Fins as a learning tool

Why we use fins.

Last post I talked about why La Petite Baleen uses goggles in their classes. This post is about why we use fins. It's very likely your child has used them here if they have swam with us. The fins we use are amazing for babies. We have 3 types of fins we use:

Our "Fishtail" fins, made by Finis are the most common ones you will see. We keep them in baskets all around the pool and put them on all children age 1 to 5. They are blue and triangular. It doesn't take much movement from these fins to provide motivating feedback. Even toddlers can really propel themselves with these fins. Because LPB teaches swimming from a developmental perspective, we focus on rhythmic breathing first, before any stroke introduction. That is why we have always said that our Up-Faces are the most important skill (with breath exchange). Head size is disproportionate for toddlers and small children when compared to adults. A toddler's head takes up approximately 25% of their body length vs. 12.5% for an adult. Given a small child's lesser gross motor skills, it is challenging to physically come up, exchange air, submerge back down while moving forward. At LPB you will frequently see pre-school age as well as toddlers doing these perfect Up-Faces. The fins help them to not only remain horizontal but also to lift their head to exchange air. I love these fins! We put them on our toddlers around age 1. Babies tend to 'kick' with sort of a bicycle kick that mimics crawling due to tight hip flexors. The feedback, is "when I kick, I go". Fishtail fins help maintain a horizontal body position and builds strength for our littlest swimmers...they're a wonderful teaching tool.

Zoomer fins, also made by Finis. I am a big fan of our miniature "zoomer" fins. They look like regular small racing fins but the whole top is cut off making them short and stiff. I use these fins on my students in Levels 2, 3 and 4. It's time to start manipulating those 'bicycle'/crawling kicks to a flatter 'flutter' kick that uses their hip flexors. I start my kids who are beginning stroke layers with these fins to get the proper foundation in their kick. Without a kick initiated and moved from the hip flexors, the strokes will not be strong, supported or even legal! These are especially useful when kicking on their back in the "superman" or kickboard over the head position. If they can achieve a great kick on their back with these fins without the use of their arms then they are ready to learn backstroke and freestyle.

Racing Fins are the standard fins you would see on a swim team. They are long and floppy. I will use these on children who can swim strokes and have the proper kick but might need more speed. I especially use them for butterfly. I am careful not to use them on kids who have a natural frog kick because even these big fins can give them improper feedback. Please, no fins with breastroke! Teachers need to keep an eye on the use of these fins to make sure good form is used. But boy is it fun to see the kids do their wiggle butts with these on! Girls really think they're Ariel and boys love to race.

We like to travel with the Fishtail Fins. Our kids are stronger and more comfortable with them on when they are little. They are easy to pack. People often comment and ask where we got our fins. It would be a great investment, if you swim often enough away from LPB, to purchase your own pair if your child uses them in swim class. What a great opportunity to have fun and see what they can do.

Teaching Tools at La Petite Baleen

We see our swim school as an aquatic classroom. As former classroom teachers, Irene and John Kolbisen know it takes many kinds of tools and aids to help a child understand a new skill.

We were also serious swimmers and took many tools and materials from other arenas, to "capture the imagination" of different children in the water.

Some tools are classics and fins are a perfect example. They help to elongate a child's kick, they slightly overload the leg muscles which make them stronger. They especially help a child 'feel' how the water pushes or flows with a kick. We don't use fins as a crutch, and children gradually get stronger and we gradually take the fins away.

Interestingly, advanced strokes go back and use the fins again. The fins again speed up the learning process and we remove them when a student gets to a certain level of confidence and ability. World class and collegiate swimmers use fins all the time to keep variety and strength training in mind (just ask our daughters Liesl and Anya who swam at U of A and Cal).

Fins, as well as other aids are simply a small support system through out the learning process.

Often parents don't realize the benefits of goggles. Try this little exercise: stand on one leg with your eyes open. Then, close your eyes and feel the difference. Our eyes give us a lot of balance.When children use goggles they have about 60% MORE balance as they can see better underwater. Swimming has as much to do with balance and breath control than it does with kicking and paddling. Goggles help children to find their balance in the water while allowing them to "treasure hunt" at the same time!

We have nose clips for some children who initially sniff water. This is something we really watch for. Getting water in the sinuses is not fun. We use the clip so there is a positive learning curve, much sooner.

