I’d Rather Be Swimming! 1k3b43

UNDER SUN AND BLUE SKY…

THIS BOOK BELONGS TO

IN AQUA BLUE WATER…

SAFELY WHENEVER & WHEREVER - IN MOST WEATHER…

I’D RATHER BE SWIMMING!

AN EASY, FUN, AND DESCRIPTIVE GUIDE TO LEARN AND IMPROVE SWIMMING SKILLS - IN A CHILDREN’S FORMAT WITH PICTURES TO COLOR, RHYMES, WATER GAMES, MEMORY DIARY, AND ACCESS TO ONLINE VIDEO!

WRITTEN BY JOAN AND PETER LEONARD ILLUSTRATED BY BEVERLY MARTIN MASON AND THE LEONARDS

Copyright © 2015 Joan and Peter Leonard.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Archway Publishing 1663 Liberty Drive Bloomington, IN 47403 www.archwaypublishing.com 1-(888)-242-5904

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only. Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Tax deductible donations on behalf of this book are encouraged to be sent to:

The St. Charles Noon Kiwanis Club P.O. Box 3 St. Charles, IL 60174 www.kiwanisofstcharles.org

The Kiwanis International Foundation 3636 Woodview Terrace Indianapolis, IN 46268-3196 www.kiwanis.org/foundation

or… the Kiwanis Club of your choice

“Serving the Children of the World”

ISBN: 978-1-4808-0946-8 (sc) ISBN: 978-1-4808-1413-4 (hc) ISBN: 978-1-4808-0947-5 (e)

Archway Publishing rev. date: 4/27/2015

DEDICATIONS AND APPRECIATION

DEDICATED TO:

All swimmers and swimmers-to-be

All swimmer ers – moms, dads, grandparents, nannies, and others who coordinate lessons and transport swimmers

MUCH GRATITUDE TO:

Beverly Martin Mason for drawing the blow fish, octopus, sharks, and flying fish in the mid-’70s and for her recent help with the turtle and whale

Family and friends for of this book

God, for giving us the wisdom, inspiration, and strength required to meet needs of swimmers and publish this book

CONTENTS

Preface

Introduction

7 Essential Swimming Skills

Ready to Learn to Swim!

A Message from Leo the Sea Lion

Mrs. Leonard’s Practice at Home Fun Things to Do

Blow Fish (Blowing Bubbles and Breath Control)

Pick Up Rings

Octopus (Dog Paddle and Treading Water)

Shark (Front Face Float)

Shark with Flippers (Front Face Float with Flutter Kick)

Upside Down Shark (Back Float)

Upside Down Shark with Fins and Flippers (Back Float with Sculling and Finning)

Spinning Octopus and Shark (Turning Tummy to Back and Back to Tummy)

Fall or Jump in and Swim to the Side

Mrs. Leonard’s Novice Swimming Progress Sheet

Shark with Fins and Flippers (Front Crawl with Flutter Kick)

Upside Down Shark with Fins and Flippers (Backstroke)

Sea Turtle (Underwater Swimming)

Flying Fish (Knee Dive)

Snoopy Dive (Standing Dive)

Snow Angel (Elementary Backstroke with Whip Kick)

Frog (Breaststroke with Whip Kick)

Dolphin (Butterfly Stroke with Dolphin Kick)

Seal (Sidestroke with Scissors Kick)

You Are a Whale of a Swimmer!

Leo’s Other Fun Skills

Mrs. Leonard’s Original Red Cross Progress Sheet

Leo’s Games

About the Leonards and Illustrator

Memory Diary

PREFACE

Teaching swimming lessons to children through adults has been a life joy and ion. The infamous backyard pool of Bob and Joan Leonard in St. Charles, IL with its original exposed aggregate deck and springy Spartan diving board dates back to the summer of 1971. Bob prided himself in putting it in and maintaining both it and its sparkling water.

Mascot Leo the Sea Lion and his motto, “I’d rather be swimming!” – promotes all to swim and love the water. As the song title states, “Welcome to My World!” – welcome to the wonderful world of learning to swim!

Youngest son, Perry, was five years old in 1971 and my first home swim student along with his best friend and next door neighbor, Gregg Gannett. From that humble beginning, I was on my way! 42 years ago, soon after I began teaching lessons in our pool, I wanted to give a handout to the little ones. I asked Bev Martin, an aspiring high school artist at the time, and girlfriend of my eldest son, Jeff, if she would draw pictures to illustrate skills the children were learning. Those pictures, as well as progress sheets, stars, and treats have been enjoyed by all swimmers. Peter took action after years of confiding in him that, “Someday I will write a book about swimming.” If Peter had not co-authored this book with me to reach my goal of sharing my life ion with others, a book in whatever form would not have been created in my lifetime. For this I am eternally grateful.

Joan

Providing swimming instruction and now sharing this book are two of our American Dreams! This book is the result of years of swimming and teaching

experience – combining our efforts into what we hope will bring joy to all. Its purpose is to provide a fun, progressive, and comprehensive guide to learning numerous swimming skills. It is primarily for children, but we believe it can be applicable to all ages and abilities. Form mental images of swimming as you read. Have fun in swimming lessons and swimming on your own!

Peter

We are grateful to Mom for her untiring example of love in teaching swimming. She has experienced the challenges and rewards of each swim season with joy and gratitude.

Sons and daughter, Jeff, Peter, John, Jennifer, Perry

INTRODUCTION

• With the right attitude and practice, we believe everyone can learn to swim. For some it comes easy. For others it may require greater patience, perhaps mastering fear or overcoming an experience from the past. As for skill and efficiency, it can be developed.

• Swimming is a healthy, fun, life-long pastime.

• Follow pool rules. Do not swim alone or when thunder or lightning is present. Practice common sense safety to eliminate any and all accidents. Watch children around and in water like hawks. Never trust floatation devices, in the deep or shallow ends, especially because they may come off or be taken off! Learn and practice lifesaving skills. (See page 29.)

• Recommend lessons for 3 year olds and above, one or more times per week for 30-45 minutes per session. Fun swimming is also important for experimentation and skill development.

• Learning to swim should be enjoyable in recommended water temperatures of 83-87 degrees.

• A variety of swimming skills and experiences are recommended. These are provided by visiting different pools, using goggles and kickboards, and playing with diving rings, balls, etc.

• Recommend swimmers always open eyes underwater with or without goggles to avoid hitting teeth or head! Recommended goggles may have clear lens for indoor swimming and shaded lens, if desired, for summer outdoor swimming. They should be appropriately child or adult sized with a fixed nose bridge and easily adjustable strap. Goggles or masks that cover the nose, and nose plugs, are not recommended for learning to swim.

• Be careful not to hit head when swimming on your back. (Stretch an arm back above head or turn on front before the wall.)

• Recommend learning to dive in water 8 or more feet deep. Ensure it is clear in front of you – on and below the surface – before jumping or diving in. Always go straight out from the side of a pool and end of a board to avoid hitting a wall.

