Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/146256
Sarasota News Leader July 26, 2013 Page 86 tional Research Association — with a small team of researchers — will examine "the major Learn-to-Swim (LTS) systems used for adults in the United States" to identify best practices in teaching adults, Dash announced last week. ery single adult by meeting them at their level no matter what they can or cannot do," Dash says in the release. "The system will be able to advance them through the stages of LTS until they achieve goals they've had their entire lives such as lap swimming, playing with children and grandchildren in the pool and SCU"By assembling a full list of best practices," BA diving. Many adults would say it's enough a news release says, "the research can help just to know they won't drown," Dash added. develop a new national curriculum for adults Twenty-first Century Swimming received to learn to swim." a $10,000 grant last year from the National Very few dedicated adult learn-to-swim cur- Swimming Pool Foundation to help create one ricula are available in the United States, the million new swimmers by 2022. Dash won the release points out. Most adults who take grant after making a presentation at a national swimming lessons progress through "the conference in Norfolk, VA. same steps and sequence" as those used in The LTS systems that have been invited to parchildren's lessons, the release adds. ticipate in the study with Miracle Swimming However, Dash has found that a different are those of the American Red Cross, YMCA, approach works best with adults, especially Swim America, Starfish Aquatics and Total Imthose who are fearful in the water.. mersion. "By comparing the major LTS systems and With permission of each organization whose culling the best practices among them, we practices are determined to be the best, the recan build a curriculum that succeeds with ev- lease notes, the results will be published. % (From left in foreground) Garrett Lathan, Kairan Jackson and Dustin Reed practice swimming out to (from left) Melon Dash, Molly Spencer and P.J. Keller.