CONCLUSION
VANDERMEULEN Mary
1,2,3, SCHIETTECATTE Delphine
1, DELVAUX Anne
1, MORNARD Manhattan
1,2, CLOES Marc
1, JIDOVTSEFF Boris
1,31
Kinanthropology Research and Study Center (CEReKi), Department of Sport and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Liege, Belgium
2HELMo Ste Croix, Preprimary Teacher Training College, Liege, Belgium
3
Reasearch Unit on Childhood, University of Liège
INTRODUCTION
The degree of development required to learn a swimming style is not reached before the age of
five to six years old
(1, 2)
.
Before that age, it is very interesting to discover the aquatic environment to
develop specific skills
(2, 3)
:
Entering into the water – Immersion – Floatation – Breathing – Propulsion
Between three to eight years old, measuring the level of these different skills should be interesting for
pedagogical applications. Since 2010, we are working on such a testing battery.
The aim of this paper is to present the different steps of its elaboration.
METHODS
RESULTS
References : 1. Pedroletti, M. (2004). Mon enfant et l’eau. Paris : Amphora Sports
2. Moulin, J-P. (2007). Bébés-nageurs : effets des séances de piscine sur le développement du jeune enfant. Journal de pédiatrie et de puériculture 20, 25-28
3. Parker, HE. & Blanksby, BA. (1997). Starting age and aquatic skill learning in young children : Mastery of prerequisite water confidence and basic aquatic locomotion skills. AUS J Sci Med Sport. 29, 83-87
The testing battery
o Testing battery with 20 subtests was identical for all children.
o According to children performance, a
score
is attributed for
each subtest.
o The sum of all scores gives a total score, representing the
water familiarisation level.
Accessible to most swimming pools
• Only usual and light equipment • Need only one lane
3 depth level 1) Paddling pool (±30cm) 2) Play pool (±80cm) 3) Deep pool (<200cm) Quick
20 minutes for a group of 5 children
Longitudinal follow up Testing sequence was the same for all
children and presents an increasing difficulty for the 5 skills.
Complete evaluation 5 skills evaluated through 20
subtests.
Video Recorded Allow to test more children at the same time and in a short time
Playful Based on a “frogs story”
* Initial testing battery
C
IA
P
S
E
2
.
I
n
te
rn
a
ti
o
n
a
l
C
o
n
fe
re
n
ce
.
J
a
n
u
a
ry
2
6
-2
8
, 2
0
1
7
. J
y
v
ä
sk
y
lä
,
F
in
la
n
d
* Critical analysis permitted to change progressively and improve the initial testing battery.
° The purpose of our studies was
to make evolve a water familiarization testing battery
in order to have one which is
successful
and also as adapted to the
field reality
as possible.
°
Experts
are now analysing this final version of battery
to make it validaded
…
Initial version of the testing battery (2010)
Results : we observed that very well familiarized children obtained
nearly maximal scores
.
We decided to
add swimming style assessment
.
2
nd
version of the testing battery (2014)
Results : we have
added 3 tests of swimming style
, so the testing battery
was composed of
23 items
. This second version was
too much
time-consuming
. Moreover, it required
time video analysis
.
We decided to carry out a «
biplot analysis
» in order
to simplify
the testing battery
. The « biplot analysis » selected the
10 most
relevant tests.
3
rd
version of the testing battery (2015)
Results : Simplifying the testing battery was successful and the tests execution time was reduced to
15 minutes for 3-5 children
. This last version
is
better adapted to the field condition
as it is
short
and it could be done
without any video recording
.
The testing battery
3rd and final version
Accessible to most swimming pools
• Only usual and light equipment • Need only one lane
3 depth level 1) Paddling pool (±30cm) 2) Play pool (±80cm) 3) Deep pool (<200cm) Quick
15 minutes for a group of 3-5 children
Longitudinal follow up Testing sequence was the same for all
children and presents an increasing difficulty for the 5 skills.
Complete evaluation 5 skills and swimming style
evaluated through 10 subtests. Playful Based on a “frogs story”
Tests can be done without any video
recording