• Swimming is a great part of a total exercise fitness program. Swimming one, two, three, or more times per week yearlong is a wonderful way to stay fit and add variety and fun to life. Swimming is great for flexibility, strength, and endurance. Some call it the perfect exercise. Lap swimming using a kickboard and a variety of strokes – and swimming for various time, distance, and effort combinations – is a good workout and great fun. Recommend about 30 minutes of swimming, more or less as desired. You can make up or obtain basic work outs. Those wanting to compete may choose to a swim team or club (called Masters for adults) or enter swimming competitions and/or biathlons or triathlons which include swimming.

7 ESSENTIAL SWIMMING SKILLS

1. Breath Control. When your face comes up out of the water, some air must be expelled out of the nose before breathing in. This must occur consciously or unconsciously. Thus much work is done to be able to expel air only from your nose. Also, you are encouraged to only breathe in through your mouth until mastery. Breathing out and in through both nose and mouth will come with progression and mastery.

2. Float on your back. Float with your face out of the water while relaxing and breathing out of your nose and into your mouth. Getting on your back after jumping in, turning on your back from the face down position, and turning from your back to the face down position are all essential back skills.

3. Relax. Relaxing is the key to breath control, floating, and anything you do in water. Relaxing your neck is essential. Chin down and looking down are essential when on your tummy. Neck relaxed, chest up, and back arched are essentials when on your back.

4. Flutter kick. Stretch feet and toes out flat and flex ankles. When flutter kicking on your stomach, raise your legs and feel your feet breaking the surface of the water. Don’t bend your knees too much or ride a bicycle in the water! The knee action should be as it is when walking. When flutter kicking on your back, flip the water up. Again, this will take not bending your knees too much.

5. “Feel” the water with your hands and feet. This “feeling” is what provides the pull and push power to move you through the water.

6. Think “straight body,” “stretching body,” and “stream-lined body.” These will get you reaching, gliding through the water efficiently, and looking good.

7. Coordinate arm movement, kick, and rhythmic breathing for each specific stroke.

A FRIENDLY INVITATION

To access online video, type the following URL into your browser’s address bar: youtube.com/LeonardSwimming

A great place to learn to swim Robert’s ready; please him!

READY TO LEARN TO SWIM!

Robert is so excited. He is going to take swimming lessons! The water will feel so good, especially outside in the warm summer sun and in warm vacation places. Sometimes he dreams of boys and girls who live where it’s warm enough to swim outside all year long! Oh well, he can swim at indoor pools in the fall, winter, and spring.

Robert wants to be safe and have fun learning new swimming skills and strokes, jumping and diving in from the side of the pool and off the diving board, picking up rings from the bottom, and playing games with his sister, parents, and friends. He knows this may take patience and practice, so he must pay close attention to his swim teacher.

Robert knows he must never swim alone. He must never play around the water without being watched by his mom, dad, or another adult. He and his parents know that floatation devices can’t be totally trusted. He will stay alert by opening his eyes underwater, and he will always jump straight out – not too close to a side of the pool. He knows that he can only dive in the deep end with hands stretched above his head. Finally, he knows he should never push anyone else’s head underwater!

He packs suntan lotion, towel, and goggles and heads for the pool. When he arrives, he puts on some lotion if needed, then uses the bathroom. If he must go to the bathroom again during the lesson, he will ask politely to get out.

When the teacher calls him, he sits down on the side of the pool. After blowing bubbles in the water of the teacher’s cupped hands, she says, “Let’s get in!” She helps Robert put both of his hands down on one side, turn himself around to face

the wall, then lower himself into the warm water. His tippy toes can just touch the bottom! With a big smile, he is ready to learn to swim!

…Your teachers in this book will be my swimming expert friends: the Blow Fish, Octopus, Shark, Funny Little Diving Board Guys, Sea Turtle, Flying Fish, Snoopy and Tweety, Snow Angel, Frog, Dolphin, Butterfly, Seal, Whale, and last but not least, me!

Whatever your current age or ability, best to you in learning to swim or improving your swimming skills.

Whatever your dreams, may they come true!

Leo the Sea Lion

A MESSAGE FROM LEO THE SEA LION

Dear Swimmer,

Line drawing by Peter Leonard

I know you’d rather be swimming, too Learn what my friends will teach you. Soon you will be swimming like us , being safe is a must.

Your special friend, Leo the Sea Lion

MRS. LEONARD’S PRACTICE AT HOME FUN THINGS TO DO

Practice these fun things at home and make a scene So in the swimming pool you can be a bubble machine!

BLOW FISH (BLOWING BUBBLES AND BREATH CONTROL)

1. Open your mouth and take a breath. 2. Close your mouth and quietly hum. (You can also put your lips together like a tough guy and growl.) 3. While continuing to quietly hum or growl, look down and put your face in the water. 4. Still continuing to quietly hum or growl, lift your face out of the water. 5. Now stop humming or growling, open your mouth, and take a breath. 6. Repeat five (5) times, face under the water quietly humming or growling for three (3) seconds each time. 7. Now bend your knees and go down deeper five (5) more times. Can you pick up a ring from the bottom of the pool?

• to be looking down, and once you start to quietly hum or growl, don’t stop humming or growling until you are back up into the air again! • Can you hum or growl gently for the count of 3, 5, or 10 before coming up? (Come up before you run out of air!) • Humming or growling causes air to go out only from your nose. You can also blow air out of your nose without humming or growling, of course. If having trouble with blowing only out of your nose, you can blow air out of your mouth only, or out of your mouth and your nose at the same time. But mastery of humming, growling, or blowing only out of your nose is the goal. Look at yourself underwater by looking into a hand-held mirror to see if your lips are sealed and bubbles are only coming out of your nose!

• You can also hold your breath for periods of time first, but you must blow air out as you are coming up out of the water. • A little air must also be expelled out of the nose, either consciously or unconsciously, when your face has come out of the water and is in the air. Only then can you – and you should – immediately open your mouth to breathe in.

BE A BLOW FISH

Drawing by Bev Martin

Live it up and blow your bubbles There’s no better way to forget your troubles!

PICK UP RINGS

Drawings by Joan Leonard

Read the story, “The Little Engine That Could.” Say to yourself, “I think I can, I think I can,”…

…until you find yourself saying, “I can! I can!”

OCTOPUS (DOG PADDLE AND TREADING WATER)

1. You may start with the help of a floatation device, but soon you will be able to do it on your own, so you won’t want or need it anymore! 2. Reach out and pull, pull, pull – first one hand and then the other – like the paws of a digging doggie. Kick, kick, kick your legs. When you get your kick up behind you, you will go forward. 3. At first, you may feel like your legs are riding a bicycle. Now don’t bend your knees as much. Stretch your feet and toes out flat and flex your ankles. Bicycles really aren’t allowed in the pool! 4. You can go faster if you put your head down and hum out your bubbles. You can bob your head up and down, humming out then opening your mouth and breathing in. 5. You are treading water when you stay up in one place with your head above the water. Relax, push your hands down – one at a time or both together at the same time – in front of you or out at your sides, and bicycle kick underneath you. (Later you will learn to use the whip kick, scissors kick, and egg beater kick.)

Drawing by Bev Martin

Arms and legs wiggle, waggle While you stay up and paddle, paddle!