I think we are the only swim school in the nation that uses the 'motorboat'. I bought it for my three kids as a trampoline but, being kids, they tossed it into the pool. I watched how creative and FUN it was. I also realized that going from up to down often gives babies a good clue for anticipating a breath hold. So sit jumps and motorboat have always been a part of our curriculum.

Within the swim school world we are famous for having such a variety of toys, mirrors, magic carpets, etc. to engage children. It looks colorful out on that pool deck...and happy, just like our swimmers!

(Lita) Irene

Why do they do that!?

La Petite Baleen has been teaching young children to swim for 37 years. We're well known for our unique child-development approach to swimming. Owners, Irene Madrid and John Kolbisen have backgrounds in education as lifetime credentialed school teachers. Hence, our innovative aquatic classroom is geared toward creating an individualized learning experience for each child.

Among other things, LPB is one of the first programs to use fins and goggles as learning tools. We revolutionized once-a-week, year-round, group swimming lessons, now considered mainstream in the learn-to-swim industry. It's not ironic that our flagship location in Half Moon Bay is just down the street from Maverick's surf break....we're definitely considered "mavericks" in the swimming world!

Many parents wonder about the "why's" of our curriculum. We've addressed some of these more common questions in previous Whale Wisdom articles:

• Why we use Goggles
• Fins as a Learning Tool

Here are some other child-development activities we do in our lessons, and why we do them:


 

 

• Motor Boat: Provides vestibular feedback to the brain, promoting self control (waiting your turn) and the ability to fall from a higher height without panicking.
• Magic Carpet: Tummy time strengthens the neck and back muscles as well as social skill development. 
• Tunnel Time: Separation and independence as well as social referencing through eye contact
• Dog Paddle: Bilateral movements like dog paddle and flutter kicks use both sides of the brain at the same time. This motor development increases body awareness and ability to cross the mid-line.
• Climbing Out: In addition to being one of our major safety skills, elbow-elbow-tummy-knee-knee builds core strength
• Goggles: Provides sensory stimulation and visual perception development
• Balloon Face: Builds respiratory health
• Group Lessons: Proprioception and social development 

Swimming provides a unique environment for sensory stimulation and neuromuscular integration. Skin is the largest organ of our body and our nerve endings are constantly providing feedback to the brain. When submerged in water, the body receives unique pressure which provides valuable proprioceptive feedback.

While stroke technique and water safety are always a part of swimming lessons, LPB focuses on the overall development of the child first.

How long will this take?

Today's parent wants to know when something starts, how long it will take and when it will end. It's nice to have an idea of what to expect and what the end goal is when it comes to all things parenting. At La Petite Baleen, parents occasionally ask "how long until my kid can swim?" or "will my child EVER graduate the program?!?".  We're glad you asked!

The answer is different for every child. Big shock, I know...but it's true. Some children take to water much more easily than others, just like some children pick up learning a foreign language faster than others. The only difference is that every child must learn how to swim as a life skill, while learning to speak a foreign language is optional.

When to start? Yesterday!

Another piece of the puzzle is dependent on the goals and expectations of the parent. For example, do you want your child to learn basic safety skills, or do you want your child to learn all four competitive strokes? Here's a breakdown of our 4 levels at LPB as it pertains to parent goals and expectations:

Level 1: After graduating L1, your child can hold their breath for a short time, swim to the side of the pool and climb out. These are basic safety skills that can buy you seconds should your child ever fall in a body of water. When it comes to drowning and near drowning, seconds count in saving lives and long term brain damage.

What this means for parents: You still need to get in the water with your child and be within arms reach at all times.

Level 2: Graduates of L2 can swim without fins and breathe independently both on their tummies and their backs.

What this means for parents: You don't need to be in the water with your child, but you need to be watching, alert and prepared to jump in at all times.

Level 3: L3 graduates are strong swimmers and can safely swim in deep water. They have good endurance and can tread water for up to a minute.

What this means for parents: You can now sit on the lounge chair and relax, while keeping both eyes on your kids at all times (no phones, no kindles, no distractions).

Level 4: Gold Ribbon graduates can swim all 4 competitive strokes legally with good technical form. If they would like to join a swim team we recommend you wait until they earn at least their Freestyle and Backstroke mini-ribbons.

What this means for parents: LPB graduates are now primed and ready to explore options in the aquatic world. Swim team, water polo and synchronized swimming are all NCAA and Olympic sports. Opportunity for college scholarships at all divisions exist. LPB has produced thousands of high school and dozens of collegiate athletes. LPB is also the foundation for a career path in swim industry careers (life guarding, coaching, teaching, etc.). We employ many second and soon to be third generation employees (did we mention we're now accepting applications?).

