Aquatics Coaching Guide - Special Olympics

Special Olympics Aquatics Coaching Guide
Created: February 2004
Teaching Aquatics Skills
Coaching Swimming to an Athlete with a Disability
Spinal Cord Damage
Quadriplegia (quad; loss of control of all four limbs) and paraplegia (para; loss of control of two limbs)
Damage to the spinal cord can result from an accident or birth defect (e.g., spina bifida) or from a disease such as
polio. Spinal cord damage can result in either complete or partial loss of movement and sensation below the affected
area.
Spinal cord damage can result in a loss of bowel and bladder control.
Sometimes, poor circulation can also be evident. When a limb is paralyzed, the skin loses its sensitivity and
circulation is poor. Therefore, it is necessary to try to avoid bumping or scraping the legs, as abrasions will not
be felt and take a long time to heal. If working in shallow water or where there is a chance of abrasion, it is
advisable that the swimmer wear socks to protect their feet.
People with spinal cord injury may not reach the same exercise heart-rate level as other swimmers.
Body temperature, either too low or too high is a concern for the athlete with spinal cord injury. Extra fluids
need to be consumed to help regulate their body temperature. The out-of-water as well as in-water environment
needs to be considered.
People with spinal cord damage tend to work better in warmer water. Colder water may lead to an increase in
muscle spasms.
Swimmers may require regular medication to prevent urinary tract infections.
A pull buoy is effective in coaching freestyle, as it enables those who have a tendency to have leg drag feel
streamlined. A rubber band may be necessary when using a pull buoy to keep the legs together; ensure that it is
not too tight, as the swimmer will be unaware.
Quadriplegics may need to increase body roll to facilitate breathing.
Breaststroke must not include a dolphin kick. Encourage swimmers to frog kick for balance or they may leave
the legs to drag. They may take more than one stroke per breath; however, they must break the water on each
stroke.
In butterfly, when there is no leg movement, the head control is critical. The chin must be tucked onto the chest
on the re-entry of the hands into the water. It may be in the best interest of the swimmer to breathe to the side.
Butterfly may not be possible for some injured athletes.
Most paraplegics and quadraplegics can learn to dive, either standing on or beside the blocks, with or without
assistance.
Back care is essential if assisting a swimmer into or out of the water who uses a wheelchair. Training is required.
Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral Palsy (CP) is a congenital neuromuscular condition caused by injury to the brain before, during or immediately
after birth. A person with cerebral palsy can have physical and/or intellectual disabilities in varying degrees.
Coaches must be aware of the swimmer's medical history, their abilities and their restrictions.
Constant and continual repetition and reinforcement can reduce coordination problems.
Swimmers may have a slower reaction time when initiating movement to commands (e.g., diving).
May have limb movement restrictions. Therefore, the swimmer must work at their maximum capacity to enable
optimum performance. The CP swimmer must be taught to move any affected limb to the best of his/her ability.
When there is no movement of a limb, the coach must analyze where best to position the affected limb to cause
the least drag for the swimmer.
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