When to Reset Your Instruction
A lesson plan is a guide, but the pool is dynamic. Knowing when to pivot or reset is one of the most valuable skills an instructor can master. Here are key signs that it's time for a change:
- When you feel you're forcing it.
- When participants are distracted by something else.
- When goofiness takes hold.
- When participants are not "getting it."
Embracing the Process: Failure is Learning
It is better to try something new and fail, than it is to only do what you know works. This concept is key to growth in all areas of life, including the pool.
As the New York Times noted, failure is not the opposite of success; it is a prerequisite for it. When you persevere, make attempts, fail, and are then corrected with help and direction, success is earned and learned. The process itself is important.
Unlike general life skills, swimming is wonderful because we have a specific body motion goal we are working towards. This specificity allows us to structure learning attempts for our participants.
Structuring the Perfect Practice Session
To maximize learning and keep the energy high, try to incorporate these four key elements into your lesson plan:
- Specific skill/body motion (What are we working on today?).
- Multiple attempts (Repetition is key to muscle memory).
- Challenging or fun activity to work on the chosen skill.
- Consistent opportunity for feedback from the instructor in a non-disruptive way.
Discussion & Takeaways
We want to hear from you! How do you reset your instruction? Do you find yourself needing to reset often? (Remember, the goal is infrequent resets, but when you're trying new things, knowing when and how to reset is crucial.) Let us know in the comments below or on Facebook or Twitter.
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