Teacher Liesl competing at the Pan Pacific Games in Sydney Australia

So, depending on what your goals and expectations are for your child in swim lessons, you can be "done" at anytime. But remember, NOBODY is ever drown proofed or "water safe" (not even Michael Phelps!). On average, it takes about 3-5 years to complete all 4 levels at LPB...a commitment with life long lasting benefits.

Summer Safety Part 1

It's already mid May and this week at LPB was our annual Summer Safety Week.  Your kids, who are red ribbon or higher, got to learn, discuss and act out life saving techniques and safety rules.  Since parents are not the ones in the water getting our "safety talk", the next two posts will discuss some of the things we cover and would like parents to remember during the summer swim and travel months.  This is for ALL parents, even if your baby is only 2 moths old.  It is never to early to keep safety in mind.

What is Summer Safety Week?
La Petite Baleen has been running our "Summer Safety Week" program for 20 years in an effort to refresh our students and parents with safety tips before the summer months.  The program includes age appropriate rescue, survival and safety skills for all bodies of water.

What are my kids learning?

• Never swim alone (even a good swimmer never swims alone!).  Even preschoolers can understand and grasp this #1 rule.
• Never swim to a drowning person.
• Get help/Call 911
• Throw something that floats.
• Survival floating and treading.
• Different bodies of water.

Travel Tips:

• When renting a vacation home/condo, ask about whether the swimming pool has a gate or safety feature before booking.  Friends of ours once rented a house where the pool actually went through the living room!  And they had 4 kids under the age of 4 staying with them!  I wouldn't have been able to sleep that's for sure.
• Discuss what types of water your child will be swimming in (lake, rivers, etc.).
• Remember that children may not swim quite as well on vacation as they do in lessons (colder water, deeper/darker water, etc.).  Don't expect them to swim like they do for their swim teacher.  They might just want to play or are used to fins and a structured class environment.
• Always wear life jackets when rafting or boating.  Kids at LPB get a chance to practice what this feels like.  It's awkward to be a good swimmer and to have a life jacket making you super buoyant.  

At Home:

• Double check all bathrooms/toilets.  My youngest baby loves to "swim" in our toilets and it freaks me out and is disgusting.  Not safe!  keep the lids down and the doors closed.
• Never leave a child unattended in the bathtub (even for a minute!).
• Baby/wading pools, buckets, etc. in the yard should be drained immediately after use.
• Be certain that all pools, hot tubs and ponds have safety fences, covers or nets.  We always triple check that our hot tob is locked.  

Reminders:

• All parents and caretakers should have current CPR certification.
• Always apply sunscreen 30 minutes prior to swimming outdoors and really every hour.  I personally like to use the Target brand (Up & Up) cream sunscreen and lather it on before we head to the lake or pool.  Once we arrive, I give the kids a spray of sunscreen before they get in.  Double coverage!  And we re-apply when they get out for snacks every hour with the lotion/cream sunscreen.

to be continued.....

Wiggle Butts

WHAT are Wiggle Butts?

La Petite Baleen uses kid jargon to make swimming fun. One of the first cute sayings that Irene and John Kolbisen came up with when they started La Petite Baleen 33 years ago was Wiggle Butts. Well to make it easier on you adults and since it already makes sense to most of our little kids, I will let you in on what exactly they are. Wiggle Butts are Dolphin Kicks. Yes, the same kicks that you see Michael Phelps doing off each flip turn in his races. And yes, your kids are swimming like Phelps:)

Coaches have learned that the underwater dolphin kick proves to be faster than any other propulsion for a human through the water. Of course here we are, mammals mimicking mammals. We are swimming like a dolphin. Wiggle Butts are taught at LPB during the purple ribbon. We are looking for a rhythm with these kicks that keeps going even when the child comes up for a quick breath. Ultimately we would like them to not use their hands at all. This will turn into our gold ribbon skill of under water, streamline wiggle butts (exactly what Phelps does).

Wiggle Butts are playful. Irene even named her first children's book Wiggle Butts and Upfaces; our 2 most important and fun skills here at LPB. When I teach Wiggle Butts, I am often teaching kids age 4 and up, sometimes younger. We love to pretend to be dolphins but especially mermaids.

