Why Swim?

Swimming is considered the ideal activity for developing muscular and skeletal growth by many physicians and pediatricians. Why do doctors like it so much?

• Swimming develops high-quality aerobic endurance: In other sports, an hour of practice may yield as little as 10 minutes of meaningful exercise. Age group swimming teams use every precious minute of practice time developing fitness and teaching skills.
• Proportional muscular development: Swimming uses all the body’s major muscle groups better than any other sport.
• Enhances flexibility: Exercises all major joints through a full range of motion at a critical age.
• Develops coordination: Requires complex movement combinations, enhancing grace and fluidity.
• Low injury risk: Swimming is the safest of all children’s sports.
• Fitness and enjoyment for life: Participants in Master’s Swimming programs train well into their 80s.

In addition to physical development, children can develop intellectual competence by participating in a guided program of physical activity. Learning and using swimming skills engages thinking processes, planning movement sequences, and exploring new ideas. Self-expression can be physical as well as intellectual. Accomplishments in learning new skills strengthen self-image.

Swimming is a self-achievement activity. Responsibility for performance ultimately lies with the individual. How well the individual has prepared physically and mentally largely determines performance level.