SHARK (FRONT FACE FLOAT)

1. Stretch your hands up above your head, put them together, and clamp your shoulders against your ears. 2. Put your face down and be a Blow Fish. 3. With both feet against the wall, push off and float out on top of the water. 4. to r-e-l-a-x and f-l-o-a-t. 5. Stand up by bending and pressing your arms out and down. At the same time, bring your knees up to your chest and put your feet down on the bottom.

Drawing by Bev Martin

Like a feather on the water you float You stay on top just like a boat!

SHARK WITH FLIPPERS (FRONT FACE FLOAT WITH FLUTTER KICK)

1. Do the Shark and now add Shark flippers – your flutter kick. Keep your legs pretty straight; don’t bend your knees too much. Feel them up on top of the water, stretch feet and toes out flat, and flex ankles. Does your kick sound like a motor boat? 2. Kick, kick, kick, kick, kick, kick, kick, kick! Kick, kick, kick, kick, kick, kick, kick, kick!

Drawing by Bev Martin

Now add a kick and away you go Faster than fast while bubbles you blow!

UPSIDE DOWN SHARK (BACK FLOAT)

1. Roll onto your back, lean back, and look up in the sky. Have someone hold your head gently with their hands around the sides of your head and their knee or foot under your back. As you lean back, put your chest up and let your legs relax down under the water to feel yourself float on your back! 2. Take breaths in only through your mouth. Hum your air out like you do when you are a Blow Fish, or you may breathe out of your mouth. 3. Relax your neck and don’t twist or turn. Feel your body float as the water keeps you up! It’s called buoyancy. 4. If your face goes under, hum and get your chest up, up, up – your head back – and your face out of the water. 5. When you want to stand up, take a breath and tuck your chin to your chest. Put your head under and immediately start blowing bubbles. At the same time, bend your knees up to your chest as you sweep your hands back and down under you – scooping the water forward like you are sitting in a chair. Put your feet on the bottom and stand straight up!

Drawing by Bev Martin

Roll on your back and look at the sky Put your chest and tummy up high!

UPSIDE DOWN SHARK WITH FINS AND FLIPPERS (BACK FLOAT WITH SCULLING AND FINNING)

1. Be an Upside Down Shark and now use your hands gently at your side like little shark fins. You may twist them in and out in a figure-eight motion or pump them at your sides – alternately lifting each shoulder as you push the water to your feet. 2. Use your feet like little Shark flippers by stretching your feet and toes out flat and flexing your ankles. Keep your legs pretty straight. Don’t bend your knees too much. Flip the water up with your stretched out feet!

Challenge: Reach and straighten out your arms behind your head and put your hands together. Clamp your shoulders against your ears. Arch your back and do the flutter kick. Be sure to breathe into your mouth and out of your nose. Keep your head back and your face above the water! (If your face goes under, gently hum out of your nose and get your face out by putting your chest up and kicking a little harder.)

Drawing by Bev Martin

Add a kick to your float and with arms at your side Say, “Bye, bye, feet,” as away you glide!

SPINNING OCTOPUS AND SHARK (TURNING TUMMY TO BACK AND BACK TO TUMMY)

1. When being an Octopus treading water or doing the dog paddle with head out of the water: To go from tummy to back, roll head and body in your favorite direction to get on your back. Now do a good back float with head back, chest up, and feet kicking. To go from back to tummy, take a good breath, roll head and body in your favorite direction, and go back to being an Octopus with face still out of the water. 2. When being an Octopus doing dog paddle with head down: Keep feet up, kick, and hum air out of your nose as you roll head and body in your favorite direction to get on your back. To go from back to tummy, take a good breath, roll head and body in your favorite direction, and put your face down in the water. Keep your body and kick up on top of the water both when you are on your tummy and when you are on your back. 3. When being a Shark doing the front crawl stroke: As you are taking a breath, turn on your back to the side you are breathing by bringing that arm straight over and back to be the first stroke of the backstroke or to do sculling and finning. From the backstroke or sculling and finning, turn on your tummy by bringing the arm you normally breathe to straight over and forward to be the first stroke of the front crawl. Be sure to take a good breath as you are turning over.

Drawings by Bev Martin

Air out of nose as you spin on your back Breathe into your mouth as you spin back.

FALL OR JUMP IN AND SWIM TO THE SIDE

1. If you would fall unexpectedly into the water, quickly turn your head and body around underwater to face back to the wall. Reach out and grab the wall! 2. When you are ready to jump in on your own, have proper supervision and use a floatation device if needed. Stand on the edge of the pool – or the end of the diving board after you have mastered jumping in from the side. Curl toes over the edge. Take the hand of someone if you need help, or have him in front of you in the water if you need him to be. (But don’t jump on him!) Take a breath, start humming, and jump straight out. 3. R-E-L-A-X. Continue humming underwater as you pull hands and kick feet until your face is up in the air. Now open your mouth and take a new breath. Face your body to the side of the pool. 4. Get your feet up behind you to kick and do the Octopus (dog paddle) or Shark (front face float with flutter kick, or the front crawl). 5. A most essential skill and perhaps the easiest thing to do immediately after coming up for air, is to spin on your back in the direction of the side of the pool! Then you can float on your back as an Upside Down Shark with Fins and Flippers by sculling and finning. Be careful not to hit your head on the wall! Before you reach the side, lift an arm back behind your head to grab the wall, or take a good breath and spin over on your tummy. On your tummy, put your face down, blow bubbles, keep your feet up kicking, and grab the wall.

Drawings by Bev Martin

Swim to top, get feet up, and move back to the side On tummy or back – you decide!

JUMP OFF DIVING BOARD

Pictures created by Jennifer and Joan Leonard

At the end of the board count 1-2-3 Jump in the water and swim with glee!

MRS. LEONARD’S NOVICE SWIMMING PROGRESS SHEET

SHARK WITH FINS AND FLIPPERS (FRONT CRAWL WITH FLUTTER KICK)

1. Be a Shark. Use your Shark flippers flutter kick. With your face looking down add big circle, monster-reaching arms one at a time. Bend your elbows like you are shooting an arrow with a bow, and reach forward with your hands like you are shooting the arrow. Put your shoulders in tight against your ears each time you reach. As you pull each hand through the water, “feel” the water. 2. Make your swimming look good by keeping your head straight and steady. Look down and be a Blow Fish. Keep your body straight like a stickman, although you may roll your shoulders a bit as you reach each arm over. 3. Feel your kick straight behind you like a motor boat. 4. Breathe to the side you like best, after every three (3) strokes. (1, 2, 3, breathe.) Do this by blowing all air out of your nose (or mouth and nose) and turning your head flat to the side with your chin close to your shoulder when your back hand and bent elbow are coming out of the water behind you. 5. Turn your face down in the water again to be a Blow Fish as that hand comes reaching forward. 6. Now breathe every stroke to your favorite side. After mastery, you can learn to breathe to the other side, and then to alternating sides every two strokes! (One, two, right; one, two, left.)

Drawing by Bev Martin

Now add the arms and legs as you kick You’ll skim over the water – lickity split!

