Rash Vests

[Julia]

I have just received a new stock of Rash vests with SWIMMING INSTRUCTOR printed on the back. Colour -Black. Size -M & L. £15 each.

[Swim21]

Please excuse my ingnorance, but what are Rash Vests.

Are they something which leave lots of red spots after being worn?

I doesn't seem that they have reached the West Country yet. Usually about 30 years behind everyone else.

[Swim21]

Originally posted by Julia
£15 each.

A bit rash isn't it?

[swimusa]

Rash vests are used in Scuba Diving, Body Boarding, and surfing to prevent chaffing. From the pices I saw online 15 pounds is a steal. Are they long or shortsleeved?

[Julia]

They are short sleeved. They are used by swimming teachers when in the water teaching, to help them keep warm. We are all wearing them down here in the south. :cool:

They can cost up to £55 in the surf shops.

[swimusa]

Seems logical...they insulate....yeah, I was looking online a while back. They were like $50 which is nearer to 35 pounds

[Unfit]

i didn't think we were supposed to be in the water with the kids when teaching now as it is a risk?

[lane4]

A risk of what?

[Unfit]

a risk to the kids of being 'tampered with' and a risk to us of being accused of tampering with.

most clubs and lessons that i know of don't now allow teachers in the water with the kids because of this. also, at a recent course i attended we were advised not to touch the kids at all - ie not even to guide their arms/hands through the correct pull stroke as this could be misconstrued (oops on the spelling). i totally understand the reasons behind this - ie to do all we can to protect the kids - but i also know from experience that there are alot of benefits of being in the water with them (eg, holding their tummies up, manouvering legs in breast-stroke kick etc). what is everyone else's experience of this and what are your views?

[lane4]

Teaching swimming from the water is obviously best if the group is small. In large groups I think it is better to teach from the side in order to have sight of the whole group all of the time.

A sport like gymnastics would hardly exist if the coaches were never allowed to make contact with the athletes. It is essential they do so to help them learn many of the moves. Of course kids should be protected but there is a severe RISK of taking the whole thing to far these days. Protection should occur prior to the delivery stage of the sport/coaching/teaching concerned by ensuring any possible wrong doers are not involved.

[Swim21]

How would you suggest that possible wrong doers are kept out of our sport?

I agree that things have been taken to far, to the detriment of good teaching/coaching.

I am currently working with a Police Child Protection Team who advocate, sensible teaching/coaching practices and common sense measures, not "Thou Shalt Not..........".

I don't belive that the ASA stipulate Thou Shalt Not... either.

[mammamedley]

swim21!
Do you know if ASA and ISTC registered with the CRB so that police checks of their members can be done yet? Not that a police check would keep the 'wrong doers' at bay.
As far as I know the ASA only have their register which is only for affilliated organisations and not a police check.

As for teaching in the water! That's the only way to do it so keep classes small, lots of teachers and don't think of £! Most of my teachers are in the water - the children are safe and parents are encouraged to be close and watch and give praise. This gives the children so much more confidence and tremendous progression that beats packing them in and shouting from the side!
As for child protection - the teachers are advised of how to hold the children so that they are in full view of the parents and hand movements are clear. Parents are told that the teachers are in the water before booking and I have never yet come across any parent that has been threatenned by this proceedure, in fact it is usually the complete opposite reaction. All actions and conversations with the children can be heard by the parents, who are on poolside.
I have, however, had a few teachers enquire about working for me and not happy about going in the water. Whether this is due to Child/Teacher protection, only one has been out going enough to tell me. That is their choice and they were not employed.

Coaching however is a different matter,and as most kids are kicked out the car and collected later,coaches and swimmers leave themselves open to allsorts. Now,I would not take responsibility for any swimmer unless a parent or guardian is there!

My son trains at his local club - I am there at most sessions and if I have to drop him he would only be on his own for 30 minutes at the most. My sense of guilt at leaving him for 30 mins is enough to tell me that I am putting him and his coach at risk should anything happen. Do any other parents feel this way or has being a coach in the past made me over sensitive!?

By the way - good price for rash vests Julia!!!! I shall circulate the information to my wonderfully wet staff!

[Swim21]

the asa are attempting to get "staff" checked< but this should be just a starting point but is proving very time consuming

i believe senior tutors and senior volunteers are next

[Julia]

I agree with everthing Mamma has said as would most teachers.
On the ASA courses, all teaching is done from the poolside- safety-assessment-management. That's correct. But in practise, it is better for the pupils (adults as well) for the teacher to be in the water in the early stages of their lesson. It gives them confidence.
Child Protection- there are no rights and wrongs, as it was explained at the last seminar, purely common sense. I recently gave a lecture on Baby Swimming, and was horrified to learn at the end of the session (I was teaching in the water) that the LC management banned their teachers from entering the water for all their classes including the Baby classes. Maddness :mad: