Youth learn how to swim
Twice-weekly swim club gives children a chance to practise their strokes
April Hudson
Northern News Services
Thursday, July 16, 2015
LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON
With the Fort Simpson pool open and programming set, this year's swim club is hard at work practising to improve their skills in the water.
Ava Erasmus shows off her front crawl during swim practise on July 7. Erasmus is one member of the swim club in Fort Simpson. - April Hudson/NNSL photo
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On July 7, three members of the swim club were present for practice. Coach Michael Gast said the numbers fluctuate week to week but more children are attending, though some come and go.
Gast, who graduated from Thomas Simpson School this year, will be coaching the club throughout the summer twice each week.
"When I was a kid we went to a lot of out-of-town
swim meets. That's what
I'm trying to prepare them for," Gast said.
"I'm showing them how to swim properly and getting them to practise as much as possible."
Swim club lessons are broken into two parts: lane swim and games. Gast is focusing on front and back crawl but is also providing some instruction in breast stroke.
"That's a hard stroke to teach," he said.
Gast competed in swimming when he was younger and says he often came in second during swim meets in Fort Liard, Fort Smith and Fort Simpson.
"I could never get first, though," he laughed.
"This is fun. It gives me something to do."
Currently, the swim club is not scheduled to go to any out-of-town meets. Gast said if there were more participants, he would probably take them to other communities, but for now, they are focusing on their strokes.
"We may be able to do that next year or the year after," he said.
Swim club member Jaicee Tsetso said this is her second year of swimming and she enjoys it.
Her favourite stroke is front crawl and Gast said she excels at it.
"I want to get good enough to compete some day," she said.
On July 7, the children practised diving for hoops and tried out their strokes in lanes. Tsetso was joined by Ava Erasmus and Keirah Simon.
Simon's strongest stroke is back stroke, while Erasmus is a well-rounded swimmer, Gast said.