UPSIDE DOWN SHARK WITH FINS AND FLIPPERS (BACKSTROKE)

1. Be an Upside Down Shark. Use your Upside Down Shark flippers flutter kick. 2. You will be circling your arms back – one arm up as the other arm is down. 3. Lock your elbow and reach one arm straight back with your thumb up leading the way. As you raise your hand, turn it outward so now your little finger is straight up and your shoulder is rubbing against your ear. 4. Stretch and extend your locked arm, little finger, and hand into the water directly behind your shoulder. 5. When your hand slices into the water, now you can bend your elbow as you grab the water with your hand and begin to pull close to your side. Change your pull to a push – finishing with your arm straight and elbow locked down by your knee. 6. Now do the other arm just like the first. 7. Smooth it out as you continuously alternate circling your arms back – one arm up as the other arm is down. Roll slightly side to side, but keep your body straight as you lean back and flutter kick. Nicely flip the water up behind you. Breathe into your mouth as one arm is coming up, and breathe out of your nose as you push that arm to your side and you are bringing the other arm up.

Drawing by Bev Martin

Circle arms back, that’s the trick Thumb leads the way up, and don’t forget to kick!

SEA TURTLE (UNDERWATER SWIMMING)

1. With your back against the wall, be a Blow Fish and squat down by bending your knees and putting your hands on the bottom. 2. Keep your face looking down to the bottom of the pool, bring your arms up in the Shark position, and place your feet against the side of the pool. 3. Push off along the bottom of the pool. Sweep your arms back, reach them forward, and sweep them back again. You can also kick. (You can use your flutter kick, whip kick like a frog, or dolphin kick.) Stay along the bottom of the pool by keeping your chin, head, and tummy down! You are also like a submarine or torpedo. 4. Swim up for air when you need to. 5. Two related fun skills are being a dolphin or porpoise and doing a surface dive. See descriptions of both skills on page 30. CAUTION: When underwater swimming for distance, take only one deep breath and then go. (Don’t hyperventilate by taking in several breaths before going.) Don’t push beyond your limit; swim up for air when you need to. YOU ARE NOW A SEA TURTLE!

Thinkstock internet image, line drawn by Beverly Martin Mason (*Underwater swimming)

With chin down, swim along bottom of the pool Sweeping arms way back is really cool!

FLYING FISH (KNEE DIVE)

1. CAUTION: When doing any kind of dive – sitting dive, knee dive, standing dive, or bounce dive – dive only into deep water where diving is permitted. Always look before you dive to ensure it is clear, and always keep your arms and hands above your head. 2. Knee Dive: Put one knee down and one knee up with that foot on the edge of the pool. Put your shoulders over your ears with arms stretched out and one hand over the other. Interlock thumbs under hands. Bend over with chin down – looking down and back at your foot. Keep looking down and back at your foot as you roll over into the water by pushing with your toes and raising the back leg – smoothly entering the water. Once in the water, take your chin off chest to level out and swim forward. Done correctly, you should not do a somersault underwater nor a belly flop. Note: If having difficulty, a dive from the sitting position may help to get the feel of it. Sit on the side with feet in the water and against the side of the pool. Follow the description above for your shoulders, arms, hands, chin, and head. Look between your legs back to the side of the pool. Roll in smoothly and level out underwater. With confidence, now go back and do the knee dive! Surprise! Can you find the Spanish words on this page? What do they mean?

Drawing by Bev Martin

Chin to chest with one knee up and the other down Arms hug ears as you dive into el agua without a sound!

SNOOPY DIVE (STANDING DIVE)

1. Put one foot forward with toes curled over the edge of the pool, and one foot back behind you. Put your shoulders over your ears with arms stretched out and one hand over the other. Interlock thumbs under hands. Bend over with chin down – looking down and back at your front knee. Keep looking at your knee as you roll over into the water by lifting up your back foot and pushing with the toes of your front foot. Straighten your legs and slide in with a sleek dive. Once in the water, level out and swim forward. Soon you be able to do the same from a diving board. 2. Next you can stand with both feet on the edge of the pool. Bend over and look at your knees with your arms stretched over your head and hands together. Bend your knees and spring gracefully in – looking back at your knees the whole time. Once in the water, level out and swim forward. Soon you will be able to do the same from a diving board. 3. Next you can walk, walk, walk, walk, and then dive in first from the side of the pool and then from a diving board. Bring your arms up over your ears as you take that last step before diving in. Finally, see the description of how to do a bounce dive on page 33.

Picture created by Joan Leonard

One foot forward, one foot back – you are standing Lean over – lift back leg – dive in for a smooth landing!

SNOW ANGEL (ELEMENTARY BACKSTROKE WITH WHIP KICK)

1. Be an Upside-Down Shark. 2. Arm stroke: “Chicken,” bend your arms and bring your hands up along your side until they are to your armpits. “Airplane,” stretch your arms straight out. “Soldier,” sweep your arms down to your sides, feeling the water with straight arms and hands. 3. Kick: Bend knees and bring your heels down towards your rear end. Make feet and ankles flex out as you kick back and squeeze your legs and feet together. 4. Coordination: Bend knees and bring heels down as you begin the Chicken arms. Kick back and squeeze legs together as you do the sweeping down with your Soldier arms. When you are straight with legs together and arms and hands at your side – glide. Count, “One thousand one, one thousand two,” before beginning the next stroke.

Drawing by Jennifer Leonard

Chicken, Airplane, Soldier make a Snow Angel in the water Glide on your back like a playful sea otter!

FROG (BREASTSTROKE WITH WHIP KICK)

1. Glide out as a Shark. 2. At the very beginning of your arm pull, blow out your air and raise your head like a turtle to get a breath. 3. Bend your arms with elbows up and quickly pull your hands down and back to the sides under your chest. (Stop at your chest, don’t pull all the way back.) Smoothly curl your hands in and bring your elbows together. (Pretend you are reading a book or taking a big bite of ice cream!) This motion makes a heart shape! 4. At the same time you are pulling and breathing, bend your knees and bring your heels up towards your rear end in preparation for the kick. 5. Slide-push your hands, like praying, straight forward and clamp your shoulders over your ears as you look down. At the same time, flare-flex your feet out and whip kick back and out from the knees – circling around and squeezing your legs and feet together. End with feet and toes stretched out flat. 6. Now glide in the Shark position for the count of two (2) before doing the next stroke. 7. Pull/breathe, kick, glide: 1-2. Pull/breathe, kick, glide: 1-2. 8. When you are proficient with the coordination, you may decrease glide time.

Drawing by Jennifer Leonard

Lift head like a turtle, but kick like a frog Circle arms under in a heart shape, and glide like a log!

DOLPHIN (BUTTERFLY STROKE WITH DOLPHIN KICK)

1. First, practice the kick. Put your knees and feet pretty close together and kick down and up like a dolphin. Try it both with arms down at your sides as well as stretched out in front. 2. Move your whole body like a mermaid with your head and hips going up and down a little. Stretch feet and toes out flat and flex ankles. Feel the kick on the top of your feet. Kick down hard by bending knees, and straighten legs as you kick up. 3. Now practice the arms. With your head down, stretch and reach your arms forward at the same time with your shoulders going over your ears. Touch your hands together at the end. Now pull your hands down under your chest in a figure-eight (out, in, out motion). The pull turns to a push. Bring your hands out of the water behind you and stretch your shoulders over your ears again for the next stroke. 4. Putting it together: With head down, arms stretched forward and hands together, do two kicks. Now do an arm stroke. Two kicks, an arm stroke. Two kicks, an arm stroke. 5. Proper coordination: Now do first kick when hands are stretched forward entering the water, and second kick when arms are under as the pull turns to the push. Kick a bit harder on that second kick, and bring mouth up just enough for a breath every other stroke.

