SECOND CLASS SCOUT

ENTERING DEEP WATER

An important first step in swimming is jumping into deep water. Begin with a simple jump entry into chest-deep water. Stand at the pool or dock edge, bend slightly at the knees, and hop forward. Pretend you are going to land with your feet together on the top of the water. Your arms should be extended forward and your body leaning slightly forward from the waist. Once you can do this easily, try standing with one foot back and then leap forward as though you were jumping over a puddle. This leaping entry will land you on or near the surface of the water, ready to begin swimming.

Now try taking off on one foot, leaning forward, reaching out and up with both arms, and stretching your front leg far ahead-as if you were hurdling a low fence.

Leap far out. When you hit the water, snap your legs together and slap downward with your arms. If you do it well, you won't even get your face wet. When you are confident of your leaping entry and have mastered the basic crawl strokes, you are almost ready for your first jump and swim in deep water. All you need now are some very useful deep water maneuvers.