Using the swimming noodle, a long colored foam tube, can be a fun way to be taught swimming. It is light enough for a child to maneuver, yet strong enough to hold the weight of an adult. Children view the noodle as a toy, therefore as something fun. Adults can be trained in its various uses to assist in the building of swimming skills.
Anyone who is learning to swim will first need to get rid of any fear of the water. The swimming noodle can help with this. The long foam tube can be bent into a variety of shapes that can be used as a floatation device. The learner can feel the water while floating around hanging onto the noodle. Do not attempt this in deep water with a novice swimmer, as the swimming noodle is not approved as a PFD (Personal Floatation Device, such as a lifejacket). The student should be able to stand up and still have the water level below the neck. This way they can stand and adjust the noodle as they choose. Playing in the water, having fun with the noodle, can help dispel fear. Older students like to be able to hang on to something. The swimming noodle is perfect for this, as there is limited space on the edge of the pool or side of the dock.
Have beginners hang onto the swimming noodle and lift their feet up. Let them experience their natural buoyancy with the noodle. Once they learn they can trust the water, they can learn to float on their own.
Place the noodle across the chest; wrap arms over it, to practice kicks. This positioning will allow freedom for the legs to move, while keeping the head and neck above water. This is an excellent position for the instructor to analyze and correct issues with form for flutter kicks. Student hips tend to roll when learning the flutter kick. With the help of the noodle, the instructor will have both hands available to correct the position of the hips in the water. This is invaluable to the student, as they will feel the correct position in the water and thus will learn it faster.
Use this same positioning of the noodle to teach the whip kick, also known as the frog kick, for the breast stroke. This kick can be difficult to describe to students. With the help of the noodle, the student can pause at each point (knees bent, toes out, kick around and feet together) to feel the correct positions.
Have races in this same position to increase endurance and speed. The swimming noodle produces more water resistance and builds the muscles in the legs for stronger kicks.
Fold the noodle in half and have the student lay back on it, neck on the fold, arms holding onto ends. In this position, practice the whip kick for the elementary backstroke. Here again the instructor will have both hands free to correct form. The flutter kick on the back for the backward crawl can also be worked on using this position with the swimming noodle.
For intermediate swimmers, place noodle under the ankles to practice arm strokes. This method works well for the front crawl, as students can concentrate on coordinating the arm movements with the breathing to the side. Once again the instructor can correct the hip position, so the student doesn’t roll the lower body to take a breath. Isolating each area (arms, legs, breathing) is essential in learning the front crawl.
For advanced swimmers, the swimming noodle can assist with learning the butterfly stroke. Place it under the front of the ankles while the swimmer holds onto the side of the pool to build muscle while learning the dolphin kick. Have the learner hold the noodle out in front of them to practice the kick across the pool. Place the noodle under the hips to practice the butterfly arm stroke.
Using a swimming noodle as a teaching aid for swimming can isolate the areas that need to be worked on for all levels of swimmers. It can provide support and added resistance as needed. It can also be a lot of fun to just play with.
