The effectiveness of exercises using the Swiss ball in learning breaststroke swimming and developing some fitness components for female students

Abstract

The Swiss ball (or balance ball) is considered one of the simple and effective tools in the field of physical fitness. It is widely used to enhance strength, balance, and stability. The present study aims to identify the effectiveness of exercises using the Swiss ball in learning breaststroke swimming and developing some elements of physical fitness among female students.

The researcher adopted the experimental method due to its suitability for the nature of the study. The study sample consisted of (30) female students from first-year students in the College of Physical Education and Sports Sciences at Al-Mosul University, who were beginners in learning swimming. They were divided into two groups (A and B) after excluding those who had previously learned freestyle swimming.

Fifteen students were selected from each group using the lottery method. Group B represented the experimental group, which used the Swiss ball in learning breaststroke swimming, where many exercises using the Swiss ball were presented. Group A represented the control group, which relied on the traditional teaching method in learning breaststroke swimming.

Equivalence between the two groups was established in some physical fitness elements and swimming skills. The duration of the experiment was six weeks, with one instructional unit per week, each unit lasting 90 minutes. The tests related to achievement and technical performance of breaststroke swimming were conducted after the end of the experiment.

The researcher concluded that the use of the Swiss ball showed great effectiveness in facilitating the learning of breaststroke swimming. Accordingly, the researcher recommended adopting the Swiss ball as an educational tool in instructional programs designed to teach breaststroke swimming for beginners.