Turn Orientation

Turn Orientation  #

Introduction  #

The Turn Orientation 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 the 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. . The Turn Orientation safety skill teaches students how to change their direction of travel. The student should be able to turn and change direction at a specified location and continue to swim. Instruction topics include being able to identify why the ability to change body positions is an important water safety skill.

Description  #

The Turn Orientation 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.

Knowledge objective  #

Identify why being able to change directions is an important skill for water safety.

Turn Orientation Description  #

Body

  1. Body positioned horizontally with shoulders and hips at or near surface; before, during, and after turning

Turn sequence

  1. Swim on front or side to turn location
  2. Locate and turn toward finish location
  3. Swim on front or side to finish location

Breathing

  1. Breathing controlled or breath held
Turn Orientation Demonstration  #

Video demonstration of the skill.

Assessment  #

Test course  #

This test uses an out-and-back or L-shaped course depending on the available space. Swim 5 yards towards an instructor or a floating object. Swim around the instructor or object. Swim to the finish location.

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.

Turn Orientation Scoring Rubric  #

1

Exhibits any of the following:

  • Does not swim to the turn location
  • Does not turn

2

Performs all of the following:

  • Swims on front or side to the turn location
  • Turns toward the finish location

Exhibits any of the following:

  • Does not swim on front or side to the finish location
  • Needs verbal or visual assistance locating the finish location
  • Does not turn at or near the surface

3

Performs all of the following:

  • Swims on front or side to the turn and finish locations
  • Locates the finish location without verbal or visual assistance
  • Turns at or near the surface

Exhibits any of the following:

  • Does not maintain horizontal body position before, during, or after the turn

4

Performs all of the following:

  • Swims on front or side to the turn and finish locations
  • Locates the finish location without verbal or visual assistance
  • Turns at or near the surface while maintaining horizontal body position