Drawing by Jennifer Leonard

Put knees together and stretch out feet The fish-tail leg action has an awesome beat!

BE A BUTTERFLY

Art work by Joan Leonard

Circle arms over – reaching way out in front Coordinating two dolphin kicks is a really cool stunt!

SEAL (SIDESTROKE WITH SCISSORS KICK)

1. Recommend you learn this stroke on the side you are most comfortable breathing to when doing the front crawl. Be on your side with head out of the water so you can breathe all the time. Have your chin near your shoulder. Look to the side and back behind you a little. 2. Arm stroke: Stretch lead arm out straight, then pull the water in front of the chest with bent elbow. As the lead arm is pulling back, slide the trail arm forward in front of the chest. Touch the lead hand with the trail hand, then push the water back with the trail hand as the lead hand slides back to stretch out again in front. (Pretend you are picking an apple, then dropping it into a basket!) 3. Scissors Kick: With legs straight and together on the side, first bend the knees. Now extend the top leg way forward with the foot bent up, and extend the bottom leg way back with the foot bent down. Kick back and together, keeping the legs parallel like a scissors, and bend the foot of the top (forward) leg down. Feel the water resistance on the top and sole of the feet. End with legs straight and both feet stretched out flat. (For the inverted kick, the top leg goes backward with foot bent down, and the bottom leg goes forward with foot bent up. As you kick, bend the foot of the bottom (forward) leg down.) 4. Coordination: As your hands are coming together, bend your knees and extend your legs. As your arms are straightening out, kick. Glide for two seconds. With practice you will be able to do the regular and inverted kicks as well as the stroke on both sides. YOU ARE NOW A SEAL!

Clipart-animal internet image, line drawn by Peter Leonard (* Sidestroke with scissors kick)

Head above water and swim on your side Pull front hand, push back hand, scissors kick, glide!

YOU ARE A WHALE OF A SWIMMER!

Thinkstock internet image, line drawn by Beverly Martin Mason

You’ve got some pretty good advice To make your swimming look real nice. Keep practicing and soon you’ll be Swimming like my friends and me. Whether boy or girl doesn’t matter much When you’ve got Leo’s swimmer touch!

Your friend always, Leo the Sea Lion

LEO’S OTHER FUN SKILLS

1. Learn and practice lifesaving skills: Small children should be taught to call and go for help if someone in the water is in trouble. If a baby or very small child is in danger, only a competent swimmer or adult should quickly react and immediately get him. For bigger individuals, use Reach… Throw… Go…in that order. From land or holding on to the side or something stable, reach something – like a pole – to someone in trouble. If he is farther away, throw something to him that floats – like a kick board. If he is further away and you must go to him, go in/on/with the safest thing that floats and s you. Also bring with you the best thing to reach or throw to him – preferably something that floats. Don’t make body with him. Make him grab what you have for him. Pull him to safety with that item between the two of you while you encourage him to be calm, relax, and kick!

2. Swim front crawl/backstroke: Do the front crawl for three strokes as you count, “1, 2, 3, turn over.” Roll on your back as you breathe and bring that arm gracefully straight back. Do the backstroke for four strokes as you count, “1, 2, 3, 4, turn over.” Roll over on your tummy as you gracefully bring that same breathing arm straight up, over, and forward. Continue front crawl to backstroke, backstroke to front crawl for as far as you like! (A more detailed description of the basic skill is on page 14.)

3. The front crawl kickboard drill then hand-touch drill: Put both hands on the end of the kickboard with arms stretched straight out and face in the water. Swim the front crawl by releasing one hand at a time to do a nice circle-arm stroke. Breathe to the side each stroke. After each arm stroke, grab onto the end of the board again. Now do the same without the kickboard. Pretend the kickboard is still there to grab onto each stroke. Let the forward hand float on top of the water waiting to be touched by the circle-arm hand. We call this the hand-touch drill. Both of these drills are good to correct a swimmer who does an extra catch-up stroke each time he breathes, as well as the swimmer who needs to stretch and reach out more or glide a bit longer in front.

4. Kickboard kicking: Recommend holding up high on the board with elbows resting on top. This way the head is out of the water, and the kick can be concentrated on.

5. Jump in to get to the bottom: From the side or the diving board, jump in with your hands tight at your side and body very straight like a stickman. Under the water, put the palms of your hands out, keep arms straight, and sweep your arms out and up above your head. End with your arms stretched straight and your hands together. Place your feet on the bottom of the pool, bend your knees, and push up to the top with your shoulders clamped against your ears. Feel like a rocket ship! Next time jump in with your arms stretched straight up, shoulders tight against your ears, and hands together. How about bending over and touching the bottom with your hands after your feet touch, then put your feet again on the bottom and push up. Do you feel like a kicking donkey?

6. Jump in while keeping your head up: Used for lifesaving so that you can keep looking ahead, this skill is also just fun to do! Jump in with one leg stretched way forward, the other leg stretched way back, and your arms stretched out to your sides. As you enter the water, squeeze your legs together in a scissors kick as you press your arms down at the same time. With practice this should keep your head from going underwater!

7. Dolphins and Porpoises: While standing, clamp your shoulders against your ears, tuck your chin to your chest, look down towards your feet, and dive down to the bottom like a porpoise. Do underwater swimming if you like, or immediately put your feet on the bottom, push up with your arms clamped against your ears, blow out your air underwater, and take a new breath when your face comes up. Then go back down to the bottom – repeating again and again like dolphins and porpoises – coming up for air and going back under!

8. Surface dive: Get your body horizontal by doing the breaststroke or dog paddle. Put your arms back along your sides like Superman. Take a breath and duck your head down by putting your chin on your chest. At the same time, sweep palms-up hands forward under you as you bring your knees up to your chest. Dive down, sticking your feet up in the air! Can you touch the bottom? Done in this manner, this surface dive is known as the Tuck Surface Dive. Now try the Pike Surface Dive: Get more forward momentum, sweep your arms back, then scoop palms-up hands forward as you duck your chin and head. Don’t tuck in your knees. Swing your legs up behind you keeping them completely straight as you gracefully go straight down!

9. Feet first surface dive: Tread water with your head above water. Kick hard and sweep your hands down to raise your body as high as you can above the water. Take a breath and then become a stickman with hands flat along your sides and feet together and straight. Slide down under the water. After your head goes under, sweep the water up with palms-out hands, then leave them straight together above your head. (If you need to, continue to use your hands to make you go down deeper.) Place your feet on the bottom of the pool! Bend your knees, clamp shoulders against your ears, and push up to the top like a rocket ship. Or, if you want to pick up something with your hands, put your chin down and bend over and pick it up. Then put your feet back down on the bottom to push up. You are a kicking donkey! How about being a Jumping Jack Pogo Stick? Keep legs together and straight, bending knees only to push off from the bottom with both feet. Use Jumping Jack arms to go down: Sweep arms up from your sides with palms out and touch your hands together above your head. Use Jumping Jack arms to go up: With palms out, sweep arms from above your head back down to your sides, touching hands to your thighs. Blow your air out underwater and breathe in each time you come up. Do the Jumping Jack Pogo Stick many times for great fun!

