Swimming on Dryland

The Life Saving Society, under the direction of Mr. William Henry, the amateur champion swimmer of England, is giving great attention to this subject, and has published full information for the guidance of parents and teachers. It is perfectly m easy to teach children to swim without ever being the water at all, and of course it is enormously important. ordinary drill, and when the command ‘Position’ is given, they place their hands on their hips. The first movement in this swimming drill is the leg movement. When ‘ One ’ is called, the children raise the left knee (directing it sideways), the heel of the left foot touching the inside of the right knee, with the toes pointing downwards. When ‘Two’ is called, the left leg is straightened and lowered by a backward and rounded movement until the point of the big toe touches the ground one pace to the left. Then, when ‘ Three ’ is called, the left foot is drawn along the ground, and the leg is closed smartly. The right leg is put through similar movements. mand ‘ Position ’ is given, the children raise their arms by bending them upwards from the elbows, and shoot the hands forward, with arms extended and directed slightly upwards, thumbs touching, with the palms turned downward, and the head inclined slightly backward. right and left, until they are in line with each other, with the backs of the hands turned slightly towards the front. body, and the hands are brought to the sides of the chest slightly to the front the fingers are closed, pointing to the front with; palms downward, the thumbs about six inches apart. of the arms and slightly upward, thumbs touching, the palms turned down, and the head inclined backward. The third movement in this drill is a combined arm and leg movement, when the two movements just described are combined. become automatic, and when the children are taken to the water little explanation is required as to what they have to do. They are taught to trust themselves to the water, and to put into action the movements they have practised on land. breath, which is, of course, of the greatest importance, for when the lungs are properly filled the body is much more buoyant when in the water.