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University of Eastern Philippines PE-3 Swimming

Module 2

SWIMMING EQUIPMENTS

Introduction
When you take up swimming, there is some swimming equipment you might want to consider.
Some items of swimming equipment are essential if
you are learning how to swim. Using the right
swimming aid for which every aspect of swimming
you are working on is key to your success. Learning Outcomes:
Below is the list of the essentials in swimming, as
well as some additional equipment that can make After this lesson you will be able to:
your task easier. Most equipment used for
swimming, whether it is for learning to swim, 1. Identify the different equipments
improving technique or swim training, is fairly cheap needed in swimming;
to buy. These are better used for some safety
reasons not only especially teaching young children 2. Enumerate floatation devices used
but also to non-swimmer adults. Further, floatation in swimming.
devices and buoyancy aids are the most commonly
used to help them overcome their fear of drowning.

So let’s get started! Obviously in swimming we need a swimwear, the most essential equipment
especially for sports competition purposes.

SWIMSUIT/SWIMWEAR

Whether for sports or leisure swimming, swimwear fabrics are designed for minimal resistance
through the water, they tend to last for a long time, and they resist fading even when used
repeatedly in chlorinated pools.
For sports swimming, for men, these are usually swim briefs, swim trunks or jammers. Boardshorts
aren’t recommended for swimming competitions as they create too much drag. Furthermore, they
are forbidden in certain pools for sanitary reasons. For women, the best choice for swimming
sports competition is the one-piece swimsuit.

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Physical Education Department
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University of Eastern Philippines PE-3 Swimming

But of course, comfort is the most important quality in selecting a swimsuit. You're less likely to
swim if you're uncomfortable in your suit. That is why these below are created for leisure or
recreational swimming.

GOGGLES

Goggles protect your eyes from chlorine (and

anything else that may be in the water), and
they help you keep your eyes open while you
swim so that you can see where you're going.
You can even get prescription swim goggles if
you wear glasses (check with your optician for
availability). To find the right pair of goggles,
do the following:

 Put your goggles over your eyes without slinging the strap over your head.
 Press the goggles into your eye sockets and let go.
 The goggles should stay in place.
 Experiment until you find the pair that fits your
eyes best.

SWIMMING CAPS

Swimming caps can serve several purposes. Some

pool managers will require individuals with long hair to
wear caps to keep hair from getting into the pool, and
some people just like to protect their hair from the
chlorine in the water. You may also decide to wear a
swimming cap to cut down on resistance in the water.
This really works, and so if you're looking to increase your time a bit,
a bathing cap might help. Many caps are made of latex, although
you can find silicone, neoprene (keeps you warm), and Lycra as
well. Choose the one that fits your head and is most comfortable.

College of Arts and Communication

Physical Education Department
 NOSE CLIP

A nose clip is a device designed to hold your nostrils closed

to prevent water from entering. It is particularly beneficial as
a piece of swimming equipment for beginners as it helps you
with breath control, something that a lot of newbie swimmers.

A nose clip is nice to have, especially while learning front

crawl, as it takes quite a bit of technique and coordination to
be able to breathe on the side and keep your arms and legs
moving as it keeps water out of your nose. So it’s one thing
less to worry about during the initial learning phase. A nose
clip helps. Next up is…

FLOTATION DEVICES AND OTHER ESSENTIAL EQUIPMENT

There are a number of flotation devices and other equipment available to help
you learn how to swim, improve your swimming times if you start to get
competitive, and add resistance to your water workouts to build muscular
strength and tone. Flotation devices help keep you afloat so that you can slow down and work on
your swim stroke without sinking or causing too much fatigue, and they help with confidence for
individuals who don't know how to swim. Read on to learn more about floatation devices.

KICKBOARD

Kickboards are devices made of foam or other materials that

float, and they come in a variety of shapes and sizes. The
main purpose is for you to hold on and stay afloat while your
legs do all the work. It's good exercise for coordinating your
kicking, and it gives your arms a rest. One technique that I

suggest to swimmers who want to keep swimming

continuously without a break is to leave a kickboard at the
end of the pool, and when they get tired, grab the kickboard
and do a lap or two with it until they get their arm strength
back, and then drop the kickboard off at the end of the pool
and swim again until they need the kickboard again. Many
pools have kickboards available to try out.

PULL BUOY

Like kickboards, pull buoys are

also flotation devices. It is a figure-
eight shaped flotation device made
of solid foam and which you
squeeze between your thighs. But
unlike a kickboard, which gives the upper body a rest, pull buoys are placed between your legs to
keep your legs afloat without kicking so that you can work your upper body. It supports your legs
so you can focus on the arm stroke movements. It makes the most sense to use them when
swimming front crawl.
It is also an excellent training device for building your upper-body strength, endurance, and
cardiorespiratory fitness. They can also help you work on your form because you can swim slowly
and deliberately without sinking.
FINS

Fins fit on your feet and add propulsion to your

kicks (think of a duck's webfoot). They are great
training for your legs and will help you swim faster. They come in long fins for beginners who want
to work on their stroke and build up leg strength and ankle flexibility and short fins to help you go
faster without overworking your legs. Fins should fit snugly but not so tight that they cut into your
foot or cut off circulation. Wear socks with your fins if that feels more comfortable.

