Management and teaching methodology of swimming lessons in the Portuguese primary schools

Abstract

The aim of this study was to describe the management and the teaching methodology in the primary level Physical Education classes in Portugal to teach swimming motor skills. The sample included 89 public swimming-pools supervisors and 100 swimming teachers. In order to assess the management and the teaching methodology, two questionnaires were used and their results were described based on descriptive statistical analysis techniques. Data suggest that swimming classes in primary schools are designed according to the Ministry of Education guidelines. The most frequent reasons mentioned to justify the inexistence of swimming classes are related to budget constraints (60.0%) and to some commuting issues of the children to and from the swimming pool facilities (54.0%). Swimming programs are mainly conducted with older children from the year 3 and year 4 (80.1%). The classes happen once a week (60.4%) with a large number of students (13 to 16 students). The lessons focused on aquatic readiness (81.4%), developing basic aquatic skills, mostly without any teaching material. The reported data allowed us to identify some weaknesses in the primary school swimming classes, probably affecting the effectiveness of the teaching-learning process, such as the acquisition of more complex and challenging aquatic skills.