Athletic Skills Model

Jumping, balancing, throwing, catching, climbing and swimming. Good movement is much more than practising a single movement over and over again. During Athletic Skills Pupils in Years 1 to 4 [Years 6 to 9 in Scotland/Northern Ireland; Years 5 to 8 in England/Wales] are challenged to move in all sorts of ways in Model worden. In and around the water, they discover new skills, try out surprising exercises, and learn to use their bodies better and better. A versatile and active water theme from Swim is cool, the swimming programme for primary schools by Alkmaar Sport.

How versatile is your class able to move?

Every sport demands different skills. For example, a footballer needs to be able to run, shoot and balance, whereas in tennis, hitting, throwing and reacting are important.

The Athletic Skills Model, ASM for short, is all about that versatility. The model distinguishes ten different fundamental movement skills. At Swim is cool, we bring this way of moving to the swimming pool. That results in exercises that are sometimes just that little bit different from what pupils expect.

Jumping, balancing, aiming and more

During this theme, the class will mostly be getting to work themselves. Pupils are challenged to combine different ways of moving. It is not about who is the fastest or the best. Trying things out, discovering and versatile movement are the central focus. For example, think of:

• Balancing and fallingKeeping your balance on a floating or moving component requires something completely different than on dry land.

• Throwing, catching and aimingpractising with various materials helps pupils develop their hand-eye coordination and precision.

• Jumping and landingfrom one apparatus to the other, or entering the water in a controlled way. Pupils discover how they use their bodies in the process.

• Clambering and climbingobstacles provide an extra challenge and call for strength, agility and clever solutions.

• Swimming and exercising in the water: of course swimming also plays an important role. By combining different forms of movement, pupils become increasingly competent in the water.

Why is it important to exercise in a variety of ways?

Children who move in many different ways build a broad motor foundation. During this theme, we therefore challenge pupils not only to swim, but also to use other skills.

This is how they get acquainted with movements that recur in all sorts of sports and perhaps discover talents they didn't yet know they had. And because everything happens in and around the water, practising feels mostly like playing and discovering.

Part of Swim is cool

Athletic Skills Model is one of the five water themes of Swimming is cool, the versatile swimming program of Alkmaar Sport for primary schools. Is this your class theme this school year? Then come back next year for a new challenge! This way, pupils can experience a different part of Swim is cool throughout their primary school years and discover just how versatile swimming and being active in the water can be.

Days and times

Practical information

• Cost: €2 per pupil
• For whom: pupils in years 5, 6, 7 and 8
• Location: Hoornse Vaart swimming pool in Alkmaar
• Sign in: via the form below
• Questions: swimiscool@alkmaarsport.nl
• Condition: All pupils must hold at least an A swimming certificate.

Even more physical activity with school?

Alkmaar Sport offers a total of three different exercise programmes for primary schools. Besides Swimming is cool at swimming pool Hoornse Vaart, schools can also take part in the ICE Games at ice rink De Meent and FietsFratsen at Sportpaleis Alkmaar. This allows pupils to be introduced to swimming, ice skating and cycling in various ways.