Biomechanics and Medicine in Swimming XI

BiomechanicsandmedicineinswimmingXi
Table 2. Student Aquatic Competencies by Gender
370
Total
n %
Male
n %
Female
n %
Mann-
Whitney
U
Swimming competency
< 50 m 9 13.3 3 8.3 6 18.8
50-100 m 14 20.6 8 22.2 6 18.8
101-200 m 9 13.2 8 22.2 1 3.1 522.000 .616
201-300 m 6 8.8 4 11.1 2 6.3
>300m
Floating competency
29 42.6 12 33.3 19 53.1
< 2 minutes 5 7.3 2 5.6 3 9.4
< 6 minutes
< 15 minutes
8
6
11.7
8.9
7
3
19.5
8.3
1
3
3.1
9.4
492.000 .283
> 15 minutes
100 m swim on back
48 70.6 23 63.9 25 78.1
Did not complete 14 20.6 8 22.2 6 18.8
Completed with difficulty 23 33.9 11 30.5 12 37.5 526.500 .664
Completed easily
Dive into pool (2 m depth)
30 44.2 16 44.5 14 43.8
Did not complete 7 10.3 2 5.6 5 15.6
Completed with difficulty 12 17.6 8 22.3 4 12.5 487.000 .428
Completed easily
Swim 25 m underwater
47 69.1 24 66.7 23 71.9
Did not complete 24 35.3 10 27.8 14 43.8
Completed with difficulty 16 23.5 12 33.4 4 12.5 527.000 .821
Completed easily
Surface dive 2 m
26 38.3 12 33.3 14 43.8
Did not complete 9 13.2 3 8.3 6 18.8
Completed with difficulty 18 26.5 12 33.3 6 18.8 448.000 .202
Completed easily
Rescue contact tow 25 m
39 57.4 19 52.7 20 62.5
Did not complete 19 27.9 11 30.6 8 25.0
Completed with difficulty 19 27.9 12 33.3 7 21.9 371.000 .077
Completed easily 25 36.8 14 38.9 15 46.9
Table 2 shows that almost half of the students (n = 29; 43%) could swim
more than 300m non-stop in the 15 minutes time slot allowed. Most
students could perform the stationary floating task for more than 15
minutes (n = 48; 70%), the headfirst dive entry into deep water (n =47;
69%) and the surface dive to two metres depth (n = 39; 57%).
Less than half easily completed the 100m back swim on back (n =
30; 44%), the underwater swim of 25m (n = 26; 38%), or the contact
rescue tow of 25m (n = 25; 37%). As was the case with all but one of
the self-estimated swimming competencies, no significant differences
were found in actual swimming-related competencies among male and
female students.
iii) Perceptions of drowning risk: Significant differences were evident
when the estimates of risk of drowning associated with five hypothetical
water-related scenarios were analysed by gender (see Table 3). Males
were more likely than females to perceive lower risk of drowning. For example,
whereas most females rated falling into a deep river fully clothed
as an extreme/high risk situation (females 69%, males 6%), most males
considered this to be a low/no risk situation (males 94%, females 31%).
p
Table 3. Perceptions of Risk of Drowning by Gender
Risk scenario
Extreme/High
Risk
Male Female
n(%) n(%)
Slight/No Risk Mann-
Whitney
Male Female U
n(%) n(%)
Capsized canoe 100 metres
offshore
Caught in rip current at
surf beach
Chased toy into deep end of
swimming pool
Fell into deep river when
fully clothed
Swept off isolated rocks
whilst fishing
4
(11.1%)
16
(44.4%)
0
2
(5.6%)
29
(80.6%)
14
(43.8%)
23
(71.9%)
3
(9.4%)
22
(68.8%)
28
(87.5%)
* Significant at the 1% level (2-tailed)
33
(88.9%)
20
(55.6%)
36
(100%)
34
(94.4%)
7
(19.4%)
18
340.000 .001*
(56.3%)
9
406.000 .027*
(23.3%)
29
418.000 .009*
(90.6%)
10
238.000 6 minutes. Similar concerns
have been raised among high school students with