10. Handstand: Head down, hands on bottom, and feet in the air!

11. Somersault: Put your chin on your chest, bring your knees up to your chest,

and spin straight over forwards or backwards – using your hands to fin you in the direction you want to go. (For a forward somersault, put arms out to the side, circle arms backward, and scoop the water forward. For a backward somersault, put arms out to the side, circle arms forward, and push the water forward.) Be sure to hum or blow air out of your nose from before you start through when your face is back up in the air again! (A new swimmer may need to hold his nose when first attempting this skill!)

12. Front crawl turn at the wall: Touch the wall with one hand. Leave the other hand stretched out back along your thigh. Turn your body on your side to the opposite direction as you sink your shoulder down under the water and bend your knees to bring your feet up to the wall. Take a good breath as you sink your head underwater and release the wall with the touching hand. Bring that arm quickly over close to your ear then reach it forward underwater to the trail hand which has remained stretched out facing the other end of the pool. Put your shoulders against ears and push off the wall in the streamlined position. Do about four dolphin kicks to get to the surface and resume the front crawl.

13. Front crawl somersault flip turn: Swim to within one arm stroke of the wall, then somersault as you bring your arms behind your neck and stretch them out straight – clamping your shoulders against your ears and bringing your hands together. While flipping, instead of ending up on your back, drop a shoulder – both facing your body down and placing your feet sideways on the wall at a 45 degree angle – in the opposite direction to which you breathe. Push off hard. Do about four dolphin kicks angling to the surface. Begin one arm pull as you are surfacing, then do the complete stroke with the flutter kick. Take your first breath on your second arm stroke.

14. Backstroke turn at the wall: When you see the string of flags above your eyes, count how many arm strokes it takes you to get within one arm stroke of the wall. At that point, leave only one hand stretched straight back to touch the wall. Turn your head in that hand’s direction to face the wall. Bring your knees in and place them on the wall. Bring the other hand up and over in that same

direction and grab onto the wall next to the first hand. Take a good breath and drop head underwater. Immediately start to hum or blow lightly out of your nose for the entire time you are underwater. Bring your arms behind your neck and stretch them out straight, clamping your shoulders against your ears and touching your hands together. With back arched, push off from the wall. Try to do about four dolphin kicks on your back underwater before coming up. As you are coming to the surface, do a backstroke arm pull/push with one arm. (Do not sweep both arms down together to your sides.) Start your backstroke arms and flutter kick again.

15. Backstroke somersault flip turn: When you see the string of flags above your eyes, count how many arm stokes it takes you to get within two arm strokes of the wall. Take a good breath as you turn on your tummy by bringing one arm over. Do one front crawl stroke with that arm. By the time that hand gets down to your thigh, do a front flip and stay on your back. Bring your arms behind your neck and stretch them out straight, clamping your shoulders against your ears and touching your hands together. Place your feet against the wall, arch back, and push off underwater. Try to do about four dolphin kicks on your back underwater. Hum or blow lightly out of your nose the entire time you are underwater. As you are coming to the surface, do a backstroke arm pull/push with one arm. (Do not sweep both arms down together to your sides.) Start your backstroke arms and flutter kick again.

16. Breaststroke turn: Touch the wall with both hands at the same time. Take a good breath as you turn quickly to one side and drive that shoulder down and elbow back. Bring the other hand and arm quickly over with shoulder close to ear. At the same time, keep your legs together and bend your knees to place both feet squarely against the wall to solidly push off hard from it. Extend hands and arms out together and clamp your shoulders against your ears. Have your head down and hold that streamlined position until you feel it is time to pull then push your arms out and down in a keyhole motion all the way back to the sides of your thighs. Do one dolphin kick with this pull. Next, bring your hands and elbows together and push them forward under your body. At the same time bend your heels back, flex feet out, and do a strong whip kick. This pull and kick angles you to the surface where your next arm pull is the first of your

breaststroke again. (In short, underwater you get to do one complete full arm stroke with first one dolphin kick then one whip kick. The second arm stroke is a regular arm stroke where you come up to breathe and continue swimming the breaststroke.)

17. Butterfly turn: Like the breaststroke turn, touch the wall with both hands at the same time. Take a good breath as you turn quickly to one side and drive that shoulder down and elbow back. Bring the other hand and arm quickly over with shoulder close to ear. At the same time, keep your legs together and bend your knees to place both feet squarely against the wall to solidly push off hard from it. Extend hands and arms out together and clamp your shoulders against your ears. Have your head down and hold that streamlined position as you do about four good dolphin kicks. Then pull your arms down in the butterfly keyhole motion as you come to the surface and begin your stroking. Try to keep your head down for that first stroke and breathe on the second stroke.

18. Bounce dive off diving board in deep water: Go to the end of the board and bounce a few times like you are skipping rope. You got the feeling? Now, while standing at the end of the board, turn around and walk back three steps. Turn around forward again. Take three steps forward then lift your other knee up in place – equal with your third step – in order to do a little bounce on your two feet together. As you are lifting that knee, also hurdle your hands up and forward to get your shoulders over your ears. As you begin to dive in, get your head down with your eyes looking backwards behind you. Bring your hands together before you enter the water. Smoothly enter the water at a slight angle with body straight and feet together. Once under the water, level out forward and come to the surface.

19. Racing start dive from the side of the pool or starting blocks in deep water: Curl toes of one foot over the edge and stagger the other behind. Bend knees and reach down to the edge with both hands. On “Go,” push out strongly while raising arms. Smoothly make a long shallow dive. Under the water do dolphin kicks for the front crawl or butterfly until you surface. For the breaststroke, do a

big pull-push arm stroke with both arms all the way back to your thighs as you also do one dolphin kick, followed by a big whip kick as you bring your arms forward. Then surface as you begin your first breaststroke arm pull.

20. Backstroke racing start: With your feet high on the wall and knees bent, grab the edge of the pool or the starting block bar with both hands and pull your chin up to your hands. On “Go,” push back strongly while arching back and raising your arms back together with shoulders clamped against your ears and hands together. Enter the water with a long, shallow back dive and hum or blow gently out of your nose the entire time you are underwater. Try to do about four dolphin kicks underwater while angling to the surface. As you come to the surface, do a backstroke arm pull/push with one arm. (Do not sweep both arms together to your side.) Start your backstroke arms and flutter kick again upon reaching the surface.

21. Do an Individual Medley (IM): The order is Butterfly, Backstroke, Breaststroke, Freestyle (Front Crawl). Dive in with a butterfly start and do one or more lengths of the butterfly stroke. Touch with both hands, sink straight down to be on your back and push off. Except that you don’t flip, follow the same steps already stated for the backstroke flip turn. Do one or more lengths of the backstroke. To transition to breaststroke, you must first touch the side on your back with one hand. You may then do a modified flip turn, but perhaps just as fast or faster is to crunch straight down and put your feet on the wall. You are now ready to push off hard and follow the same steps as already stated for the breaststroke turn. Do one or more lengths of breaststroke. To transition to freestyle you must touch with both hands. Turn to the side as you would for the breaststroke turn, but after pushing off in the streamlined position, follow the underwater steps for the front crawl turn. Finish strong, touching with one hand.

