PE History of Swimming

• Swimming technique shown in cave wall painting

  Ancient Egyptian clay tablet from 4000-9000 B.C. shows swimming style with arm-stroke depicted

  Warriors forced to swim as part of military training
• During Ancient Greeks and Rome: Swimming was a measure of culture

  Herod the Great made swimming compulsory for all male children

  Germanic people used swimming as a tactical exercise

  Swimming had an important role in training Samurai in Japan

  Swimming was part of military training in China
• Middle Ages or Dark Ages:

  • Swimming considered unclean and sinful for it is associated with evil, sin, and temptation
  • Water lost popularity after fall of Roman Empire
• Renaissance of swimming:

  • Swimming and bathing in open waters became popular again
  • John Locke advocated teaching children how to swim for safety
  • Swimming pools started to be built in 18th and 19th centuries
• Modern Times:

  • Mark Spitz won 7 gold medals in Munich Olympics in 1972
  • Tamas Darnyi was a four-time Olympic medley champion in 1980
  • Michael Phelps won 8 medals, including 6 gold, in 2004 Athens Olympics
  • Michael Phelps set world records in butterfly events in Rome in 2004
  • FINA conducted Swimming World Cup annually with Phelps as a popular recorder
• Historical background of swimming in the Philippines:

  • American men introduced swimming as a competitive sport in the Philippines
  • First swimming pool constructed in 1907 at Fork McKinley YMCA
  • First dual swimming meet in 1910 between Manila YMCA and Fork McKinley
  • Teofilo Yldefonso recognized as the greatest Filipino swimmer in 1924
  • Outstanding Filipino swimmers before World War II and in various championship meets
• Remberto C. Lozada, also known as "Tito Bert", formulated and implemented his own style of teaching swimming in 1956
• The main strokes used in competitive swimming are freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, and butterfly
• Swimming is a great workout because it requires moving the whole body against the resistance of the water
• Freestyle stroke allows the swimmer to swim any style, except in Individual Medley or Medley Relay events
• Backstroke requires the swimmer to be completely submerged during the turn and for a distance of not more than 15 meters after the start and each turn
• Breaststroke allows the swimmer to take one arm stroke completely back to the legs after the start and after each turn
• Butterfly stroke requires the body to be kept on the breast from the beginning of the first arm stroke after the start and each turn
• Origins of swimming:

  • Ancestors settled next to water, fished, hunted, and likely swam
  • Swimming technique depicted in ancient Egyptian clay tablet from 4000-9000 B.C.
  • Warriors forced to swim as part of military training
• During Ancient Greeks and Rome:

  • Swimming was a measure of culture
  • Assyrians and young people in Israel had obligatory swimming lessons
  • Herod the Great made swimming compulsory for all male children
• Middle Ages or Dark Ages:

  • Swimming considered unclean and sinful
  • Church prohibited physical exercise, swimming, and bathing
  • Knights had to learn horseback swimming
• Renaissance of swimming:

  • Swimming and bathing in open waters became popular again
  • John Locke emphasized the importance of teaching children how to swim
  • Competitions held in man-made pools in London
• Modern times:

  • Mark Spitz won 7 gold medals in Munich in 1972
  • Tamas Darnyi was a four-time Olympic medley champion
  • Michael Phelps won 8 medals, including 6 gold, in the 2004 Athens Olympics
• Historical background of swimming in the Philippines:

  • American men introduced swimming as a competitive sport
  • First swimming pool constructed in 1907 at Fork McKinley YMCA
  • Filipinos participated in championship meets and produced outstanding swimmers
• Remberto C. Lozada, also known as "Tito Bert," formulated and implemented his own style of teaching swimming in 1956
• Tito Bert's teaching method was a compilation of what he learned from his father and his travels to other countries during swimming competitions
• Tito Bert taught in private pools, sports clubs, and villages
• Tito Bert was the head coach of the Philippine Team at the 1991 Southeast Asian Games (SEAGAMES)
• Swimming as Recreation:

  • Swimming is a great recreational activity for people of all ages
  • Recreational swimming provides a low-impact workout and is a good way to relax and feel good
  • Common swimming styles in recreational swimming are breaststroke, backstroke, side stroke, and freestyle
• Competitive Swimming:

  • Some people who enjoy swimming want to take it to a competitive level
  • Competitive swimming provides the health benefits of a vigorous workout and the fun and thrill of competition
  • The main strokes used in competitive swimming are freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, and butterfly
  • The objective of a swimmer is to reach first at a predetermined point of the race or distance
• Health Benefits of Swimming:

  • Swimming is a great workout because it requires moving the whole body against the resistance of the water
  • Swimming helps in physical conditioning for a good lifestyle and wellbeing
• Freestyle / Front Crawl Stroke:

