Traveling Bobs  #

Introduction  #

The Traveling Bobs safety skillSafety skillA method which improves the ability to interact with water in a way that increases the likelihood of avoiding and/or recovering from a hazardous aquatic situation. develops Breath Control CompetencyBreath Control CompetencyBreath Control Competency is the knowledge, skill, and experience necessary to breathe effectively in a controlled manner without using excessive energy, interfering with other movements, or compromising body position while in the water. Physical abilities associated with this competency include the physical exchange of air and keeping the body in a position at the surface so that the exchange of air can occur. Cognitive abilities include determining when to breathe and when to hold the breath. Affective abilities include responding to stimuli and situations in a calm manner with the face both above and below the surface of the water. and Risk CompetencyRisk CompetencyRisk Competency is the knowledge, skill, and experience necessary to understand, analyze, and assess the risks of aquatic environments, and to be able to cope with risk by applying risk-management strategies. Cognitive abilities associated with this competency include problem solving, analyzing options, and determining how best to avoid or reduce risks in a given situation. Affective abilities include responding to stimuli and situations in a calm manner and an awareness of how emotions can affect decision making. as primary competencies, and Orientation CompetencyOrientation CompetencyOrientation Competency is the knowledge, skill, and experience necessary to transition from one body position to another, to change direction of travel, to keep one’s bearings, and to locate and navigate to a desired location. Physical abilities associated with this competency include being able to roll, tuck, turn, and spin to move the body into different positions or face different directions, both on and under the surface, while remaining stationary and while propelling. Cognitive abilities include monitoring and comparing one’s current position relative to the immediate surrounding, locating known safe areas, and planning a navigation path in desired directions. and Underwater CompetencyUnderwater CompetencyUnderwater Competency is the knowledge, skill, and experience necessary to submerge and control buoyancy to travel and negotiate hazards underwater. Physical abilities associated with this competency include being able to use the limbs to propel, to control and hold the breath, and to control and change body position and direction. Cognitive abilities include understanding position and orientation in three-dimensional space, to understand the relationship between breathing and buoyancy, to monitor and compare one’s current position to surrounding objects, and to plan navigation paths. Performing tasks underwater also requires being able to cope with depth, pressure, and reduced visibility. as secondary competencies. Traveling Bobs includes controlled breath exchange, complete submersion and forward propulsion. The objective of Traveling Bobs is to have students become comfortable with repeated submersions and using force from pushing off the bottom of the pool to move to a targeted location. Teaching and reinforcing this skill is necessary should a student accidentally go too deep in the pool and need to move to shallower water. Instruction topics should include why Traveling Bobs are an important safety skill and situations where Traveling Bobs may be necessary.

Description  #

The Traveling Bobs safety skill is defined by the following body posturePostureThe particular way the body is held while doing an activity. Mobility specialists define posture as the way you position your body or arrange your limbs, such as “to stand up straight with your shoulders back and your chin up.” , arm formsFormThe visible shape or configuration of something. Mobility specialists define form as an arrangement of the elements in a composition; the way something (or someone) is shaped or arranged. , leg forms, breathing, and timing characteristics and features.

Traveling Bobs Features  #

Body

Body positioned vertically

Body

Eyes open while head above surface

Bobbing cycle

1) Start with head above surface

Bobbing cycle

2) Inhale once

Bobbing cycle

3) Fully submerge to touch pool bottom

Bobbing cycle

4) Exhale while submerged

Bobbing cycle

5) Push off pool bottom to travel forward and up to surface

Bobbing cycle

6) Return head above surface

Timing

Repeat bobbing cycle without hesitation until finish location reached

Timing

Recover to wall or standing position

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Assessment  #

Test course  #

This test uses a “point A to point B” linear course, from deeper to shallower pool depth if available. Begin assessment in water that is just overhead in depth and bob 5 yards toward a designated finish location. If an overhead depth is not available, start in the deepest area and have the student crouch down to submerge their head during the bob to simulate an overhead depth condition.

Scoring  #

The following scoring rubricScoring rubricA guide that includes rating scales and descriptions of one or more criteria used to evaluate the performance of a skill. lists the gradients of key requirements and deficiencies that provide an overall description of different competence levels. A single score is assigned based on the instructor’s judgment of the student’s performance.

* Exceptions may be made for shallow water assessments if the head is not fully submerged.