The Halliwick Approach – The Ten Stages of Motor Learning and Swimming

The Halliwick Approach was developed by James McMillan (1913-1994), an aquatics engineer and swimming instructor.  McMillan developed the concept in 1949 while volunteering at the Halliwick School for Girls with Disabilities in London.  The concept is designed to achieve independence in the water and teach swimming to persons with disabilities.   The new idea quickly spread throughout England and swimming clubs were opened to provide swimming instruction and social contact. 

The International Halliwick Association was established after mcMilen passed away in 1994. It's objective were to advance and promote the Halliwick Concept throughout the world.   In 2000 the HIA had establish the central idea and principles of the Halliwick Approach.  The most significant change was the recognition that the approach is applicable to anyone who enters the water for any reason and not only for those with physical or cognitive disabilities.  The concept, which was originally designed for swimming instruction, has become an approach that benefits all people of all walks of life.

The Halliwick Concept is based upon recognition of the laws of hydrodynamics, body structures, and the manner in which they work.   The characteristics of the Halliwick Concept make it a safe learning and treatment method for people of all ages with various types of disabilities.  Halliwick is currently considered the leading approach throughout the world for attaining abilities in the water and swimming skills for persons with disabilities.  

The Ten – Point Program of the Halliwick Concept

• Mental Adjustment

• Disengagement

• Transversal Rotation Control

• Sagittal Rotation Control

• Longitudinal Rotation Control

• Combined Rotation Control

• Upthrust/Mental Inversion

• Balance in Stillness

• Turbulent Gliding

• Simple Progression and Basic Movement

After swimmers have mastered independence in water and basic swimming, they are ready to undertake all water activities, including modified styles of swimming.

Halliwick Group Instruction

Swimming instruction using the Halliwick Approach is done on an individual basis - the swimmer and instructor work as a unit within a group, so that swimmers experience the social advantages of a group.

 

Therapeutic Halliwick

The principles of the Halliwick Concept are combined with suitable supports and stimuli in therapy.  These enable work on balance, control of the head, and strengthening patterns of motion as well as learning swimming and aquatic skills.   Instructors use the 10pp of the Halliwick to attain active function by changing the support and stimuli of the water.

 

 

* Merav Hadar – Frumer, MScPT, Senior Hydrotherapist, Senior Halliwick Lecturer, and a lecture for courses in hydrotherapy, Bad Ragaz, and Ai Chi