"Do you want to be a mermaid or a merman today?" I ask. I know Lara announces she's Ariel, Paige just beams and says she's a mermaid (wiggle butts are her favorite), and I know Sofia will want to be a dolphin. It's the same every week. But I ask, and we fall into the world of make believe. I even throw some goggles on and off we go if even for a couple of laps. My kids in class get wide eyed when they see me being a mermaid.

"What? If you're Ariel, I'm Melody." I tell them. The girls giggle.

My 3 year old has been doing wiggle butts for about a year. She realized it takes less effort with the fishtail fins she wears. And boy is it cute. Parents, have fun swimming with your kids. Let them teach you Wiggle Butts. Don't feel bad if they can undulate better than you. "Unda" in latin means 'wave'. And that is exactly what your body should be doing. Making a wave through the water, undulating. I tell my older kids that latin trivia. I send them home with homework to tell their parents what latin for wave means and why it's important for doplin kicks and wiggle butts.

I am finishing off this post with a video link to Michael Phelps doing a flip turn with stream line dolphin kicks (Wiggle Butts).

And also a link to what our Wiggle Butts at LPB look like for Gold Ribbon.

The Contrarian

The Contrarian

Well, we’ve hit the mark.  The CONTRARY age.  Man it drives me nuts.  But it’s a sign of development and understanding self.  I say yes, he says no.  I say no, he says yes.  I say up, he says down.  I say stop, he says go.  Just for the sake of battling, testing every limit or suggestion. They're like a super hero in the battle of wills.  “I’m here and ready to challenge you!”  Their little brains are thinking.  

Just this week my sister was telling one of her swim moms about what we call an “ice cream fit”.  One of her swimmers, we’ll call her Jill, was swimming in toddler class with mommy.  She’s not quite 2.  She saw a pink ball across the pool that she wanted yet was unable to use vocabulary to get it.  So she squirmed, she shrieked, she bucked back and forth in her mom’s arms.  Finally, my sister recognized the ball was what she wanted and got it for her.  By this time Jill is frustrated at these adults.  She receives the ball but it’s not exactly doing for her what she thought, it’s not as exciting as she thought.  So since she was already half way into a fit, she proceeded to up it up a notch and take it to full on crying and screaming.  No, she doesn’t want the ball now.  No, she doesn’t want the tube, toy, fins, goggles, you name it!  Mom is flustered.  Where and what is happening to my sweet toddler?  Well mom, welcome to the land of “stuck”.  Stuck in wanting yet not wanting.  Stuck in the yes when I meant no.  Ugh.  Jill’s mom asks my sister if she should take her out of the pool so she doesn’t disrupt other swimmers.  My sister just replies, “This is an ice cream fit”.  

“Jill, do you want a toy?” 

“No!”

“Jill, do you want a floaty?”

“No!”

“Jill, do you want to get out?”

“No!”

“Jill, do you want to stay in?”

“No”

“Jill, do you want ice cream?”

“No!”

And so it goes.  She has cut off her nose despite her face. It doesn’t matter what you offer.  The answer is no.  She is “Stuck”.

What can I do with my toddler or preschooler who is so contrary?  Well, here are some tips:

1.Try not to ask “yes/no” questions.  I tell my swim parents this one all the time.  You’re setting yourself up, and them, for failure.

2. Choose battles carefully.  And when you do.  Make sure you win them!  I’m talking big ones.  Usually about safety or something worth it to you.  

3. Offer choices when you can.  But they need to know if they don’t make a decision then you will make it for them.  Even choices can lead to a control issue.  

4.  No, kids don’t need to be in control.  YOU, the parent are in control.  Not children.  Have fun with them, choices are given when appropriate.  But toddlers and preschoolers do not have the cognitive reasoning to make day to day decisions.  That includes:  What to eat (candy!), when to sleep (never!), what to wear (shorts in 20 degree weather).  Freedom comes as they get older and show maturity.

5.  Give grace.  Both to yourself and them.  Parents can get just as stuck as their kids.  Sometimes they really are having a bad day.  Sometimes it’s tax season and parents are having a bad day.  There’s room for forgiving, moving on and understanding they really do want the ice cream.  

Just today, my 3 year old and I have been stuck in contrarianism.  When he went to get his little snack in a cup, he realized there were no more cheese-its left.  He was stuck with wheat thins while everyone of his siblings had cheese-its.  Before I could get his siblings to share with him, he launches his snack of wheat thins on the ground, crying.  Seeing his snack all over the place, broken and full of dirt.  He proceeds to really lose it and now we are in full throttle hysteria.  