22. Trudgen Crawl/Stroke: When doing the front crawl, do a regular scissors kick as your hand is back and out of the water, and you are turning your head to the side to breathe. You can breathe every stroke to the same side, every three strokes to the same side, or even to alternate sides every two strokes. It’s the

Trudgen Crawl if you flutter kick between the scissors kicks, or the Trudgen Stroke if you don’t flutter kick between the scissors kicks.

23. Overarm Sidestroke: After you push the back hand and straighten it out for the glide, instead of recovering it forward under the water as in the side stroke, bring it out of the water. Bend your elbow and reach it forward like a front crawl arm stroke, but put your hand in the water equal with your front shoulder. Coordination is the same as the sidestroke.

24. Inverted Breaststroke: Similar to the elementary backstroke, but different! The glide is with legs straight and together, and arms stretched straight with shoulders pressed against the ears and hands streamlined together. With the legs remaining straight and together, first sweep the arms down and around all the way to your thighs. Then bring your hands back up along your sides as you drop your heels with knees close together in preparation for the whip kick. Next, put your hands together as you slide them under your neck to then straighten out your arms above your head. At the same time, flare-flex your feet out and whip kick back and out from the knees – circling around and squeezing your legs and feet together. Now you are back into your glide again. Repeat ARM SWEEP, KICK, GLIDE.

25. Survival Floating: The easiest strokes to conserve strength and move forward are strokes like the breaststroke and elementary backstroke. If the water is cold, keep clothing on. To conserve the most energy, just float without moving forward. Floating on the back is the easiest because you can breathe in and out normally. The “Dean’s” survival float may also be used. Put your face down and hunch your back on top of the water. Let your arms float on the surface and relax your legs. Hold breath for about five seconds. Press hands slowly out and down – and do a light whip kick – as you blow air out and slowly lift head to get a new breath. Circle arms in and forward, returning to the Dean position. Continue floating and repeat the breath holding and breathing cycle. You may also use your clothes for floatation by inflating shirt/pants with air that you splash or blow in.

26. The Egg Beater Kick: Kick used in treading water which also allows the hands to be free above the water, if desired or required, such as in playing water polo. Bring knees up and rotate your legs in circles under you. The right foot goes counterclockwise – alternating with the left foot which goes clockwise.

27. Big Splash: Do a Can Opener by jumping up high then grabbing one knee and bringing it into your chest. Enter the water with your rear end, but lean back slightly. The bigger the “Thud” you hear and feel, the bigger the splash! Do a Cannonball by jumping high and grabbing both knees up to your chest. Enter the water with your rear end. (The splash may have more volume, but may not be as high as the Can Opener’s splash.) Both are great fun!

28. Silent Entry and Silent Swimming: Don’t make a sound!

29. Learn how to use mask, fins, and snorkel.

30. Swim in a variety of pools and water parks. Swim safely in lakes and oceans.

31. Attend a local age-group or high school swim meet to see competitive starts, strokes, turns, and diving. Experience the excitement of individual events and team relays.

32. Attend a water polo match.

33. Take certified courses such as lifesaving, water safety instructor, and scuba

diving.

A school of fish!

Learn and improve many fun skills “You swim like a fish,” and might even grow gills!

MRS. LEONARD’S ORIGINAL RED CROSS PROGRESS SHEET

LEO’S GAMES

1. Racing relay races: All different strokes, with kickboards, on rafts, etc. Individuals, two or more, or all on a team go together.

2. Fill Up the Bucket: Two teams each have an equal-size bucket on the side of the pool that they must fill up – one or more cups of water at a time – relay style. Individuals race down to the bucket, fill up their cup with water and pour it in, then race back to give the empty cup to the next team member. The winner is the team whose bucket overflows first. Pouring the respective bucket of water on the winning and 2nd place team is fun. That way, both teams win!

3. Ping Pong Ball Spoon Relay: Individuals of two teams race with the ball on the spoon and hand off the spoon, with the ball still on it, to the next team member. First team to finish wins!

4. Blow the Ping Pong Ball: Individuals of two teams race blowing the ball on the top of the water. Hand of the next person must be on the wall as the ball is blown all the way to him. First team to finish wins!

5. Marco Polo: One person is “It” who must keep his eyes closed and touch another person to make him “It.” “It” calls out, “Marco,” and all other swimmers must answer, “Polo.” CAUTION: Don’t let “It” run into the side and hurt himself! (Warn him or stop him.)

6. Jump or Dive: As individuals spring up in the air from the diving board, a caller says “Jump!” or “Dive!” The individual reacts by doing the best jump or

dive he can without hurting himself!

7. Biggest Splash: Who can jump off the board or side of the pool safely and make the biggest splash? (Hint: see Big Splash previously described on page 35.)

8. Least Splash: Who can go in most smoothly with the lowest or least splash?

9. Sharks and Minnows: Start with one Shark at one end the pool who calls out, “Shark!” The Minnows at the other end of the pool must get to the other end without being touched by the Shark. Once touched, Minnows become Sharks until the last Minnow is the winner and becomes the first Shark of the next game. A variation is to have Shark(s) close their eyes. A variation for very good swimmers is that a person’s mouth must be brought to the surface in order to make him “It.” (See caution below for this variation – as wrestling will undoubtedly occur!) For good swimmers, this game is especially fun using the width of the deep end of a pool.

10. Watermelon Wrestle: One team on each side of the pool, team numbered and matched against near equal size, strength, and swimming ability swimmers from the opposing team. As the watermelon is dropped in the middle, one or more numbers at a time – or the entire teams – are called. The side or team that brings the watermelon back to their side scores a point. If desired, the game may be played until a certain score is reached. CAUTION: Watch everyone and beware of anyone in danger or very outmatched to ensure safe, fun competition.

11. Catch the Ball: Throw a ball to jumpers off the board. If competition is desired, two teams could see who can catch a certain number first. The thrower could be the same impartial thrower for both teams. The tough part is that all

throws may not be perfect. One way to look at it is that if the ball touched the catcher’s hands, he could have caught it. If it didn’t, do over. Or, the teams could decide on their own throwers from their own teams. Then any bad throws can’t be blamed on anyone else. Regardless, it will just be fun!

12. Tag and Freeze Tag.

13. Ball (or another object) Keep Away.

14. Throw and Chase: One on one or teams throw a ring in and race/fight to retrieve it first. If competition is desired, two individuals/teams could see who can get to a certain number first.

15. 101 Pickup: Throw in as many sinkable objects as you have. (Use rings, etc., but beware using objects that are too small – like coins perhaps – if they could go into a drain.) On the command “Go,” swimmers retrieve them and put them on the side in their treasure area. Individual(s)/team with the greatest number wins.

