Swimming and ADD/ADHD part three of four

 Of the 12 symptom areas of ADD/ADHD, swimming aids in:
Saliency Determination – The barrage of sounds and background noises that so often distract the student are not present in water.  This sensory deprivation leads to better focus on the task at hand.
Satisfaction Control – The noticeable restlessness that craves excitement can be satisfied in competition and swim meets, which also breaks up the routine of workouts, including peaking and tapering.
Mental Effort – The difficulty in getting started with work, or finishing work that has been started, is ended when a coach is on deck holding the athlete accountable for the daily workout.  With good coaching, very little goes undetected, and when the athlete slacks, the workout gets harder, reinforcing working hard to begin with next time.
Previewing – Impulsivity, and failure to look ahead and see possible consequences can be dooming and habitual.  Good coaching, again, holds the athlete accountable, but a good coach also dreams with the athlete and holds those goals vividly before the athlete as the reward for hard work.
Facilitation and Inhibition – Hyperactivity itself is calmed and soothed in the aquatic environment, and in a tough workout, there is little ability to say or do inappropriate things while underwater or while panting for breath in between sets.  One learns to be silent, and actions speak louder than words.
Tempo Control – Timing is completely controlled by the coach.  Swimming too fast leads to quick burnout and a painful workout, while swimming too slow earns extra pushups or being “lapped” by other swimmers.  After months of daily swimming, the athlete learns the correct pace, and may apply this to other areas in life.
For more information on swimming and water safety, contact Academy Swim Club 661-702-8585 or go to www.Swim4Life.com.