Later, as we are getting out of the car, he insists that “only Mommy” can unbuckle him (control).  Fine. I stand and wait for him to climb out of the car.  Takes 4 minutes,37 seconds.  (yes I timed it. This is more control.)  As he’s getting out he hands me his blanky since it can’t come inside with us.  I put it on his car seat.  “No, not that one, put it in the back!”  I can hear the high pitched need to control my every decision.  Luckily I am no softy.  Nope.  It’s going right where I put it.  So now he refuses to walk inside.  I leave him there.  Next to the car.  In the parking lot.  I walk away, about 20 feet, he screams, cries and comes running to me.  Phew.  I won this one.  But now we get to the stair case to walk inside.  Refuses to walk down by himself.  Here. We. Go. Again.  Every 20 feet a battle.  Every thought, we are “stuck”.  

 I can appreciate his efforts.  Yes it’s exhausting.  But my job as mom is to not lose patience but to calmly guide my children.  I love the tenacity (that will go far in life), I love teaching him he can’t always get what he wants, I love teaching him he’ll get more in life by cooperation and kindness, I love teaching him that I am going to love him no matter how big the fit, scream or tears.  I just love him!

Spring Has Sprung, Let's Get Wet!

It's spring time.  We are enjoying this beautiful weather.  It's time to start thinking about summer and swimming!  Time to sign up for lessons: www.swimlpb.com

If your kids are not in lessons, get them in NOW.  Summer is full of swimming and kids need to gear up.  Being out of the water for a time can cause them to regress.  They need to get their "sea legs" back in a sense.

When I teach, I can tell the kids who have had a break and they get back in the pool with me.  They might be nervous but their body also is stiff and jerky.  It takes a few weeks to go with the flow and become fluid again.

A nervous swimmer will also tend to breathe with their nose.  In swimming we want to breathe with our mouths.  At LPB we might use a nose "hugger" to help keep water out of their noses.  Sometimes while diving down to get rings or back swims might be a popular time for water to go up the nose.

How about that summer haircut.  I have many boys in my swim classes that have somewhat long hair.  When they get wet however, the hair gets longer and covers their goggles and they can't see.  I often have boys with long hair in my classes tie their hair up in a pony tail, unicorn style.  Girls also need to have their hair and bangs tied back.  It's helpful for parents to come prepared for swim class because we have 30 minutes to work hard and I don't want to waste time doing hair.

We sell goggles, fins and inner tubes at LPB.  These are great to have for summer swimming and vacations.  They also make great Easter basket stuffings!

Sensory Swimming

Children often come to swim lessons with a wide range of skills. Because we specialize in younger kids, we get the major gross motor skill (large body movements, crawling, running, climbing) growth patterns right at our door. Children from birth until age four have the largest growth in gross motor skills. I was just recently talking to a mom nursing her 2 month old while I sat playing with my 10 month old who is scaling counters, climbing up and down my stairs on his own as well as cruising. I just looked at her and said, can you believe your baby will be doing this is only 8 months. She just shook her head in disbelief. It's amazing what babies, toddlers and preschool age children are capable of and the rate of growth they experience. After age 4, their fine motor skills start to take over the speedy rate of development which coincides with writing skills, coloring in the lines, etc. While your gross motor skills are still developing, they don't improve at the same rate.

This is why any swim teacher will tell you physically it is easier to teacher a younger child/baby to swim. Their gross motor skills are still fluid. I can actually sense and feel how a child is reacting in the water simply by touching them. Are they scared, struggling, tense, relaxed. I have a toddler in my class right now who is an excellent swimmer. He just turned two. He likes to go under water, float, look around and simply float there. His mom gets nervous and picks him up to breath. I am teaching her how to let him experiment, roll around and blow bubbles. He thinks it is hilarious. I tell the mom, "You will know when he is running out of air, his body movements will change and get rigid or he might start kicking and paddling like crazy." This boy doesn't need me to teach him. He is teaching himself through his self exploration and experimenting. It's Mommy I'm teaching to support that kind of play and fun in the water.

We get many kids with physical delays as well as sensory issues. Swimming is used in therapy all over the world but especially with children. Water is 30 times more pressure on the body than air. This can either provide resistance or assistance as well as some pretty awesome feedback. I have a little girl in lessons right now who had some physical as well as verbal delays. She came in at 4 yet walked like she was 2. After 6 weeks in lessons, she noticeably had smoother movements in and out of the water. She was using bi-lateral movements with her arms as well as upper body strength climbing out of the pool and balance of her whole body. I get so much joy and fulfillment from teaching children like this. Seeing their marked improvement is so uplifting and encouraging.

