The Use of a Waist-Type Flotation Device as an Adjunct in Teaching Beginning Swimming Skills

Abstract Thirty male college students were tested and equated in regard to their swimming ability. On the basis of a swimming test for distance, they were divided into two groups for the purpose of comparing the relative effectiveness of the use of a waist-type flotation device in learning to swim. After two aquatic orientation sessions for both groups, they were taught to swim. No additional outside practice was permitted during the course of the experiment. At the end of each session, each student in each group was tested by an outside scorer to determine the distance he could swim. Those in the experimental group were tested with the flotation device removed. Improvement was noted in each group, but the group using the waist-type flotation device was able to swim further at the conclusion of the experiment.