The Effect of Dyad Training on Learning Front Crawl Swimming

Abstract

Dyad training is a method in which pair groups participate in learning motor skills and it seems that it could be characterized as an optimal instructional environment through enhancing effectiveness and efficiency of training conditions. The aim of the present study was to examine the effect of dyad training on learning front crawl swimming. Twenty 7-10-year-old boys were assigned to two groups of dyad and individual training (each group 10 subjects). After receiving instructions and observing the perfect skill, subjects were paired; one half entered the water to perform the required skill and the other half stayed outside and like a coach gave his partner a feedback on his performance after observing his trial. After some trials, they exchanged their roles. However, after receiving instructions and observing the perfect model, all children in individual group entered the water and simultaneously performed the required skill. In the retention test, each child’s 10 m swimming was filmed and these clips were evaluated by 2 federation coaches using front crawl swimming checklist. The inter class correlation coefficient was 0.90. The results of retention test showed a significant difference between dyad and individual groups (P<0.05). So it can be concluded that dyad training method is not only economical in terms of energy consumption and instructional environment but also more effective compared with the traditional swimming instruction methods.

Keywords

• children
• dyad training method
• front crawl swimming
• observational