Sensory issues come up often too. Kids who rip off the goggles and can't have anything on their face. Some kids can't wear the fins, let alone shoes their moms say. I get to support the parents in introducing these things to their kids and slowly trying to release or at least get them used to some of the stimuli. When we give out ribbons here at La Petite Baleen, we ring a large bell and cheer. Sometimes some kids are triggered with unexpected and loud sounds and shut down, not even wanting their ribbon. Or here in Half Moon bay, our slide can be so much fun as an end of class activity. Kids with sensory issues often would rather climb to the top themselves, having pressure on their feet than be lifted to the halfway slide and be free feeling in the air. Some kids need that pressure on their feet to feel stable.

I just love bringing swimming to all kids. I have seen it benefit kids with autism, sensory and physical delays. My dad once even taught a girl with no arms and legs to swim. That was special and amazing to watch. But I will never forget it. Any child can swim and benefit from the therapeutic as well as multi sensory, skill building wonderment it is. I just love teaching these babies and children. What a wonderful job this is!

Let's get creative!

I'm usually a very structured teacher when I am teaching my swim lessons. My kids know what to expect, and for the most part, I follow the same lesson plan with slight variations. Of course I am always pushing my swimmers to their limits and have an eye for fine tuning. I can be fairly picky about how and when I give out ribbons. For example, their side breathing on freestyle or "big arms" needs to include rotation of their body on the long axis. Or for upfaces, I need their breath to be close to perfect and for them to have the confidence that comes with the blue ribbon.

So while most kids thrive in my structured environment, it's nice to break out of that mold once in a while. Sometimes I have surprised my students and told them to go walk to the slide to start off the class (in our Half Moon Bay pool). "We are doing a backwards class!" I tell them. Their eyes get really big and they kind of stand there staring at me. "Has she lost her mind, where's my teacher Liesl?" Hehe. I love throwing them for a loop and mixing it up a bit. We have so much fun.
During my swim shift on Tuesday morning, I have a gold ribbon class full of home schooled 10 year olds. I have to give credit to my swimmer Jonathan for his silliness. It's because of his playful distractions that I got my most recent creative ideas. So here's what went down. During our class, floaties often come into our lane, pushed in by the Toddler class next to us. Jonathan is very playful and picked up 3 of the floaties and put them on his arms. "Take off the floaties, it's time for underwater sw....... Hmmm, never mind. You want to see what it's like to do an underwater swim with the floaties on?" We often swim with the racing fins so we ended up doing their underwater swims with floaties! They made it 38 feet with those floaties on and got a great lesson on buoyancy and effort:)

Now that I had shifted into creative mode, I started thinking about some fun things my coach used to do with our training during college. Rick Demont was always cutting edge, thinking of creative and new ways to stay on top of the game while keeping us focused and motivated. One of my favorite drills was what we called Partner Pull. This is done with 2 swimmers, one being the arms while the other is the feet. The rear person holds one foot and provides the propulsion from behind while the front person pulls the water with their stroke . We had a lot fun, especially coming into walls and doing flip turns while staying connected. Needless to say, we got quiet good at it and if they had a Partner Pull Olympics, my partner Shannon and I would be Gold Medal champions.

So I had the kids do some partner pull in class (remember they are already Gold ribbon swimmers), and it was a hit. It helped me see who is strong or weak in pulling or kicking. The best part of partner pull is the push off the wall and the finish into the wall. Each partner can provide either fast momentum or a fast pul in with their legs.

After this, I thought of when Rick Demont would help us get better at our racing dives. He would put a bungee cord around our waist and stand behind us, pull back slightly so we had to resist forward. Then we would launch off with lots of effort working against the pull of the bungee. Afterwards, he would take the bungee off, and we would do a racing dive and we would shoot off that block like a bullet out of a gun. I thought of how I could apply this to my students but didn't have a bungee band. So I improvised with the rope from the lifesaver hanging up on the wall. I put it around the kids waist kind of like reigns on a horse and slightly pulled back. When I sent them off on their dive, I had to let go completely but they got the idea of resisting forward against the pull back of the rope. By now class was over but we were having so much fun!

It's nice for me to break out of my mold and structure and 'go with the flow'. I am even applying this to my everyday life. And thank you Jonathan for your inspiration!