majority
last approximately 30-40 minutes, depending on the ability of the class.
The students on the Assistant Swim Teachers course spent periods in the lecture hall learning the teaching practices and
teaching points for each swim and life-saving stroke and contrasting activity. For teaching purposes swimming strokes are
broken down into different phases. As an assistant swim teacher you must know the levels of the students you are teach-
ing and also move at a reasonable pace of instruction for your students, which can be challenging if some pupils are more
advanced than others. Keeping the attention of your class, be they adults or children, is a vital part of your teaching ability
WaTeRWaTeR
Everywhere...
Basic Swimming Course
Pte Gretta O'Connor
giving instructions
Sgt Liam Brady executes a dive under the
watchful eye of Sgt Mick Brogan
