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The assessment of blood lactate concentration is considered essential for the physiological diagnosis of swimming performance. But for a more detailed and complete analysis of a swimmer's strengths and weaknesses, it is also important to examine his or her technical characteristics. However, few studies have combined physiological and technical evaluation in child swimmers. The aim of the present study was to assess the metabolic anaerobic threshold (blood lactate concentration and corresponding swimming velocity) of 10- to 11-year-old swimmers (n=15) using an individualized intermittent incremental protocol. Comparison was made with the traditionally used 4 mmol · l-1 lactate threshold. In addition, stroke rate, stroke length, and stroke index were measured throughout the experimental protocol for assessment of the anaerobic threshold. Each swimmer performed a front crawl 5×200 m test, in which the swimming velocity was controlled by an acoustic signal each 50 m. Blood samples were collected from the ear lobe (Lactate Pro, Arkay, Inc., Kyoto, Japan), at rest and after each step. Stroke rate was registered by a Seiko base 3 chronofrequencemeter; stroke length, stroke index, and velocity were calculated at the end of each 200 m. The individual anaerobic threshold occurred at 2.3 mmol · l-1 (s=0.59), and the corresponding velocity was 1.026 m · s-1 (s=0.053), much lower than the traditionally used 4 mmol · l-1 value (or even 3.5 mmol · l-1). The velocity corresponding to 4 mmol · l-1 and 3.5 mmol · l-1 was 1.081 m · s-1 (s=0.056) and 1.067 m · s-1 (s=0.055), respectively. Stroke rate increased and stroke length decreased throughout the incremental protocol (i.e. with increasing velocity). The stroke index showed a tendency to increase throughout the protocol, with a significant difference from the first to the second step. The velocity corresponding to 4 mmol · l-1 (and 3.5 mmol · l-1) does not represent the metabolic individual anaerobic threshold in trained swimmers, independently of their age, and age-group swimmers prefer to increase their velocity through an increase in stroke rate. Thus, given the importance of developing swimming technique in age-group swimmers, coaches should implement the lengthening of swimmers' stroke cycles in their training practice routines, so that they limit the effects of reduced stroke length when velocity increases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effects of most to least prompting on teaching simple progression swimming skill for children with autism were investigated. A single subject multiple baseline model across subjects with probe conditions was used. Participants were three boys, 9 years old. Data were collected over a 10-week with session three times a week period using the single opportunity method as an intervention. Results indicated that all the boys increased their simple progression swimming skill significantly during intervention phase. In addition, participants maintained their successful skills during first, second and fourth week of generalization phases. Results showed that most to least prompting was an effective way of increasing and maintaining simple progression swimming skill of children with autism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. To win a medal in international competitions cannot be achieved without a well thought and organized selection and considered as an evolutionary process. The selection of children does not refer only the primary selection, but also to the methods and training means within the stages of the training too. All of them try to prepare the children to experience the stress of future training and selection stages. Aims. The present study tries to review the items of the swimming selected test. It is addressed to children who want to attend the primary school with specific swimming vocational classes. Through our study we want to underline the importance of the methodology of the selection test for choosing children who have the skills for performance swimming. Methods. For the present study we used the primary statistical analysis which was performed with the help of the average, standard deviation and variability coefficient. The results obtained at these statistical tests determined us to calculate the Person linear correlation coefficient as a parametric statistical test for quantitative data. Results. The results obtained after the statistical calculations gave the information regarding the homogeneity of the data and the lack of correlation between the land tests and the specificity of the effort. Conclusions. The selection tests do not demonstrate the qualities of the children who are chosen to attend the swimming vocational classes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, the author discusses the importance aquatic fundamental movement skills (FMS) for a risk-less and healthy aquatic life and puts emphasis on developing programs for teaching aquatic skills to children.