HAND PADDLE

Hand paddles are attach to your hands and add propulsion to your arm
stroke because they move more water. They can be a lot of work for
the arms and shoulders because of the resistance in the water, and for
this reason, they are used in water aerobics classes to mimic the
resistance exercises that you do on land with dumbbells (for example,
biceps curls). Hand paddles make a water workout difficult, and so you
should warm up in the water without them first, and then build up slowly

like you would with any resistance exercise

workout so that you don't overwork your
arms and shoulder joints.
 ARM BANDS OR WATER WINGS

Probably the most commonly used buoyancy aid used

at the swimming pool by parents of young children.
Cheap to buy and quick and easy to use, they provide
kids with support and allow them to kick themselves
through the water. Not perfect though, they have their
disadvantages.

SAFETY RINGS

Another cheap and easy to use piece of swim

equipment, very
popular with families
with young kids going
swimming. The
correct size ring is
vital for adequate
safety and like arm
bands, they are not
without their
disadvantages.

SWIM BELT
Fully adjustable and able to fit most ages, the swim belt is ideal
for teaching swimming lessons
in deeper water. Some swim
belts are used for jogging in the
water, often during aqua
classes
.

SWIMMING VEST

A great swimming aid for very young children as this allows more movement than water wings or
safety rings. The amount of floatation they give can usually be adjusted by removing the floats in
the jacket as the child becomes stronger and more confident.
GLOVES

Gloves, like hand paddles, also add resistance for your arms, although
they are smaller than paddles and so
the resistance is lighter. These might
be a better choice than paddles if
you're just starting out with
resistance exercises in the water.

WATER DUMBBELLS

Some manufacturers produce dumbbells

made of foam for use in the water. They
add resistance like paddles or gloves,
but you can release them quickly after a
set and then grab them again when you're ready. Water
creates lots of resistance, and so water dumbbells will make you stronger if you use them
consistently. They're fun!

WATER TREADMILL

Did you read that right? Yep, water treadmill. There are two types. One is a device that you install
in your pool that works with a propeller to create a current of water that you swim in place against
(okay, it's not really a treadmill, but you do swim in place). This type is a great training aid and is
also used for rehabilitation, but it is very expensive, depending on the model and whether you have
it installed when your pool is being built or in an existing pool. The other type is a treadmill that is
designed for use in water. You walk on it just like any land-based treadmill, only there is less strain
on your joints because of the water. This type of treadmill is frequently used in rehabilitation.
 WOGGLES OR NOODLE

A noodle is a flexible, tube-shaped

flotation device that you can wrap under
your arms or around your waist to keep
you buoyant so that you can keep
moving in the water (kids love to play
with them). The advantage of being able
to keep moving is that you can work on your stroke
without fatigue and increase your strength and endurance.

AQUA JOGGER

Aqua jogger is a flotation device that you wear like a belt.

Like a noodle, it permits you to keep on moving
without fatigue, so that you can work on your stroke as
well as your strength and aerobic fitness, but it's more
heavy-duty than a noodle and will accommodate heavier
people and create more resistance. Aqua joggers also
allow you to participate in water aerobics classes and
water running without having to know how to swim or break
frequently.

SWIM STRETCH CORDS

There is one other option for swimming in place, and it's inexpensive. Swim stretch cords are
attach to the side of a pool and to your body so you can swim without going anywhere, or they
come with a drag belt (sort of like a mini-parachute) that catches water as you swim and drag it
behind you. Both are fine options for getting a great workout.
JOY MARIE C. LABIAN
BSCE-2C
Knowledge Check

SAQ 1

1. What are the most essential equipment used in swimming sports competitions?

 The most essential swimming equipment are as follows:

 Swimsuit/Swimwear – Swimsuit/Swimwear – is required during
swimming unless a person wants to swim naked. Fabrics designed
especially for minimum propulsion through the water, are long-lasting
and neither their color fades during regular swimming in chlorinated
pools.

 Goggles – protect your eyes from chlorine (and anything else that may
be in the water), and they help you keep your eyes open while you
swim to see where you are going.

 Swimming Caps - People with long hair are advised to wear caps to
keep hair from getting into the pool, and some just like to protect their
hair from the chlorine in the water.

2. List down the essential floatation equipment used in swimming? Write down asmany
as you can.

Kickboard
Pull Buoy
Fins
Arm bands or water wings
Safety rings
Swim belt
Swimming vest
Woggles or noodle
Aqua jogger
SAQ 2

Let us see if you can remember. Look at the pictures below and identify the followingwithout
looking back from the module:

Hand Paddle Pull Buoy

Arm Bands or
Swim Belt Water Wings

Swim Stretch Cords Fins

Kickboard Water Dumbbells

Feedback
Congratulations!... You did well in your lesson. Good job you’re on the right track.

Suggested Reading
 The Beginner’s Guide to Swimming Equipment / Gear
By Christophe Keller / July 30, 2019 / Swimming Equipment
 Swim.Teach: Your online swimming and teaching resource
Swim-Teach.com https://www.swim-teach.com/By Mark Young, Copyright ©; 2008-2020

Summary
The swim pool can be a daunting place for the beginner swimmer. Beyond the whole technical and
speed aspects of swimming, which will cause you confusion and accomplishment no matter how
good you get, there are also the swimming gear considerations. What kind of goggles should you
wear? What kind of cap should you put on your head? And what about fins, paddles, and the other
myriad of pieces of equipment that you see at the end of the pool deck. This equipment will help in
order for you to achieve as a swimmer.

References/Sources:
https://www.enjoy-swimming.com/swimming-equipment-1.html
https://www.quora.com/What-are-the-basic-and-most-important-facilities-and-equipment-required-
for-swimming
https://www.swim-teach.com/swimming-equipment.html