16. Categories: “It” chooses a category like mammals, cereals, holidays, colors, etc. and tells it to the others who are all on one side of the pool. “It” stands on the end of the diving board backwards with his eyes closed. The others each secretly choose their own category answer (for example: rabbit, deer, mouse.) When all are ready, they let “It” know. “It” calls out category answers he thinks the others may have chosen. When “It” calls out one that matches, swimmer(s) whose category was called try to swim across without being caught by “It.” “It” turns around and opens his eyes when he hears or thinks someone is swimming across. If someone is swimming across, “It” jumps/dives in to touch the swimmer before he gets to the other side. If “It” turns around but no one’s answer was guessed, so no one is swimming across, “It” must take a step

towards the back of the board before continuing the game. When “It” does catch someone before he gets to the other side, he is the new “It.”

17. Whirlpool: As many participants as possible run in a circle around the shallow end of a pool. Get the current going as fast as you can by running as fast as you can! At the signal of the leader, turn around and run/swim in the opposite direction!

18. Kickboard Battle: Two participants hold onto opposite ends of a kickboard while referee steadies it. Participants get ready to kick, and “Go!” on command. Can one push the other?

19. Takedown: Two participants wrestle to gain control of the other. Caution: stay away from the sides of a pool.

20. Splash Fight: You know, really get um! You will learn to close your eyes quickly or wear goggles! The scissors kick with legs raised high is an excellent splasher!

21. Throw little people safely up and forward into the air to land safely into plenty-deep water.

22. Little people jump or dive safely into deep water off the shoulders of big people.

23. Safe, controlled Chicken Fighting: Fighters are piggyback or sitting on

shoulders of their partners. Object is to get the opponent in the water. Caution: Stay away from walls.

24. Keep the Ball Up: How many times can you keep it up? Set the record, then break it!

25. Water basketball and volleyball.

Surprise! Which friend below brought his twin?

Swimming together is great fun Any time of day, especially under the sun!

LEO’S LEONARD FRIENDS

JOAN LEONARD

The founder and matriarch of Leonard Swimming Instruction! Joan Gruenewald Leonard grew up in Barrington, IL and attended the University of Illinois. She loved recreational swimming as a child and later synchronized and fitness swimming. Mother of five, Joan took American Red Cross Water Safety Instructor, Lifeguard, Handicapped Swimmer, and Water Aerobics certification courses. She began teaching public and private lessons in many pools including the Aurora and Elgin YMCAs, and the Pottawatomie Park and Fairground Crossings pools in St. Charles, IL. Joan was a swim team coach and swim meet volunteer when her children were on competitive teams. From the day it opened in 1975, Joan was on the aquatics staff at the Norris Recreation Center in St. Charles where she taught swim lessons and water aerobics for many years. Teaching in the friendly confines of her home pool in Wildrose every summer since 1971, Joan has taught innumerable students of all ages and needs, and two generations of several swimmers including her five children and eight grandchildren.

PETER (PETE) LEONARD

Peter grew up in North Aurora and St. Charles, IL and attended Utah State University. He has enjoyed swimming his entire life. He re taking swimming lessons at the Aurora Y and Batavia Quarry, Friday night family swims at the Y, and being taught the breaststroke by Joan. He was on the local summer swim team as a 12 year old, and began teaching with Joan when he was in middle school. He enjoyed recreational lake swimming in Bill Johnson’s Troop 25. Peter took Red Cross Water Safety Instructor and Lifeguard training as a teen and scuba certification in college. He has taught public and private lessons in several pools to many students as his careers in the Army and education have allowed. Since moving to Geneva in 1996, Peter has taught with Joan most summers and at the Norris Recreation Center. His spouse, Sabine, and eldest of three daughters, Tanja, have also been swimming instructors.

JENNIFER (JENNY) LEONARD-BIDDLE

Jennifer grew up in North Aurora and St. Charles, IL and attended the University of Oklahoma. From a young age, she’s been a fish! Jennifer began dedicated and successful competitive swimming at age 8. She was a varsity letter winner for the Saints all through high school, and swam during her freshman year of college. She has taken Red Cross Water Safety Instructor and Lifeguard certification training. She worked as a summer lifeguard and swim lesson instructor at the Windings subdivision pool in St. Charles and at the Glengarry subdivision pool in Geneva. She started teaching lessons with Joan in their backyard pool when she was in grade school, and her career as a local realtor has allowed the flexibility to keep her feet wet teaching part-time during the summer seasons. Jennifer lives in St. Charles with her daughter, Emma.

PERRY LEONARD

Perry grew up in St. Charles and attended the University of Oklahoma and Marymount University, VA (Masters). After Joan taught him to swim in the Leonard family pool, he began swimming competitively at age six and placed high in Illinois YMCA state level competitions in the 8 & under age-group. He continued to excel through age 14 when he had to choose between swimming and his other sport ion, wrestling. He worked as a lifeguard and swim instructor (teaching with Joan and for the St. Charles Park District) in middle school through college. He has Water Safety, Lifesaving, and SCUBA certifications. When possible throughout his active duty military career, he taught swimming to children and adults and competed in swimming and triathlon competitions. On summer visits to STC, he has been eager to teach. Perry currently resides in the Washington D.C. area with his wife and two children, Chloe and Robert (pictured).

ROBERT (BOB) LEONARD

Bob grew up in Dixon, IL and attended the University of Illinois. After marrying and serving in the Army, he and Joan began raising their family in North Aurora, IL before building their new home and pool in St. Charles. Bob so prided himself in maintaining the pool and its sparkling water. He enjoyed swimming his entire life, and doing his picture-perfect front crawl mile (100 lengths). He even did a little teaching himself, as Joan fondly re. Bob enjoyed visiting with all those who would sit on the cabana – rain or shine and in hot and humid or chilly conditions – watching their loved one(s) while enjoying a Tootsie Pop and the latest People Magazine. He loved seeing the little ones, as well as the teachers, appreciating the water. Throughout his career as a pilot for United Airlines, and during retirement, he lovingly ed Joan’s swimming instruction. Bob is pictured above with granddaughter, Katja.

LEO’S ILLUSTRATOR FRIEND

BEVERLY MARTIN MASON (17 IN HER PICTURE ABOVE WHEN SHE DREW LEO’S WATER FRIENDS)

Beverly (Bev) is a family friend of the Leonards who grew up in St. Charles, IL from junior high through her early college years. She so enjoyed helping Mrs. Leonard for a few summers and was especially excited to be called into service to sketch many of the drawings in this book. Since second grade, Beverly had always wanted to be an artist, then in high school she decided to pursue a career as an art director in advertising. She earned a BA in Art/Visual Communication and Minor in Marketing from Northern Illinois University, completed the Advanced Advertising Studies program at Northwestern, then spent 18 years drawing storyboards and making TV commercials for ad agencies Ogilvy & Mather and Leo Burnett in Chicago – working on many s including Disney, McDonalds, and Procter & Gamble. She freelanced from home as an art director when her children were young, then went back to work full-time as Director of Advertising for Kmart at Sears Holdings. Beverly lives in Glen Ellyn, IL with her husband, a daughter in college, and a son in high school.

MEMORY DIARY

Diary pages for memories of swimming – learning to swim, swimming lessons, swimming accomplishments, etc. What do you like? What are you proud of? As time goes on, keep it going with special places you swim and things you do in swimming!