The aims of this study were to provide a profile of young water polo players and to compare technical and tactical aspects, movement patterns, and cardiac loads of youth water polo and Acquagoal codes. Ten young (age 12.3 years, s = 0.6) male water polo players underwent anthropometric (stature, body mass, body mass index, chest circumference, hand breadth, and length), strength, and [Vdot]O2max evaluations. Friendly youth water polo and Acquagoal matches were arranged to evaluate heart rates and swimming patterns (horizontal and vertical, with and without the ball) of players, and technical and tactical aspects of matches (number of actions, passes, player involved in an action, lost possessions, shots, goals, and the origin and types of shot). Independent of code, matches imposed a high cardiac load on players. Vertical swimming occurred more frequently (P < 0.05) in Acquagoal (71%) than youth water polo (45%). Technical and tactical measures also differed (P < 0.05), with players performing more passes and shots inside the penalty area and showing a higher goal-to-shot ratio during youth water polo than during Acquagoal. These results indicate that youth water polo better resembles the swimming patterns of adult water polo and facilitates the technical and tactical aspects of play better than Acquagoal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To estimate the effect of baby swimming in the first 6 months of life on respiratory diseases from 6 to 18 months. Methods: We used data from The Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study (MoBa) conducted by the Norwegian Institute of Public Health in children born between 1999 and 2005 followed from birth to the age of 18 months (n = 30 870). Health outcomes: lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI), wheeze and otitis media between 6 and 18 months of age. Exposure: baby swimming at the age of 6 months. The effect of baby swimming was estimated by logistic regression analysis adjusting for potential confounders. Results: About 25% of the children participated in baby swimming. The prevalence of LRTI was 13.3%, wheeze 40.0% and otitis media 30.4%. Children who were baby swimming were not more likely to have LRTI, to wheeze or to have otitis media. However, children with atopic mothers who attended baby swimming had an increased risk of wheeze, adjusted odds ratios (aOR) 1.24 (95% CI 1.11, 1.39), but not LRTI or otitis media. This was also the case for children without respiratory diseases before 6 months aOR 1.08 (95%CI 1.02–1.15). Conclusion: Baby swimming may be related to later wheeze. However, these findings warrant further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Australia and, more specifically, a Solomon Island schoolboy named Alick Wickham, are credited with creating the swimming racing stroke, the crawl, or freestyle as it is known in contemporary parlance. Wickham's contribution constitutes a popular, celebrated and enduring legend. While there is some factual basis to the legend, Wickham contribution is a sport creation myth The myth offers an example of the intersection of sport and constructions of Pacific islanders in the racial discourse of the Federation period. As a cultural discourse, the myth reflects how Wickham was accommodated as an exoticised islander and socially acceptable 'black' sportsman. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main goal of this study was to determine which anthropometric characteristics and which motor abilities were the best predictors for performance in 50 m front crawl swimming in pre-adolescent boys. For this purpose 37 male swimmers, aged 9-10 years, were tested. The swimmers have participated in the training process for 2-4 years. The second objective was to utilize the obtained findings in the construction of swimming tests that would be used for testing the primary-school children to be initially selected for swimming-school participation. Therefore, the study was aimed at identifying those anthropometric and motor tests that would help select potential future swimmers regardless of whether they were able or not to swim over a 25 m distance prior to the testing procedure. From the whole set of anthropometric characteristics and motor abilities predictors, only five characteristics and abilities can be singled out as significant for predicting success in the 50 m front crawl event. Among the tests that had been singled out as predictive - sitting height, upper arm circumference, upper arm skinfold, hand diameter and vertical jump, the two: sitting height and upper arm skinfold were negatively correlated with the 50 m crawl performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research explores the process of parental commitment to sport participation of children. A survey of 464 USA Swimming households showed commitment increased with the number of child swimmers and the belief that swimming enhances child development. However, higher SES and greater commitment to swimming resulted in greater perceived interference of swimming with family life. Results are interpreted in terms of family habitus -interrelated cultural and structural factors associated with the expression of parental commitment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the present study was to define the determinants of the energy cost of swimming (Cs) in children. Eleven healthy children [mean (SD) age: 12.42 (0.53) years] who practised 7.5-8.5 h·week-1 volunteered to take part in this study. Anthropometric dimensions such as height (H), body mass (BM), hydrostatic lift (HL) and body surface area (SA) were measured. Forty-eight hours later when maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) had been measured during 400 m of front-crawl swimming, Cs was measured over 200 m for three submaximal swimming speeds (0.9, 1.0 and 1.1 m·s-1). Oxygen consumption (Douglas bag method), stroke frequency (SF) and stroke length (SL) were calculated during the last 50 m of each 200 m. The mean (SD) VO2max of the young swimmers was 2.19 (0.38) l·min-1 at a maximal aerobic velocity of 1.19 (0.03) m·s-1. The values of VO2 for Cs at 0.9 m·s-1, 1.0 m·s-1 and 1.1 m·s-1 were 29.27 (3.13) ml·m-1, 30.25 (3.68) ml·m-1 and 32.91 (3.59) ml·m-1, respectively. There was a significant increase in Cs with increasing swim speed. In addition, SF increased with velocity when SL remained constant. The values for SF at 0.9 m·s-1 1.0 m·s-1 and 1.1 m·s-1 were 31.28 (4.36) strokes·min-1, 34.10 (5.09) strokes·min-1 and 38.31(5.90) strokes·min-1, respectively. No significant correlation was obtained between Cs and the anthropometric or stroking parameters. It was concluded that for young swimmers, anthropometric characteristics, SF and SL are not good predictors of Cs in front-crawl swimming, and that further studies are needed to explore the influence of underwater torque on Cs in prepubertal children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents readers' letters on issues regarding children's health. Use of nasal saline for acute sinusitis; Role of uroradiological studies in children with renal abscess; Readiness of infants and toddlers for swimming programs.

