The "full battle order" outfit of young swimmers

Full Battle Order or FBO for short, is a military acronym that I have borrowed to describe the scenario at the swimming pool, where the young children are equipped with their board (weapon), Back-float (back-pack), shoulder ring float (shoulder guard) and arm-float (armour). A fool-proof, drown-proof get up, for the young swimmers, taking their lessons in the lap pool. But is it truly effective in achieving good learning outcomes?

I believe that the FBO setup helps coaches maintain peace of mind when managing large groups of young and beginner swimmers. It is effective in getting students accustomed to the swimming distance and exposure to the depths of the lap pool. However, if you remove any part of the flotation, would the children still feel confident enough to swim?

I have observed many young swimmers kicking and moving in poor body positions that neither aid in flotation nor promote effective movement through the water. The FBO has been detrimental to learning the basics of 'water feel', creating a false sense of security and competence among young swimmers. In the coach's effort to ensure safety while teaching a group class, they have deprived students of the opportunity to properly learn how their bodies function in the water. In the long term, I believe it would take the children even longer to gain confidence and competence in swimming, as the FBO has eliminated the necessary implicit learning of how their bodies work in the water.

This issue has been on my mind while watching them learn to swim. Have they truly learned the basics of water? Is this level of false safety necessary for teaching a group class? Perhaps, if the coach is unable to manage the discipline and safety of such a group, the class size should be adjusted for learners of that age group. Prioritize long-term learning and effective water skills. Aim for an early introduction to self-preservation and survival skills in deep waters. Build genuine confidence by demonstrating that when students apply these skills, they can assist themselves and continue swimming.

Build genuine confidence with evidence.