Perceived Versus Real Swimming Skills of Adolescents under Standard and Challenging Conditions: Exploring Water Competencies as an Approach to Drowning Prevention

Marek Rejman, Anna Kwaśna, Magdalena Chrobot, Per-Ludvik Kjendlie and Robert K Stalmann
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Marek Rejman: Department of Physical Education, University School of Physical Education in Wroclaw, 51-612 Wroclaw, Poland
Anna Kwaśna: Department of Physical Education, University School of Physical Education in Wroclaw, 51-612 Wroclaw, Poland
Magdalena Chrobot: Department of Physical Education, University School of Physical Education in Wroclaw, 51-612 Wroclaw, Poland
Per-Ludvik Kjendlie: Department of Physical Performance, Norwegian Police University College, 0369 Oslo, Norway
Robert K Stalmann: Department of Physical Performance, Norwegian School of Sport Sciences, 0863 Oslo, Norway

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 11, 1-14

Abstract: In this study, we compared adolescents’ actual (expert assessed) front crawl swimming skills to their self-assessment in two conditions: in standard swimming (wearing a swimsuit and goggles) and in a simulated risk scenario (swimming in plain clothes without goggles). We postulated that education focused on water competencies is fundamental in preventing drownings. Experts evaluated the skills of 21 female and 21 male adolescents in both standard and challenging conditions. All were low-skilled swimmers aged 14–15 years. Participants were asked to self-assess their skills before and after each trial. Boys and girls covered the same distance in both trials. Their self-assessment did not change regardless of the difficulty of the conditions. Girls assessed themselves more accurately than boys. However, boys who underestimated their skills showed greater ability to utilise the experience gained from performing the task for a more accurate self-assessment. In conclusion, adolescents should be educated in total water competencies, and not merely in swimming skills. For girls, “water readiness” is thought to broaden their ability to adapt their swimming skills to nonstandard conditions. Aquatic education for boys should focus on developing self-reflection in order to create a long-lasting responsibility using their own swimming skills.

Keywords: swimming; drowning prevention; adolescents; self-assessment; aquatic education (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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