Fitness & Water Safety Leadership
•Year 7
•Swimming
•Ensure water temperature is appropriate (29-31°C), clear visibility to pool floor, rescue equipment accessible
Alternative: Any length pool - adjust distances proportionally
Secure lane ropes to prevent tangling, ensure even spacing
Alternative: If unavailable, mark lanes with pool markers or cones on poolside
Place at poolside in accessible location, check for damage/deterioration
Alternative: Pool noodles can substitute
Various sizes available - match to student size, check straps if applicable
Alternative: Small floats held between legs if buoys unavailable
Organise by size for easy selection, check for splits or damage
Alternative: Can be completed without if unavailable, though learning value reduced
Check straps are intact, organise by size, demonstrate proper fitting
Alternative: Can be completed without if unavailable
Position where all students can see clearly
Alternative: Use poolside clock, stopwatch, or teacher timing
Write pyramid workout structure clearly visible to all
Alternative: Laminated cards with workout details
Taking control of your own learning and making choices about your activities
Helping others as a coach and ensuring everyone trains safely
Taking personal control of your improvement and progress
A training method where distances progressively increase then decrease, building stamina and pace control
Buoyancy aids held in hands to isolate and strengthen leg movements
Flotation devices placed between legs to isolate upper body and build arm strength
Fin-like extensions worn on feet to increase leg strength, speed and ankle flexibility
Resistance tools worn on hands to increase upper body strength and improve stroke technique
Frequency, Intensity, Time, Type - the four elements of effective training programme design
Taking responsibility for guiding, motivating and supporting others in their learning
Understanding where pupils are coming from and where they're going
Communication skills in leadership - clear verbal instructions, appropriate volume and pace. Providing constructive feedback to peers. Articulating personal reflections and learning. Writing training logs and plans using appropriate terminology and structure.
Understanding cardiovascular system during sustained exercise. Exploring muscle fatigue and lactic acid accumulation. Examining forces and resistance in water. Investigating buoyancy principles with floats and buoys. Understanding leverage and resistance with paddles. Exploring flexibility and range of motion in swimming strokes.
Understanding design of swimming equipment - how form follows function. Planning and designing personal training programmes considering multiple variables. Evaluating effectiveness of different equipment designs for specific purposes.
Calculating total distance swum in pyramid (adding 25m+50m+75m+100m+75m+50m+25m = 600m). Working with time intervals and rest periods. Understanding progressive numerical patterns in pyramid structure. Measuring and comparing personal times across different distances.
Developing resilience and mental toughness through challenging physical activity. Building leadership skills through warm-up delivery and peer coaching. Taking responsibility for personal fitness and training planning. Setting and working towards personal goals. Supporting and encouraging peers. Building confidence through achievement of demanding tasks.
Maintain central poolside position with visibility of all lanes during pyramid workout. During equipment stations, continuously circulate between four stations providing feedback. Never turn back to pool or obstruct view of entire group. Position with emergency rescue equipment within immediate reach.
Watch for: technique deterioration indicating fatigue, irregular breathing patterns suggesting distress, students stopping mid-length, signs of cramp (sudden stop, grimacing), equipment misuse, collision risks, shivering or blue lips indicating cold, engagement levels and motivation, peer interactions and support.
Intervene immediately if: any safety concern arises, student shows signs of distress or exhaustion, technique breakdown risks injury (especially with paddles), equipment misuse occurs, student stops mid-pool during pyramid, collision risks present, negative interactions between students, inappropriate leadership behaviours during warm-up.
Demonstrate: proper float grip and body position at beginning of equipment section. Show: correct pool buoy placement between thighs. Model: proper flipper fitting and walk carefully to demonstrate safety. Display: hand paddle strap adjustment and emphasise maintaining good technique. During warm-up: model confident leadership stance, clear verbal projection, and demonstration-first approach.
25-metre or 50-metre swimming pool with 4-6 marked lanes. Water depth suitable for Year 7 students (minimum 1.2m in shallow end). Clear visibility to pool floor. Adequate deck space for equipment storage.
Pool water clarity checked - can see bottom clearly. Pool deck inspected for slip hazards - wet patches, equipment left out. Chemical levels appropriate. Water temperature between 28-30°C ideal for training session.
Stop activity immediately if incident occurs using emergency whistle signal. Reach/throw rescue equipment for distressed swimmer. Clear lanes for emergency access. Trained first aider (teacher) to assess situation. Call for additional support if needed. Incident recorded according to school policy. Parents informed of any injuries sustained.
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