There are a surprisingly high number of people that either can not swim or who feel uncomfortable in water. Estimates are as high as to suggest that one in four people have difficulty swimming. Given these high numbers it is surprising that little research has been performed in this field. A study found that aquaphobia was more common in children than phobias of spiders, insects, dogs, heights etc. Only phobias of rats and snakes were more common. Lack of research is not an indication of infrequency and, given that drowning is the fourth leading cause of accidental death in most western countries, any factor delaying the acquisition of water skills should be taken seriously.
This module is designed for coaches who work with competitive swimmers, triathletes or other sportspersons who require an effective mental training program in addition to their rigorous physical training requirements. This program is a blueprint of a mental training program which can be applied to virtually any sportsperson, and can be tailored by the coach or their swimmers to their own specific sporting needs.