Rapid Otter Movement (ROM) is a breakthrough teaching method designed to provide fast and effective progress in learning to swim.
Coach Andrew was not satisfied on what he saw as slow and outdated methods of swimming instruction that many coaches rigidly follow.
Among the issues he saw was having many students sitting for a long time on the pool side while the coach teaches each student one-by-one. Another issue was an over-reliance on floatation aids that showed artificial progress. Once these floatation aids are taken off, many children have no understanding of their natural buoyance or the necessary strength to move in the water. Finally, many coaches used repetitive drills that had no relation to the actual stroke and generally wasted time.
While teaching at Singapore’s primary schools, Coach Andrew witnessed shockingly large numbers of children being totally unable to swim, due to covid and the increasing demands of their parents at work.
He knew that modern families and children needed a better way.
After thousands of hours and students, Coach Andrew developed his own unique teaching method that works for both large and small classes, as well as all ages.
ROM breaks down the components of swimming into easily understandable chunks. Breath, buoyancy, and leg action are taught first. Once these are understood, arm movement and coordination quickly follow.
In addition, every student is allowed as much self-practice as possible. That means where safe, they are allowed to be in the water to practice. While our classes may look a bit more exuberant than other classes, there is real value in allowing children the space and time to feel the water.
By focusing on the pure essentials of the stroke and allowing students to be in the water as much as possible, students are able to quickly grasp swimming. Progress is often seen in the first lesson! You will be surprised how much they can do with a little bit of proper instruction.
We don’t rely on any floatation aids, unless the student is unable to stand on the pool floor. This is usually because they are very young, and we will advise a back floatation aid for safety reasons. Swim boards are used to focus on leg movements (and not as floatation aids).
Finally, we believe fun is an essential part of the process. Without fun, children become reluctant to return. Water in of itself is fun and we should encourage our children to take joy in it. Lessons are always ended of with some games that have links to important skills such as lifesaving and swimming underwater.
While results will vary by age and circumstances, the vast majority of Coach Andrew’s students are able to swim the three essential strokes (freestyle, breaststroke, and backstroke) within one year of consistent swim lessons. Not only that, they will be able to perform other vital water skills such as swimming underwater, diving, and staying water safe. They will be more than ready for Swimsafer, a compulsory module in Singapore’s primary schools.
We hope that explains how the Rapid Otter Movement (ROM) method can help you and your child achieve better swimming and enjoyment in the water. Drop us a message for any questions or to try out ROM yourself!