Analysis of swimming teaching programs, aquatic competencies and specific skills in school settings from early childhood to secondary education: A systematic review.

Clinical Snapshot

Key Findings

• P Value: Not reported

• Effect Size: Not applicable — no meta-analytic pooling performed; findings are descriptive and narrative

• Primary Outcome: Predominance of technical-utilitarian pedagogical approaches focused on specific swimming skills, with limited curricular integration and restricted involvement of physical education teachers across school-based aquatic programmes

• Nnt Or Sensitivity: Not applicable for this review type; no NNT, sensitivity, specificity, or hazard ratio calculable from the reported data

• Confidence Interval: Not reported — narrative synthesis only

Clinical Application

Implementation of more comprehensive, curricularly integrated aquatic education programmes is feasible in well-resourced school systems with access to aquatic facilities, but requires significant institutional commitment, teacher training investment, and policy-level support. The review highlights that current implementation is fragmented and inconsistent, suggesting substantial barriers remain in most school systems. Australia has a strong national imperative for school-based swimming education given its high drowning mortality burden — drowning is a leading cause of preventable death in children under 14 years (Royal Life Saving Society Australia data). Swimming and water safety is embedded in the Australian Curriculum (Health and Physical Education learning area, F–10) and most state education systems mandate swimming programmes at primary school level. The RACGP and public health bodies support water safety education as a preventive health priority. This review's findings — highlighting fragmented implementation, limited secondary school coverage, and absence of standardised assessment — are directly relevant to ongoing debates in Australian education policy about the adequacy of school swimming programmes. The TGA and PBS are not directly relevant to this non-pharmacological, educational intervention. State-based aquatic education frameworks (e.g., NSW Department of Education Learn to Swim programmes, Surf Life Saving Australia school programmes) represent the Australian implementation context most analogous to the programmes reviewed. School-aged children and adolescents (approximately 3–18 years) enrolled in formal education settings where swimming instruction is delivered or being considered as part of the physical education curriculum

Abstract

The teaching of swimming in school contexts has become increasingly important due to the benefits in the integral development of students and the prevention of aquatic accidents.This study analyses, by means of a systematic review, the aquatic teaching programmes and Competencies implemented in school settings over the last 25 years, from infant to secondary education. The Methodological approach was based on the PRISMA guidelines, with searches in scientific databases (PubMed, Scopus, Sport Discus and Web of Science) and secondary sources. Sixteen studies were selected according to the PICOS model, assessed with the STROBE and TREND tools. The results show a predominance of technical-utilitarian approaches focused on specific swimming skills, with little curricular integration and limited involvement of PE teachers. Most of the studies focused on infant and primary school, being scarce in secondary school. A high variability in duration, frequency, Contents and Assessment instruments was evidenced. The studies highlight the need for greater inclusion of swimming in school curricula, with more comprehensive pedagogical approaches adapted to each stage. It is concluded that although progress has been made, systematic implementation is still limited, requiring greater institutional support, teacher training and methodological coherence.

References

1. 1.Trinidad, A., Mendoza-Castejón, D., de la Calle, L. M., & Del-Blanco-Muñiz, J. Á. (2026). Analysis of swimming teaching programs, aquatic competencies and specific skills in school settings from early childhood to secondary education: A systematic review. PLOS ONE. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0353477