Discusses the barriers encountered in creating and maintaining an inclusive childhood instructional swim program for handicapped children. Information on the Special Needs Aquatics Program (SNAP); Benefits of aquatic activities for children with disabilities; Difficulties posing participation obstacles to people with disabilities.

Presents information on the study which examines the influence of early swimming experiences on the development of water fear at age 18 in a large unselected birth cohort. Method used on the study; Results and discussion; Summary.

Examines the role of peer mastery and coping models on children's swimming skills, fear and self-efficacy. Sample scripts for peer coping and peer mastery model conditions; Pre- to postintervention skill performance improvements in peer-coping and mastery model groups; Educational research on children's observational learning.

Highlights the use of gymnastics mats in providing alternative methods of teaching swimming skills to children. Selection of gymnastic mats suitable for pool use; Benefits of using gymnastic mats in the pool; Water adjustment skills; Modification of activities for children with severe disabilities.

Presents the results of a study which investigated the effect of competition on the kinematic details of a specific motor task such as freestyle swimming in young swimmers. Lack of cadence of the young swimmers; Negative impact of high levels of anxiety on performance; Disturbance in the stroke performances during competition.

The article presents news briefs about children with disabilities in the U.S. Godfrey D. Stevens is expanding the program that improves methods of educating cerebral palsy children. The Oklahoma Department of Mental Health has published a bulletin relative to mental health services under schools for mentally retarded. Willimantic Kiwanis Club gave two plastic wading pools for younger children who are not able to benefit from other swimming facilities in Mansfield State Training School.

Physiological responses related to 400-m front crawl performance were examined in a 11-week training macrocycle in children 11.6 ± 1.2 years old. Fourteen girls and twenty-nine boys completed a maximum intensity 400-m test, at the beginning (Τ1) and at the end of four weeks of general preparation (Τ2), four weeks of specific preparation (Τ3), and three weeks of the competitive period (Τ4). Blood lactate (La), blood glucose (Glu) and heart rate were measured post effort. Stroke rate (SR), stroke length (SL) and stroke index (SI) were measured during the test. The 400-m time was decreased at T2, T3, and T4 compared to T1 by 4.2 ± 4.9, 7.5 ± 7.0, and 8.6 ± 7.3% (p < 0.05) and at T3 and T4 compared to T2 by 3.1 ± 4.3 and 4.2 ± 4.6%, respectively (p < 0.05). La was not different between tests (p > 0.05) and Glu was decreased at T3 compared to other testing moments (p < 0.05). SR, SL, and SI were higher at T3 and T4 compared to T1 (p < 0.05). SL and SI were also increased at T4 compared to T2 (p < 0.05). Performance changes from T1 to T2 were related to SL and SI changes (r = 0.45 and 0.83, p < 0.05), and subsequent changes between T2 to T3 were related to SR, SI, La, and Glu changes (r = 0.48, 0.68, 0.34, and 0.42, p < 0.05). Performance change from T3 to T4 was related to SL, SI, and La modifications (r = 0.34, 0.70, and 0.53, p < 0.05). Performance gains may be related to various biomechanical or physiological changes according to training macrocycle structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents an abstract of the study `Girl's age, accuracy of perceived swimming competence and enjoyment,' by R.J. Lawson & D. Fazey, during the 1995 Conference of the North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity (NASPSPA).