  • In Freestyle events, the swimmer may swim any style except in Individual Medley or Medley Relay events
  • Some part of the swimmer must touch the wall upon completion of each length and at the finish
  • Some part of the swimmer must break the surface of the water throughout the race
  • Swimmers are allowed to be completely submerged during the turn and for a distance of not more than 15 meters after the start and each turn
• Backstroke:

  • Swimmers shall line up in the water facing the starting end before the starting signal
  • Swimmers are allowed to be completely submerged during the turn and for a distance of not more than 15 meters after the start and each turn
  • Swimmers must touch the wall while on the back in their respective lane upon finishing the race
• Breaststroke:

  • Swimmers may take one arm stroke completely back to the legs after the start and after each turn
  • A single butterfly kick is permitted before the first Breaststroke kick after the start and after each turn
  • All movements of the legs in Breaststroke shall be simultaneous and on the same horizontal plane without alternating movement
  • Swimmers' head must break the surface of the water before the hands turn inward at the widest part of the second stroke
• Butterfly Stroke:

  • The body shall be kept on the breast from the beginning of the first arm stroke after the start and each turn
  • Both arms must be brought forward simultaneously over the water and brought backward simultaneously under the water throughout the race
  • Rolling onto the back is not permitted except at the turn
  • All up and down movements of the legs must be simultaneous
• Rules for Swimming Pool Use:

  • Shower thoroughly with soap before and after swimming
  • Remove all jewelry and accessories
  • Walk through the footbath before entering the pool area
  • Use designated places for personal necessities
  • No eating is allowed around the pool area
  • Running around the pool is prohibited unless specified by the instructor for warm-up exercises
  • Street shoes and clothes should not be worn on the pool deck
• • Medley events cover the order: Butterfly, Backstroke, Breaststroke, and Freestyle
  • Medley Relay events cover the order: Backstroke, Breaststroke, Butterfly, and Freestyle
• Swimming General Rules:

  • The start in Freestyle, Breaststroke, Butterfly, and Individual Medley races shall be with a dive
  • The start in Backstroke and Medley Relay races shall be from the water
  • Swimmers must remain and finish the race in the same lane they started
  • Swimmers must make physical contact with the end of the pool or course during the turn
  • Standing on the bottom during Freestyle events or during the Freestyle portion of Medley events shall not disqualify a swimmer
  • Pulling on the lane rope is not allowed
• Swimming Safety Precautions:

  • Always ensure adult supervision when children are swimming
  • Never leave a child alone in or near the water
  • Teach children to use the buddy system
  • Make sure children swim in supervised or designated areas
  • Do not let children swim during a storm or when there is lightning
  • Do not use water wings and pool toys as life jackets
  • Make sure children know the depth of the water
  • Do not let kids dive or jump into water less than 9-feet deep
• Prohibited Practices:

  • Running on the bank is prohibited
  • Entering or leaving the water without the teacher's permission is prohibited
  • Jumping in the pool with your back without the teacher's permission is prohibited
  • Diving into small, shallow water is prohibited
  • Somersault without the teacher's permission is prohibited
  • Running jump in the pool without the teacher's permission is prohibited
  • Making noise and shouting in the swimming pool area is prohibited
  • Conducting any game within the swimming pool area, especially while in the water, is prohibited
• Safety Measures When Swimming:

  • Take a shower before and after swimming activity
  • Warm up before starting every workout
  • Add variety to swimming practice
  • Focus on technique to improve swimming efficiency and confidence
  • Hydrate and do not eat a big meal before swimming
  • Always swim with a buddy
  • Swim only in areas with a lifeguard
  • Stay out of the water when very tired, very cold, or overheated
  • Follow all swimming rules posted at the swimming area
  • Obey the instructor's instructions
• Good Swimming Hygiene Tips:

  • Shower with soap and water before entering the pool
  • Use new and clean attire/swimming gadgets
  • Remove all jewelries and body accessories
  • Do not swim while sick or with open wounds
  • Shower after swimming
• More Good Swimming Hygiene Tips:

  • Stay out of the water if you have diarrhea
  • Shower before getting in the water
  • Do not pee or poop in the water
  • Do not swallow the water
  • Take kids on bathroom breaks
  • Reapply sunscreen
  • Drink plenty of fluids
• Swimming Hygiene:

  • Don't chew gum or eat while swimming, diving, or playing in the water
  • Keep a first aid kit, phone, and emergency numbers near the water
  • Learn CPR
  • Have each child aged four and older complete a swimming program
  • Enforce all pool rules, including no running, pushing people in, or dunking other swimmers
  • Remove all toys from the water after everyone is done swimming