massive merchandise opportunity

Swim For Life® swim schools and facilities now have access to high quality discounted product, such as silicone swim caps, lifejackets, and polo shirts. These high quality silicone caps are a great way for swim schools and aquatic facilities to market learn to swim and survive, through dual branding.

If your or swim school/aquatic facility is interested in dual branded silicone swim caps, lifejackets and other merchandise please contact Roger by email or telephone (04) 801 9600 to discuss.

H20 XTREAM'S - SCHOOLS CURRICULUM PROGRAMME

H2O Xtream in Upper Hutt signed up to Swim For Life® early this year and made a commitment that by January 2007 every Year Two (ages 6-7) child in Upper Hutt will have participated in the H2O Xtream schools curriculum programme – consisting of ten lessons of learn to swim and survive skills.

So far this year H2O Xtream has given a total of 8,429 lessons and further 2,100 lessons at Upper Hutt School pools. There are 3,710 lessons still to be delivered between now and the end of the year of which 750 will be at school pools.

Feedback received from teachers and parents has been fantastic (see below) and they are hoping to grow the outreach programme further in 2007.

• The progress in the children is fantastic

• We were really impressed with the standard of teaching

• The kids loved the gifts!! (t-shirts and certificates)

• Well staffed, great resources in pool (stands, platforms)

• Small groups worked well

• Thanks H2O and the funders of this programme

With the help of a significant grant from the Community First Foundation over 500 local children have been involved in the learn to swim and survive programme.

H2O Xtream also offers schools further lessons in water safety, boat safety and river safety.

SWIM AND SURVIVE TIPS:

Common Faults in Learn to Swim

All of us are individuals. When a child is observed in the water the skills displayed in the water are due to age, the amount of water exposure through past experiences, vestibular and emotional senses.

However some common faults seen can be corrected with correct repetitive reminders.

1. Wobbles - When a child is swimming down the lane and seems to have the ‘wobbles’ or ‘snaking’, this is often seen as the arms over stroking. This is not the case. It is due to a weak kick and poor stability. Fast repetitive kick is essential for propulsion and stability in a young child.

2. Head up when breathing - A child who does not blow out in the water will want to lift their head up in front for fear of not inhaling enough air. Also the child might have a fear of falling forward and therefore is not comfortable with the head down and turning back to look under the arm pit.

3. Bouncing on back stroke - Often a swimmer will bounce as each arm rotates in backstroke. The swimmer is using the body to move through the water and not the kick. Strong repetitive kicking without arms will assist in stabilising the body position. Also body rotation, hips and shoulders in line will also assist in maintaining a high position in the water.

The better the technique the more efficient the swim. Remember first the swimmer must have technique, then fitness and speed will naturally follow.

© Sue Mayo

UPPER HUTT SWIM SCHOOL - LINKS TO SWIM FOR LIFE

TogZone Swimming School has been in operation since the summer of 1996, based out of Trentham School pool in Upper Hutt. The Swim School signed up to Swim For Life® earlier in the year and has put its support behind the national initiative focussed on getting New Zealand children back in the water and learning to swim and survive.

TogZone now has a new website thanks to Chilton Saint James Year 13 student Hayley D’Ath, who has just completed 20 credits, level 3, NCEA assessment for Information and Communication Technology.

The website has been a work in progress since March 2006, when Susan Hargreaves, Owner, TogZone Swimming School and Sports Coordinator at Chilton Saint James became a client of Hayley D’Ath.

The assessment entailed conceptual design development and a one-off issue to address a client issue with Information and Communication Technology. From this a brief was developed and several hours planning different ideas. The website had to show the solution to the audience that were going to use it and to make sure that it would fit into the community it was targeting.

“The underlying basis and ability to enjoy all forms of aquatic recreation safely is the ability to swim and survive”.

The website also covers educational sections on River Safety, Beach Safety and Boat Safety and also linked to Swim For Life® and the Water Safety New Zealand website.

Check it out at www.togzone.co.nz